Dante Moore’s college football career might have ended on Friday night, as the Oregon Ducks were blown out of the water at the Peach Bowl by the Indiana Hoosiers 56-22. The game might have settled the debate regarding who’s set to be the first overall pick of the draft, Moore or Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
Regardless of the disastrous result for Oregon and Moore, it is unlikely to see his draft stock improve if he returns for another season. So, as conventional wisdom would have it, the Ducks’ signal-caller should capitalize on the interest of NFL franchises as soon as possible.
Well, it seems there might be some remorse in the quarterback’s mind. Shortly after the Peach Bowl, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported this Saturday that Moore hasn’t yet made up his mind regarding whether to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.
“I don’t know my decision yet,” said Moore (via Pete Thamel’s X).
Who’s The Favorite For The NFL Draft First Overall Pick In 2026?
The favorite, by far, is Indiana’s quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the current Heisman Trophy holder. According to DraftKings, he has odds of -500. Second is Dante Moore, who has odds of +425. He’s the only one who is remotely close to Mendoza, as the third spot goes to Miami’s defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., with odds of +2200. Fourth is Ole Miss’s quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, at +2500.
Stephen A. Smith Believes Dante Moore Should Return For A Final Year Of College Football
There’s one person who believes that Dante Moore should return for a final season with the Oregon Ducks: Stephen A. Smith. His reasoning is not that the quarterback needs more development at the collegiate level. Smith is just afraid of who might draft Moore in 2026.
Speaking on ESPN’s “First Take” midweek, Smith said:
“I’d go back to college before I play for the Jets. They are a football atrocity. They are awful.”
Smith went on to say that it pains him to say something that goes against a fellow African-American, like Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, but that he, in good faith, cannot recommend a player to join the Jets.
The big problem for Moore? The Jets hold the No. 2 overall pick of the draft, and it seems clear that the Las Vegas Raiders will pick Fernando Mendoza at No. 1. The quarterback-needy Jets would likely pick the Ducks signal-caller at No. 2.
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