Dante Moore’s season ending early has already turned into a draft conversation, and not the flattering kind.
The Oregon quarterback’s concussion in the second quarter of the Ducks’ fourth game of the season abruptly shut down what was supposed to be another step in his rise. With coach Dan Lanning saying Monday that he did not expect Moore back, the focus has shifted fast from Autzen Stadium to the 2027 NFL Draft and what this shortened year might do to his stock.
That question was front and center on an emergency edition of ESPN’s “First Draft” podcast, where Mike Greenberg, Field Yates and Mel Kiper dug into Moore’s situation. Greenberg said he believed Moore was positioned to be the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft before Moore chose to stay at Oregon for another season. Yates agreed with that view, but both analysts made it clear the latest news has complicated everything.
“No idea,” Yates said when asked what Moore’s early-ended season means for his draft stock. “And that’s the part about this that is so interesting.
I steadfastly believe what you [Greenberg] said. I think he would have gone number two to the [New York Jets], and it’s why I advocated against going back to Oregon.
There was risk involved.”
Yates said the danger was always baked in.
“Even if you went from two to five from 2026 to 2027, that’s a fall, and there really wasn’t much room for him to go but down, and now you’re entering a draft process where what are the data points that we have? And ultimately, when teams are ultimately making selections, the more conviction they have is driven by the more information and data they have,” Yates added.
The problem for Moore is that the information he has put on tape this season has not helped his case. In limited action in 2026, he has 926 passing yards and nine touchdowns, along with six sacks.
On the ground, he has 10 carries for negative seven yards. Oregon’s loss at Oklahoma State also became part of the discussion, as Moore struggled behind a shaky offensive line.
Kiper pointed to a different version of Moore, one he saw in Oregon’s 30-24 “White Out” win over Penn State in 2025. That was the game that made him look like “Superman,” Kiper said. But since then, in Kiper’s view, Moore has not been able to “recapture” that level.
“We never brought it back at all last year,” Kiper said of Moore’s talent against Penn State. “And [Yates] talked about, I think it is a little revisionist history to say he would have gone second.
We weren’t talking about that. We were saying, 'Boy, I know [Greenberg], you’re Jets.
Were you excited about Dante Moore going two to the Jets? I don’t think so, okay."
Kiper also described Moore as a “leap of faith” pick, tying that to his arm strength, his veteran status and his ability to handle playbooks as complex as Oregon’s 2025 system.
The broader read from the trio was pretty plain: Moore is still a question mark, not a sure thing. Yates and Kiper both raised doubts about him climbing back into the first round, though they also left room for Pro Day work and pre-Draft workouts to change the conversation. They noted, too, that a fading 2027 quarterback class could still shake up how teams view him.
For now, though, Moore is stuck in a spot where his next proof point may never come on the field. His own comments have shown that he knows how much second-guessing and emotional pressure come with defenses getting into his pocket, and the timing could not be worse.
As Lanning put it, “It’s not really up to Dante. It’s not really up to me,” with Moore’s season now over earlier than anyone wanted.
In Other News...
Oregon's Offense Just Got Needed Help As Bigger Absences Loom
Oregons passing game is getting a timely boost as it heads into the Northwestern matchup, with three wide receivers who sat out the Illinois game expected back in the mix. Evan Stewart, Jalen Lott and Messiah Hampton should all be available, which gives the Ducks a little more room to work after a stretch where the offense has had to absorb more than its share of absences.
The return help comes with plenty still unsettled, though. Jeremiah McClellan remains sidelined by a foot injury, Dante Moore is not expected to play again this season after suffering a concussion, and the offensive line remains shorthanded with Dave Iuli and Matthew Johnson out indefinitely following surgeries. Freshman Immanuel Iheanacho is questionable, though he is expected to be available, leaving Oregon to piece together its protection and skill group as it tries to stabilize the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon May Finally Be Getting Needed Offensive Help Back
Oregon has spent most of the season patching together its offense through injuries, and the latest practice news offers a much-needed lift. The Ducks have already taken major hits with Dante Moore out for the year, while Dave Iuli and Matthew Johnson both underwent surgeries, leaving the group thinner than anyone would have expected this early in the schedule.
Now the receiver room is starting to trend in a better direction, with Evan Stewart, Jalen Lott and Messiah Hampton all returning to practice ahead of the Northwestern game. For an offense that has been forced to manage around so many absences, getting that kind of depth back could matter quickly, especially with a road test looming and Northwestern also getting some of its own injury help in tight end Luke Dehnicke. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Unveils A Rare Halloween Look At A Crucial Time
Oregon is leaning into the Halloween mood for its night game against Northwestern at Autzen Stadium, unveiling a black-and-white combination from the Generation O collection. The look includes a black matte helmet with white wings, a sharp contrast that gives the Ducks another one of their trademark fashion-forward national TV moments while still fitting the spooky setting.
What makes this set stand out is the history attached to it. Oregon has never before paired a black jersey with white pants, and the white wings on a black helmet are a first for the program as well. As with so many of the Ducks signature looks, the design came through a collaboration involving Nike, designers, Oregon football staff and athletes, adding another layer to a uniform reveal that arrives at an important point in the season. [Read more 🡒]