Edge rusher Teitum Tuioti is a short, stout prospect who plays the game at full speed on every snap for the Oregon Ducks. He’s earned late first-round placements in early mock drafts. What does the tape tell us?
Teitum Tuioti 2027 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report
Measurables
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 263 lbs
Statistics
2025: 68 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.
2024: 58 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
2023: 30 tackles, including 4 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.
The Tape
Games Watched: at Penn State Nittany Lions, at Iowa Hawkeyes and Indiana Hoosiers (College Football Playoffs)
Strengths
Tuioti is a ball of muscle and energy. His motor is permanently set to high, and he consistently makes plays because of it. In pursuit, his angles are good, and he never gives up on plays.
Tuioti jolts blockers on their heels with his initial contact. He has heavy hands, and with this advantage, he can knife into the backfield and cause disruption. His ability to get across his man’s face against the run leads to much of his tackle for loss production.
As a pass rusher, his motor again helps him. His desire to get to the quarterback is clear on tape. Tuioti does a nice job of keeping his eyes beyond his blocker and on the quarterback. Therefore, when a quarterback climbs the pocket or extends a play, Tuioti can adjust his rush and make plays.
Teitum Tuioti with an inside rush (right side of defense) – nothing initially, but it's clear to see him looking beyond his blocker. The QB tries to escape, Tuioti sees it and is able to shed. Stayed with it nicely.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/N7nre1cwOT
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) June 28, 2026
Tuioti will attack blockers inside, outside, or with a bull rush down the middle of his man. The outside speed rush is the one he uses once he’s set blockers up with his power.
Areas to Improve
Tuioti lacks the classic frame many NFL teams look for. Listed at 6’3”, lack of length does show up on tape as blockers can get into his chest and he struggles to disengage. This was particularly evident against Indiana, where he didn’t get off blocks throughout the game.
Teitum Tuioti vs Iowa RT Gennings Dunker. Dunker gets into his chest early and Tuioti can't get him off. For sure, an area to look for improvement in 2026.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/A1qHNX6m2m
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) June 28, 2026
He’s also not an elite athlete. His speed rush isn’t effective, and there is tightness in the hips evident when cornering, so he’s a different type of edge prospect than someone like South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart. NFL offensive linemen worry about facing edge rushers with speed and power. Tuioti has the power but not the speed, and that does limit his stock.
Usually, Oregon edge rusher prospects have a wide skill set, often dropping in coverage. Tuioti isn’t asked to do so that much, likely because when he does, he looks tight in the hips.
At times, Tuioti’s all-out style works against him, as he can bite on window dressing and be out of position. His tackling can also be hit and miss, sometimes leaving his feet or using his shoulder to tackle.
Tuioti must also work to improve his hand use. He doesn’t always use his hands well, particularly when rushing the passer. If he can show a little more nuance and also have a counter when blockers get into his chest, it will only help his stock.
Key Tests in 2026
It would be fascinating to see Tuioti against Indiana once again to see how he fares. The Ducks avoid them in the regular season, so we have to hope for a playoff matchup.
The standout test for the Ducks is without question Ohio State on November 7 in Columbus. Outside of that game, they have just three other preseason top 25 teams on the schedule in Southern California (September 26) on the road, hosting the Michigan Wolverines (November 14), and the Washington Huskies (November 28).
The full schedule can be found here.
Teitum Tuioti 2027 NFL Draft Projection
It’s easy to like Tuioti as a prospect because of the non-stop motor. He will make plays in the NFL because of it, but it’s also important to look at his limitations. These were on show in the Indiana playoff game, where he struggled to make an impact on the game, particularly in reps against Indiana left tackle Carter Smith.
Tuioti shows up more on tape than Dani Dennis-Sutton (pick 120, 2026 NFL Draft) did for Penn State last season, but his limitations are such that a first-round projection looks a little rich. After the NFL Combine, where his arm length and speed will become known, his stock will become clearer. He’s a prospect who is difficult to slot without that information, but with improved hand use, that would become more likely.
Main Photo Courtesy of Sam Navarro – Imagn Images
