Dante Moore Reportedly Expected to Return to Oregon, Forgo 2026 NFL Draft

The quarterback class in the 2026 NFL draft might not be as strong as expected, with Dante Moore reportedly leaning toward staying at Oregon for another season.

On the latest episode of The McShay Show (starts at 12:20 mark), The Ringer's Todd McShay said he recently talked to a scout who said "book it" as far as Moore staying with the Ducks.

McShay noted everyone from Moore's parents to his agent to Oregon's coaching staff are in "lockstep" that he will be back in 2026.

B/R's NFL scouting department projected Moore to be the No. 6 overall pick to the Cleveland Browns in its latest mock draft released on Tuesday.

"Unless we see Sanders step in and display enough to keep the Browns from drafting a quarterback, they will be tied to the top guys in this class until further notice," B/R's Dame Parson said in his scouting report of the Oregon star. "Moore brings mobility, accuracy and poise to the passing offense. He navigates the pocket and locates open targets. Moore's quick release and ball placement will mesh well with Harold Fannin Jr, Jerry Jeudy, and the rest of the Browns' receiving options."

Oregon has significant financial resources available thanks in large part to Nike co-founder Phil Knight offering players access to NIL deals and endorsements.

Moore and wide receiver Dakorien Moore recently signed an NIL deal with Nike as part of its Grateful Dead collection. Specific terms of the agreement weren't made available, but On3.com notes Dante Moore's NIL valuation is at $1.7 million.

A 5-star prospect coming out of high school, Moore was the No. 3 quarterback in his recruiting class after Arch Manning and Nico Iamaleava. He spent his freshman season at UCLA before transferring to Oregon in December 2023.

After playing behind Dillon Gabriel last season, Moore has taken over as the Ducks quarterback in 2025. He is off to a fantastic start with 1,772 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and a 71.4 completion percentage in eight games.

Oregon is 7-1 and sits at ninth in the College Football Playoff rankings released on Tuesday.

Moore has two additional years of college eligibility remaining. He won't turn 21 until May 24, 2026.