Nick Pickett has signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent Thursday.
Pickett is the ninth Oregon player in the 2021 draft class to join an NFL roster and is the fifth defensive back to do so. He is reunited with seventh overall pick Penei Sewell and 2018 fifth-round pick
Tyrell Crosby in the Motor City.
The Los Angeles native was a 3-star prospect (0.8478 per 247Sports Composite) from Salesian High School in the 2017 class. Pickett played in 45 games across his four-year career, totaling 160 tackles, two interceptions, 14 passes defended, and a forced fumble.
Pickett made an immediate impact on the Ducks, playing 374 snaps as a true freshman over 11 games and three starts. He was one of the few defensive players left from former head coach Willie Taggart’s lone season in 2017, including
Where did Oregon’s undrafted players sign as free agents?
Updated 6:22 PM;
Oregon had five players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft and several more will begin their professional careers as undrafted free agents.
Nine players took part in Oregon’s pro day, with Austin Faoliu, Jordon Scott, Nick Pickett and Hunter Kampmoyer going undrafted.
Most of the undrafted former Ducks are expected to either sign or receive invites to mini camps.
The former Ducks who signed three-year contracts as undrafted free agents are as follows:
Defensive tackle Austin Faoliu has signed with the Dallas Cowboys, a source confirmed to The Oregonian/OregonLive
Jevon Holland heads group of former Oregon defensive backs that could match or set program record in NFL draft
Updated Apr 30, 2021;
EUGENE Jevon Holland heads a group of former Oregon defensive backs that could match or set a program record this weekend if at least three of them are selected during the NFL draft.
The Ducks have had three defensive backs drafted in the same year just twice, with Latin Berry, Chris Oldham and Chris Reed selected in 1990, and Mario Clark, Ron Lee and Chuck Wills drafted in 1976.
Holland, Thomas Graham Jr., Deommodore Lenoir, Brady Breeze and Nick Pickett give UO a chance to at least match those prior groups as most draft projections have at least Holland and Graham being selected and many also have Lenoir.
Turnovers top agenda as Tim DeRuyter installs his defense at Oregon
Updated Apr 05, 2021;
EUGENE Tim DeRuyter has made takeaways the top priority for Oregon’s defense.
The new Ducks defensive coordinator laid out his goals for the spring as he installs his system. It’s hardly revolutionary for turnovers to be a key for any defense but Oregon had the largest year-over-year downturn in turnover margin on a per game basis in 13 years last season, from plus-16 (1.14 per game) in 2019 to minus-9 (minus-1.29) in 2020, so it underscores the urgency of the matter.
“We want to establish our brand of football,” DeRuyter said. “We want to establish the Oregon Duck defense is one who, No. 1 is going to take the ball away. That’s our primary goal, is to take the ball away. Knowing that you can’t do that every single play the other thing we’re doing, we’re a defense that prides itself in stopping the run. All good defenses have to start there. Our guys have to understand t
Who takes over for Oregon Ducks on boundary side of secondary?
Updated Mar 31, 2021;
Posted Mar 31, 2021
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 05: Makai Polk #17 of the California Golden Bears is tackled by Mykael Wright #2 and Jamal Hill #19 of the Oregon Ducks at California Memorial Stadium on December 05, 2020 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)Getty Images
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We’re taking a look at each position group as Oregon prepares to open spring practice on April 1. The ninth of a 10-part series looks at the defensive backs.
EUGENE The transformation of Oregon’s defensive backfield began earlier than expected and will now reach its conclusion.