Iapani Laloulu enters 2026 as a three-year starter as the Oregon Ducks center. He has been mentioned in early 2027 first-round mocks, as high as the mid-first-round. Does the tape match this projection?
Iapani Laloulu 2027 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report
Measurables
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 325 lbs
The Tape
Games Watched: at Penn State Nittany Lions, Texas Tech Red Raiders (College Football Playoff Quarterfinals) and Indiana Hoosiers (College Football Playoff Semifinals)
Strengths
Laloulu is clearly the communicator and leader of the Oregon offensive line. Pre-snap, he’s always pointing out defenders, and even on tape, it’s easy to see that he’s trusted to set protections. This should really impress NFL front offices and coaches in interviews in the NFL Draft cycle.
Laloulu is a strong man, and his initial punch is effective. It’s clear to see on tape that it jolts defenders and puts them on their heels. When asked to reach block, Laloulu has good hand placement and is able to move defenders to create big holes.
In pass protection, Laloulu was much better in the two playoff games, showing improvement. He exhibited the ability to use a nice initial punch and then use his bulk to sit and anchor. He also showed he can mirror once he dropped his hips.
Oregon C Iapani Laloulu looked much better in pass protection late in the season. As evidenced by this rep – nice work.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/3jd9l22ffR
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) July 3, 2026
Areas to Improve
Laloulu has physical limitations. He’s listed at 6’2”, so is likely shorter, and his true height is worth monitoring when the NFL Combine arrives. He also lacks long arms and doesn’t appear to have huge hands, as at times he struggles to grab cloth and lock onto defenders.
Laloulu is also not an elite athlete. When asked to move outside of a short area, he’s not as effective. This may improve if he sheds weight; it’s going to be crucial for his NFL team to find the right balance between bulk and movement.
Right now, Laloulu is less effective as a run blocker. He ends up on the ground too much. Right after the snap, he ducks his head into contact, making him susceptible to swim moves. After initial contact, he also ducks his head and release blocks. His feet are too static at times, which leads to this problem, so he’ll need to drive his feet better on contact.
Oregon C Iapani Laloulu meets Mr Lee Hunter in the Texas Tech game. Hunter sheds him and gets a TFL.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/S2QYa8BnhD
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) July 3, 2026
There are good moments with an impressive initial punch, but there are too many snaps where Laloulu doesn’t use his hands well enough. On some outside zone runs, he doesn’t work square to seal and throws out a “get in the way block”, often with his back to the defender.
While there was improvement in pass protection, better athletes do still give him problems. His feet do look heavy. This was compounded (far more evident in the Penn State game) with a wide base.
There’s also the odd bad snap. It’s not a massive problem, but an area to be perfected in 2026.
Key Tests in 2026
Oregon has just four preseason top-25 teams on the 2026 schedule. The first of those is the Southern California Trojans in Los Angeles on September 26.
They then have to wait until November 7 for the biggest game on the schedule, a trip to the Ohio State Buckeyes. This is immediately followed by hosting the Michigan Wolverines. The final regular season game is the Washington Huskies in Eugene.
The full schedule can be found here.
Iapani Laloulu 2027 NFL Draft Projection
While Laloulu’s pass protection was good in the playoffs, there are still athletic limitations in that part of his game.
He projects to a system that won’t require him to move much. His power stands out in the running game, but he has much to clean up in this area of the game.
Right now, he projects as a mid-round prospect who could be a day two pick with improvement.
Main Photo Courtesy of Craig Strobeck – Imagn Images
