To secure the 2026 top draft spot, the Ducks' star must master poise under pressure and aggression downfield against elite defenses to overcome past postseason struggles.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore took a big risk this offseason.
Moore was expected to be the No. 2 quarterback taken if he entered the 2026 NFL Draft right. There was no beating Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who landed with the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1.
Moore would have likely been taken before the Los Angeles Rams took Ty Simpson and probably even in the top 10. Now he's hoping to perform well enough this season that he'll go No. 1, over Arch Manning.
Still, as we saw last season, some quarterbacks projected to be first-round picks in the 2026 draft fell into Day 2 and Day 3 territory after frustrating falls.
But Moore needed to return to Oregon to work on a few things that would make his debut in the NFL more successful after suffering a 56-22 blowout loss to Indiana in the College Football Playoff.
Jordan Reid of ESPN noted that NFL evaluators want to see Moore improve against better defenses this year after he struggled against Texas Tech and Indiana in 2025.
"Evaluators want to see Moore become more consistent against top-tier defenses," Reid wrote. "He also struggled when plays went off kilter, as his overall process got sped up and his effectiveness dwindled. Defenses that hit Moore early can get him to become timid as games go on.”
"Speaking of which, scouts would like to see him take more shots and be more forceful with his arm in testing tight windows. Several times on tape Moore was too patient and not aggressive enough, passing over open targets in deeper parts of the field for more comfortable throws underneath."
Moore does the little things well, and that's a good sign for him to polish a few areas he struggled with last season.
"From his footwork to his release, Moore is a natural in every aspect of the position," Reid wrote. He distributes the ball in a timely, efficient manner with his smooth, effective throwing motion.
"Moore is an underrated athlete but uses his mobility only as a last resort. He has a wealth of experience with the progression-based concepts that will be asked of him in the NFL."
When Moore has time to throw, he looks like the best quarterback in college football.
The NFL won't give him much time to throw, and he'll face defenses that get in his face like Indiana did in January pretty much every Sunday.
