Why Jets Must Consider This Highly-Touted Prospect In 2026 NFL Draft

With the New York Jets off to a winless start through the first four weeks of the 2025 NFL season, general manager Darren Mougey will now begin to look ahead at the upcoming NFL Draft to set the franchise up for brighter days in the future.

Depending on how the rest of the season shakes out for the struggling franchise, Mougey and the rest of the front office may have the opportunity to receive a high pick in the 2026 Draft. There are clearly multiple glaring needs for the Jets heading into next year, including a new defensive end and a second wide receiver to play alongside star wideout Garrett Wilson.

However, if the Jets do end up with a top-5 pick in the draft, the organization could be in the running for one of the best college football quarterbacks this season in Oregon’s Dante Moore.

After spending one season with the UCLA Bruins in his freshman year, the former highly-touted high school prospect ultimately transferred to Oregon in 2024 and spent the year as the backup with 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel leading the charge on offense.

Luckily for Moore, this extra year has paid off for the young talent, as he’s developed into a phenomenal quarterback for the Ducks this season.

In his first five games of the season, Moore threw for 1,210 yards, 14 touchdowns, and one interception in his third year. This includes an impressive victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions in week five, with Moore throwing for 248 yards and three touchdowns in the primetime matchup. His composure that he displayed on the road in a “white out” at Breaver Stadium has skyrocketed his draft stock, as he is now considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 draft class.

While Moore has done a terrific job through the air thus far, his ability to use his legs in the run game makes him even more of a dynamic threat at the quarterback position. This season, Moore has tallied 122 rushing yards on 24 carries, making him a perfect option for the Jets’ first-round selection in the next draft.

If Mougey decides to use his pick on a quarterback and Moore does come out in the 2026 Draft, this would likely close the book on the team’s current quarterback, Justin Fields. The former 2021 first-round pick has shown signs of being a quality starting quarterback, throwing for 471 yards and two touchdowns through three games.

But unlike Fields, Moore has clearly demonstrated his ability to be a more efficient passer than New York’s starting quarterback.

Both Moore and Fields have proven to be solid dual-threat playmakers, but the Oregon standout’s tape is riddled with elite throws at all three levels of the field.New York signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal this offseason, with $30 million being guaranteed. The Jets would take a $10 million cap hit if they play to release the 26-year-old, which could be beneficial for a team that has yet to find its franchise quarterback for the future.