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Dante Moore Delays NFL Entry, Returning to Oregon for 2026

The 20-year-old said he needs another year of development to be fully prepared.

Overview

  • Moore announced his decision live on ESPN's SportsCenter on Jan. 14, the final day for underclassmen outside the title game to declare for the draft.
  • Widely projected as a top-five pick, his return removes a premier quarterback from the 2026 class and leaves Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza as the top QB prospect, according to analysts.
  • The Jets, owners of the No. 2 pick and frequently linked to Moore, now face revised draft scenarios such as trading down or pivoting to other positions or quarterbacks.
  • Oregon recently landed Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola, who is expected to sit or redshirt in 2026 after a broken fibula as Moore resumes the starting role.
  • In 2025 Moore completed 296 of 412 passes (71.8%) for 3,565 yards with 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and his roughly 20 career starts were cited by evaluators as a reason to return.