Oregon is expected to contend for the program’s first national championship in the 2026 season, thanks in large part to the blockbuster return of Dante Moore. The quarterback passed up on a first-round NFL draft grade to return to Eugene, and former Super Bowl champion, Bucky Brooks, thinks it was the right call.
“I think he made the right decision,”Brooks said. “The reason why he made the right decision is what are we trying to do? Are we trying to get to the league or are we trying to flourish in the league? If we’re trying to get to the league he can kind of run the game on him, don’t do any of the testing, short path draft night and hear his name called and get it back. But if he’s trying to be great like he’s talked about well then you got to make sure that your habits align with what your dreams are and how does he go to work?
“How does he approach it? How does he finish it? What are his practices like? Are they consistent? Those are the little areas where he has to come. If anything I would say treat it like a pro. Be a pro every day. Figure it out how to be a pro. How to maximize who I have. Make it fun but make sure we have a little competitive zeal to him when it’s time to determine who are the franchise quarterbacks that he’s in that conversation.”
Ex-Super Bowl Champ Urges Dante Moore to “Be a Pro Every Day” After Making the “Right Decision”
Ex-Super Bowl Champ Urges Dante Moore to “Be a Pro Every Day” After Making the “Right Decision” (Imagn Image)
Following a 13-2 season that ended in a disappointing College Football Playoff Semifinal loss to Indiana, Moore cited a desire to reach the ultimate goal of a title. His performance in that game, which included multiple early turnovers, appears to have strengthened his motivation to return and chase a championship.
When discussing Moore’s draft outlook, Brooks said he likely would have been the No. 2 quarterback behind Fernando Mendoza, even considering his struggles against Indiana’s defensive adjustments.
“What we can’t deny is when we see him the talent pops off the field,” Brooks said of Moore. “Terrific, talented, he’s lived up to the hype as a ballyhoo prospect coming out of high school. Then it’s about seeing what are the advances to his game this year? How does he grow? Does he become more of a guy that can orchestrate everything at the line of scrimmage? Does he play with even more confidence down in the red zone? Does he have the ability to take over games?
“So he’s more of a game changer than a game manager at the position. He has a lot of intriguing tools and assets like everyone talked about coming in that even if he had come out people would not have liked doing it but they would have taken him early just because the talent is there.”
After spending 2024 behind Dillon Gabriel, the 2025 season marked Moore’s first full year as a starter. Returning for 2026 should give him valuable time to refine his decision-making and become a more complete quarterback.
Todd McShay Predicts Dante Moore Still a Top-3 Pick Despite Delayed NFL Entry
The 2026 NFL Draft doesn’t feature many elite options in the quarterback position, and Moore could have been a top-3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, he opted to return to Dan Lanning’s squad for another season, as he appears destined to enter a star-studded 2027 NFL Draft class with some heavy competition at his position.
However, NFL analyst Todd McShay speculated on ‘The McShay Show’ that Moore will be a top-3 pick in next year’s draft as well.
“Several teams are making moves because of next year’s class,” McShay said. “If these quarterbacks start dropping in this year’s class, it’s fine … If I’m going to spend a resource on a quarterback, it’s going to be in 2027. There are too many of those guys. It’s Arch Manning, it’s Dante Moore and it’s Brendan Sorsby. Those are the top three. There could be eight first-rounders next year, it’s that loaded.”
Moore will be a locked-in Top-3 prospect in next year’s draft, who could challenge Manning for QB1 status with a potential dominant 2026 season. He was phenomenal last season, completing 73% of his passes for 3,280 yards and 28 touchdowns.