Dante Moore's 2026 NFL Draft Stock, Potential of Being No. 1 Pick Evaluated by Exec

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is in the running to be the first quarterback selected in the 2026 NFL draft should be declare, and one executive praised his efforts of late, per comments made to Jeff Howe of The Athletic.

"He's helped himself a lot the last month and a half," the executive told Howe. "His next test is Texas Tech against some edge rushers who will give him problems like NFL guys. He'll be under more stress with their front. If he plays well, he'll push Mendoza for QB1. But he may still go back to school. I wouldn't fault him for that."

Moore has a big test up ahead against Texas Tech in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on Saturday. The Red Raiders have the third-best scoring defense in football and are led by linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, one of the best (if not the best) defensive players in the game.

If Moore fares well and leads the Ducks past Texas Tech, though, one can guess he could be rising up draft boards.

The latest B/R NFL Scouting Department big board has Moore ninth overall and second on the QB list behind only Indiana signal-caller (and Heisman Trophy winner) Fernando Mendoza.

B/R scout Damian Parson gave Moore a pro comparison to Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who has led his team to the playoffs in all three of his NFL seasons.

Another NFL executive told Howe that Moore "has the most upside physically of the three (QBs) in terms of being able to move, throw on the move, escape, horsepower in the arm." However, that executive also noted Moore's lack of starting experience (five starts at UCLA before transferring, 13 more at Oregon).

Still, Moore can put some concerns to bed this winter as the Ducks search for their first-ever national championship. Kickoff at the Orange Bowl is set for noon ET on Thursday.