Dante Moore’s return to Oregon has already changed the conversation around the 2027 NFL Draft, and not in a small way. The Ducks quarterback now sits in an elite group of college passers that includes Texas’ Arch Manning, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Minnesota’s Drake Lindsey and Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, according to Yahoo NFL analyst Nate Tice.
Moore’s decision to come back to Eugene was the surprise. He had been projected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but instead chose another season with Oregon. That move gave him a different kind of path: more development, more college football, and a tougher road to being the first quarterback off the board.
Tice’s ranking reflects that reality. Manning is first, Sellers second, and Moore checks in third.
Behind him are Lindsey at No. 4 and Mestemaker at No. 5.
- Arch Manning, Texas
- LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
- Dante Moore, Oregon
- Drake Lindsey, Minnesota
- Drew Mestemaker, North Texas
That placement is not a knock on Moore. It’s a byproduct of how loaded the 2027 quarterback class is expected to be, with some around the sport believing it could break the record for the most first-round quarterbacks ever taken. The group behind the top five is strong too, with Tice listing Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss, Brendan Sorsby of Texas Tech, Byrum Brown of Auburn, CJ Carr of Notre Dame and Darian Mensah of Miami in the second tier.
- Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
- Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech
- Byrum Brown, Auburn
- CJ Carr, Notre Dame
- Darian Mensah, Miami
For Moore, the bigger picture matters more than the exact draft slot. Being QB1, QB2 or QB3 in a class like this may not change much in the long run, but it will be one of the major storylines of the 2026 college football season as Moore, Manning and Sellers take center stage.
Moore has made it clear that his decision was about preparation. He explained it to ESPN’s SportsCenter in January, saying, "With this decision, mainly all my life has just been about being as most prepared as I can for any situation I go into," Moore told ESPN's SportsCenter in January." "And when it comes to me making my decision, I just want to do what's best for my situation, especially as a quarterback.
"With my decision, it's been very tough. I've prayed a lot about it, talked to many people -- my mentors and people I look up to. With that being said, of course I'll be coming back to Oregon for one more year, being able to play for the Oregon Ducks and reach our goal and be national champions."
The upside is obvious. If Moore takes another step in 2026 and leads Oregon on a College Football Playoff run, he could put himself right back in position to be the top quarterback selected. Scouts will be watching closely, and every Ducks game becomes another chance for Moore to shape the draft board.
There’s also the financial side. Moore could have been looking at $40-50 million in the NFL if he had gone No. 2 overall in 2026, but he chose the college route instead. In the NIL era, that kind of decision is part of the new reality, and Oregon has become one of the clearest examples of a program that can offer both development and opportunity.
Dan Lanning has pointed out before that college football is a prep league for the NFL, and Moore’s return fits that idea perfectly. Oregon gives him the setting to grow, win and still keep his pro future intact, with elite facilities, striking uniforms, coaching and national relevance all part of the package.
Moore is coming off a 2025 season that was one of the most efficient in the country. He finished No. 3 nationally with a 72.9 completion percentage and No. 7 with a 166.73 passer rating.
Oregon opens its season on Sept. 5 against Boise State at Autzen Stadium, and the Ducks begin the year with Moore back under center and plenty of attention already following him.
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For Dan Lanning, the appeal is as practical as it is symbolic. The new complex is designed to put classrooms, training spaces and football operations in closer reach of one another, a setup that should make daily life easier for players and coaches alike while also easing pressure on existing facilities. Completion is still a ways off, but even now the project already feels like the sort of infrastructure move that can shape how Oregon sells itself on the trail. [Read more 🡒]