Oregon came into this offseason with serious buzz around its 2026 NFL Draft potential. Early projections had multiple Ducks pegged as first-round picks, with some even suggesting the program could challenge its all-time record for first-round selections in a single draft. But that narrative took a turn - not because of a talent drain, but because several of Oregon’s top prospects chose to run it back in Eugene for another year.
Among those returning are as many as three players who were projected to go in Round 1, plus two more who had Day Two grades. The result?
A reshaped draft class, but one that still carries significant weight. Oregon may not flood the first round like some expected, but the Ducks are still poised to make their presence felt - and not just through the players who are draft-eligible.
In fact, one of the biggest storylines in the early draft cycle isn’t about who is in the draft, but who isn’t. Quarterback Dante Moore’s decision to return to Oregon for the 2026 season has already sent ripples through the NFL draft landscape. His absence at the top of the quarterback class is forcing teams to rethink their strategies - and that shift is already showing up in mock drafts.
Take Mel Kiper Jr.’s first mock draft of the year, for example. The longtime ESPN draft analyst has Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq going in the first round, but it’s what he said about Moore that really jumps out. Kiper has the New York Jets picking second overall, and instead of grabbing a quarterback - a move many fans would expect - he has them taking linebacker Arvell Reese.
Kiper didn’t mince words about why the Jets are passing on a signal-caller.
“For the Jets fans screaming that the team needs a quarterback, I’m with you,” Kiper wrote. “There just isn’t another passer worthy of a top-two selection right now after Dante Moore decided to go back to Oregon for another season.”
That’s a major endorsement of Moore’s standing in the eyes of NFL evaluators. He’s not in this draft, and yet his absence is reshaping how teams approach the top of the board. Kiper even floated the idea that the Jets might roll with a veteran stopgap and wait for 2027 - when they’re sitting on three first-round picks - instead of reaching for a QB this year.
In other words, Moore’s decision to stay in school didn’t just impact Oregon’s outlook - it’s shifting the entire quarterback market at the top of the draft.
But Oregon isn’t just influencing the draft through subtraction. There’s still top-tier talent making the leap, and tight end Kenyon Sadiq is a prime example.
Kiper has Sadiq landing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 15 overall, and the fit makes a lot of sense. The Bucs offense, led by Baker Mayfield, cooled off late in the season, and there’s real uncertainty surrounding their pass-catching corps. Mike Evans and Cade Otton are both free agents, and Evans, now 32, may not be in the long-term plans.
Even with a wide receiver room that could feature Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay has a glaring need at tight end. That’s where Sadiq comes in.
“What Tampa Bay needs is exactly what Sadiq would provide,” Kiper wrote. “He’s a big, 6-foot-3 target with explosive traits, making him a matchup nightmare for opponents.
Mayfield could get him the ball in space to let him use his after-the-catch ability to move the sticks or fire jump balls to him in the back of the end zone. I really like this match.”
Sadiq’s rise into the middle of the first round underscores the kind of talent Oregon continues to develop - players who are not only athletic and versatile but also polished enough to contribute early at the next level.
So, here’s what we’re seeing from Oregon heading into the 2026 draft cycle: even with some of their biggest stars opting to stay in school, the Ducks are still sending NFL-ready talent to the league. And perhaps more impressively, they’re shaping the draft conversation in ways that extend far beyond who’s on the board.
Dante Moore’s return reshuffled the quarterback hierarchy. Kenyon Sadiq’s emergence solidified Oregon’s reputation for producing dynamic skill players. The Ducks may not dominate the first round in quantity, but their quality - and influence - is undeniable.