Joseph McDonald
Emmanuel Pregnon Scouting Report
Emmanuel Pregnon spent his first three seasons at the University of Wyoming, entering in 2020 as an unranked two-star recruit from Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, Colorado. After redshirting his first two seasons at Wyoming, he broke out in year 3, leading to a transfer to the University of Southern California the following season. At USC, he continued to improve, earning Second-team All-Big Ten in 2024. After 2 successful seasons with the Trojans, he transferred to the University of Oregon, where the 24-year-old had a dominant final college season, earning First-Team All-American, First-Team All-Big Ten honors, and PFF’s top-rated guard in college football. This climb from unranked recruit to a First-Team All-American speaks to his work ethic and immense growth.
Pregnon is an experienced guard who has faced elite Big Ten competition while playing in three different college programs, exposing him to diverse offensive systems and philosophies. The left guard has good athletic ability. He is a mauler, standing at a massive frame of 6’5”, 318 lbs. He has elite play strength and can move well for his size, but struggles with lateral movement and change of direction against faster defenders. This is reflected in his footwork, where he is always chopping his feet but is only considered good, not elite, due to his struggle with redirection and his inability to maintain his foot speed when recovering on blocks. Pregnon is very good on the mental side. He understands his assignment every play and exemplifies competitive toughness.
The Denver native is very good when in pass protection. He is a good short setter who maintains a low pad level throughout every rep and consistently establishes first contact through his punch timing. When he doesn’t have an immediate threat, his attention tends to drift to the outside rusher, causing poor spacing and allowing interior pressure from the A-gap. His strength in pass blocking is reflected in his elite anchor. When facing bull rushes, he is an immovable object, and the pocket rarely collapses. This is seen in his 0 sacks allowed over 3 seasons at USC and Oregon. He uses his hands well, thanks to consistently correct hand placement and elite steer-and-lift, allowing him to turn and uproot defenders wherever he likes. Due to his great lockout ability and heavy hands, once he latches on to a defender, it is extremely hard for them to shake him.
Pregnon is good at gap blocking, with great drive due to his build and toughness, as also shown by his ability to displace defenders with double teams and his push at the point of attack. Furthermore, he is an effective puller, flashing his quickness to reach and execute. This relates to his strength in zone and space blocking. Thanks to his athletic ability for his size, he can reach the second level with ease. Where he struggles in this area connects to his struggles with the use of his hands. Pregnon tends to rely on his pure strength on runs, leading not only to a lack of technique but also to a lack of balance. When approaching defenders in open space, he tends to be forward leaning, compromising his balance and allowing defenders to swim move and leave him in the dust, using his brute force against him. Pregnon is a guard through and through. He lacks positional versatility due to his inability to slide outside to tackle, having to deal with quicker defenders and less bull rushes, as well as his big frame and inexperience at the center position, making center not an option either.
Scheme and Team Fit:
Pregnon would thrive best in an offensive scheme that incorporates a heavy zone rushing attack both inside and outside. His athleticism allows him to be an effective puller and to excel as the lead blocker in space, moving defenders with his strength. For these reasons, an obvious team fit for Pregnon would be the San Francisco 49ers. Coach Shanahan is the golden standard for outside zone runs, optimizing Pregnon where he is at his best. The Oregon product would form a great guard duo with rising star Domininc Puni and help fill the left guard spot, which the 49ers have been trying to fill for years. He brings stability to an offensive line that is aging and injury-prone, helping to extend the 49ers’ Super Bowl window, which is fighting to not come to a close. A second team fit is the Houston Texans. Another team that is a few pieces away that also utilizes zone runs. The Texans’ biggest weakness is their offensive line, an issue they have been trying to fix. By drafting Pregnon, they will get a day 1 plug-and-play at left guard for the next 4 years on a rookie deal. He will provide stability, durability, and a massive athletic frame to protect their franchise quarterback.
NFL Player Comp:
Pregnon’s player comp is Laken Tomlinson. Tomlinson stands at 6’3”, 320 lbs, similar to Pregnon’s 6’5”, 318 lbs. Both play at a low pad level, have elite ability to drop their anchor on bull rushes, and rarely allow sacks. Additionally, Tomlinson thrived in Shanahan’s zone rushing attack, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2021, using his size and athletic ability to move defenders, an area where Pregnon similarly excels.
Projection: Star Player
Emmanuel Pregnon’s great frame, athletic ability, and consistent strength in all aspects of his game position him to be a consistent pro bowler. His play strength, scheme versatility, and consistent improvement each year of his college career indicate him having all the makings of a star player.
Grade and Round Projection: 5.625, Late First to Early Second Round
His final grade is a 5.625 and will most likely be taken between the late first and early second round of the 2026 draft.
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