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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore faces a major decision after a concussion brought his college football season to an early end. One analyst offered a hot take on what he believes Moore could do after this season, suggesting he'll return for another season of college football.
He was projected as high as the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but instead of leaving Oregon, he returned to gain more experience to prepare for the professional league. However, Moore's concussion and subsequent lack of medical clearance have left him watching backup Dylan Raiola play for the Ducks instead of gaining valuable experience himself.
According to college football analyst J.D. Pickell, Moore could still become a first-round draft pick if he leaves Oregon after this season, but he doesn't believe going pro "makes a ton of sense" yet.
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"This year was about playing college football to get more experience to be ready to play NFL football as soon as possible, not about draft stock," Pickell said. "So, if it's about development, here's what Dante Moore was able to get done this season. Really like three full games if you pair Portland State and USC together."
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He mentioned Moore also played against Oklahoma State and Boise State this season and "three-ish games" of experience doesn't "check the box" to get him ready to play at the next level.
"Draft stock, no draft stock. I think Dante Moore probably feels like he has more room to improve before he goes pro, because he's always been the kind of individual that sees the bigger picture," Pickell said, also suggesting Moore has always been "mature" with his decision-making.
"So going pro here to me doesn't make a ton of sense based on what we know Dante Moore's priorities to be, based on his previous decisions," he said. "I would personally be a bit surprised if he ended up going pro."
Moore, a 6-foot-3 senior, tallied 926 passing yards and nine touchdowns before he got sidelined for the season. He had an impressive game against Boise State, throwing for 378 yards and three touchdowns. Moore also had 280 yards and four touchdowns in an 84-0 blowout of Portland State last month.
He last played against USC on Sept. 26, when he was taken away by ambulance in the second quarter after a late hit from USC linebacker Desman Stephens that caused the back of his head to hit the ground.
CBS Sports recently projected Moore as the No. 45 prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft. That's a significant drop from previous projections, and this past year's draft had fewer quarterbacks available for first-round consideration.
The 2027 edition could feature multiple first-round picks, including Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker, Notre Dame's CJ Carr, Miami's Darian Mensah, and Ole Miss's Trinidad Chambliss. And there seem to be multiple teams that could use a franchise quarterback based on injuries this season.
While Moore would likely gain experience if he returns for a final year of eligibility in college football, a counterpoint is that he shouldn't risk another major injury or a bad season.
Entering the NFL, however, would allow him to develop within a professional team's system under an experienced coaching staff and potentially learn from another veteran quarterback. A perfect example is Alabama's Ty Simpson, whom the Rams drafted in the first round earlier this year as a backup to their veteran, reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.
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