Wednesday War Room: Previewing the DL for 2026

 

It was a somewhat roller coaster ride for Duck fans following the loss to Indiana in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Just two days after the loss, A’Mauri Washington announced he was returning for another season in Eugene, a decision that immediately changed the outlook of Oregon’s defensive front. Matayo Uiagalelei had already confirmed his return, and with Bear Alexander doing the same in December, there was a brief moment where it felt like Oregon would simply run it back up front.

And then the roster started to thin out.

Xadavien Sims left for Arkansas. Tionne Gray transferred to Notre Dame. Terrance Green landed at Alabama. Jericho Johnson moved on to Cal. None of those departures individually reshaped the ceiling of the room, but together they stripped away a layer of developmental depth that Oregon had been building. What remained was a defensive line group that still had real strength at the top, but far less margin for error behind it.

To understand what Oregon has entering 2026, it starts with understanding what this room actually is.

Dan Lanning’s defense is built out of a MINT structure that lives in a hybrid space between a 3-4 and a 4-2-5. On paper, it is a three-down “Tite” front with a 4i-0-4i alignment. In practice, it can look like a four-man surface when the outside linebacker is walked up on the line of scrimmage. But for evaluating the defensive line itself, the focus stays on the three true down linemen. Two 4i defenders aligned on the inside shoulder of the tackles, and a nose positioned directly over the center.

That changes the way this group should be evaluated.

This is not about edge rushers and interior tackles in the traditional sense. It is about interior control, length, physicality and the ability to compress space across those three alignments. It is about whether Oregon can hold the integrity of the front while still generating disruption.

At the center of it all is Washington.

His return gives Oregon a true anchor in the middle of the defense. In 2025, he finished with 33 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, eight pass breakups and five quarterback hurries. Those numbers reflect a player who does more than occupy space. At 330 pounds, he consistently forced offenses to account for him with doubles, but still found ways to affect throwing lanes and disrupt timing. In a Tite front, the nose is responsible for holding the structure together. Washington does that, and more.

Behind him, Jerome Simmons provides needed size and experience. His 10 tackles in eight games at Louisiana-Monroe will not jump off the page, but his role is clear. Oregon needed another true interior body who can handle the physical demands of the position. Anthony Jones, once he arrives, projects as a longer-term piece who could grow into that same role. His development from an edge player into an interior defender with real power shows up on film, even if his timeline remains a bit uncertain.

If Washington stabilizes the middle, the 4i positions define the ceiling.

Alexander is the most proven piece in that group. His 50 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and steady presence across 15 games last season made him one of the most reliable defenders on the roster. In this scheme, the 4i is not just asked to penetrate. He has to take on blocks, control gaps and still make plays. Alexander’s ability to do all three is what makes him such a valuable fit. He brings both production and consistency to a position that demands both.

D’Antre Robinson steps into the other side of that equation as one of the most important additions of the offseason. His 38 tackles at North Carolina in 2025, along with 2.5 tackles for loss and four quarterback hurries, point to a player who can contribute immediately. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, he has the size to hold up inside and the movement skills to avoid being limited to early downs. Oregon did not need a project here. It needed someone who could step into a rotation and hold his own. Robinson fits that description.

From there, the conversation shifts to projection.

Breland might be the most important developmental player in the room. His 2025 stat line offers little in terms of production, but his profile still carries significant weight. At 6-foot-5 and 304 pounds, with a five-star background, he looks like the kind of player this scheme is built for. Length, size and the ability to play through contact all matter at the 4i. The next step is turning those traits into consistent on-field impact. If that happens in 2026, Oregon’s depth concerns begin to ease quickly.

Johnson is in a similar position, though earlier in his development. He appeared in seven games as a freshman and recorded four tackles. That experience matters, even if the production was limited. At his size, he fits the physical profile Oregon wants in this front. The question is whether he can become a reliable rotational piece over the course of a full season.

Cumberland arrives as the freshman most likely to challenge for early snaps. His high school production, 102 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 14 sacks, reflects both activity and finishing ability. More importantly, his frame suggests he can grow into the 4i role without needing a full developmental year before contributing. Oregon does not need him to carry the room, but if he can give them playable snaps early, it changes the depth picture in a meaningful way.

When viewed through the 4i-0-4i lens, the overall structure of the room becomes clearer.

Oregon returns 117 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks from Alexander, Washington and Uiagalelei’s production along the front. Even though Uiagalelei operates outside of the three-down structure as a stand-up edge, his presence still influences how offenses approach the line as a whole. That kind of returning production gives Oregon a foundation that can compete with anyone in the conference.

What it does not guarantee is sustainability.

The departures of Green, Gray, Johnson and Sims removed a layer of rotational reliability. Green alone played in all 15 games last season. Gray, as a freshman, played in 13 games and made three starts, finishing with 18 tackles and two tackles for loss. Those are the types of players who absorb snaps, take hits and allow the top of the depth chart to stay fresh. Replacing that is not just about finding bodies. It is about finding players who can be trusted.

That is the challenge for this group entering 2026.

At the top, Oregon has exactly what it needs. Washington gives it a true nose. Alexander provides stability and production at one 4i spot. Robinson looks like a plug-and-play addition on the other side. That is a front that can hold up against the run and still create disruption.

The next layer will determine whether it can hold up over time.

If Breland takes the expected step forward, if Johnson becomes a reliable piece, and if Cumberland can contribute earlier than most freshmen, Oregon has a chance to turn a strong starting group into a complete unit. If not, the Ducks may find themselves leaning heavily on their top players as the season wears on.

The structure of the defense is not changing. The MINT front will continue to define how Oregon lines up and how it controls the interior.

What will define the 2026 season for this group is whether the depth behind that structure catches up to the strength at the top.

Projected 2026 Oregon Defensive Line Depth Chart (MINT Front: DT-NG-DE)

• DT: Bear Alexander | D’Antre Robinson | Aydin Breland
• Nose: A’Mauri Washington | Jerome Simmons
• DE: Matayo Uiagalelei |  Elijah Rushing | Matthew Johnson