One of the more interesting players in this year’s class, Bryce Boettcher, is going to be one of those selections that ESPN takes time to talk about. From being a walk-on for both the baseball and football teams to being drafted by the Houston Astros in the 13th round, Boettcher was decorated for the Ducks. He took home the award for the best player who started their career as a walk-on, and now, he will have the rare opportunity to say he’s been drafted by both the NFL and MLB.
2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Bryce Boettcher
Measurables
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 233 pounds
Arms: 30.63″
Hands: 9.0″
40-yard: 4.69
Vertical: 34.5″
Broad jump: 9’8″
RAS: 7.14
Position: Linebacker
School: Oregon
Bryce Boettcher NFL Draft Overview
Coming out of high school, Boettcher was a dual-threat quarterback and was considered a three-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting cycle. Without any FBS offers, Boettcher elected to walk on for his hometown program. He initially walked on to the Ducks’ baseball team for the 2021 season. After two seasons as a superutility player (13 starts in 81 appearances), he walked on to the football program in 2022.
In that 2022 season, he appeared in 12 games for the Ducks, mostly on special teams. Defensively, he was a defensive back and made two tackles. He then started to work into the linebacker rotation in 2023. Boettcher appeared in 14 games with two starts, and he amassed 37 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
He truly broke out for both teams in 2024. For the baseball team, Boettcher slashed .276/.372/.500 with 12 home runs, 35 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. He also earned a collegiate Gold Glove, which allowed the Astros to take him in the 13th round. For football, Boettcher took over as a starting linebacker. In his breakout season, he totaled 94 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, four pass breakups, and a forced fumble. At the end of the year, Boettcher was awarded the Burlsworth Trophy as the top player who started his career as a walk-on.
He elected to return to Oregon in 2025 instead of going into the Astros’ farm system, and it paid off. Boettcher led the Big Ten with 80 solo tackles. In total, he added 136 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, an interception, six pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. He was again a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, but lost out to Drew Mestemaker (quarterback from North Texas).
Strengths
- Natural leader of men
- Tenacious, downhill run defender
- Can mirror running back motions to meet in the gap
- Had a good workout for the Senior Bowl
- Solid coverage instincts
- Will likely be a special teams star
- Low missed tackle rate
- Can’t overlook being a multi-sport athlete
Weaknesses
- Will turn 24 in July
- Bit undersized with shorter arms
- Can get overwhelmed by tackles with longer arms
- Doesn’t have the speed to keep up in man coverage
- Not much of a pass rusher
- Reacts to the offense rather than anticipates plays
- Can get lost in the sauce for play action
Projection: Fifth Round
Best Fits: Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants
Bottom Line on Bryce Boettcher
It’s not every day that an NFL team can draft a player who could be in the minor leagues. Boettcher is a cerebral linebacker who could easily turn into a fan favorite, whether it’s due to his story, his play as a linebacker, or his ability to stand out as a special teams player.
He isn’t one of the top linebackers in the draft, but if you’d ask him, he’d prefer it that way. Boettcher will bring that chip on his shoulder that he carried for years as a walk-on. He is going to be a high-motor guy that you can count on to show flashes. Whether or not he develops into a real rotational linebacker will depend on whether that chip continues to fuel him.
