Dante Moore finds himself in one of the most enviable and difficult positions in all of college football. The Oregon quarterback is draft-eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, despite still having remaining college eligibility, a reality made possible by being three years removed from high school. With elite physical tools, rising production, and growing buzz among NFL evaluators, Moore is already being discussed as a potential top-five pick.
Yet according to prominent college football analyst Joel Klatt, the smartest move may be resisting the NFL’s financial allure and returning to Eugene for another season.
Joel Klatt Warns Dante Moore About NFL Fit as Jets Lurk Near Top of 2026 Draft
Appearing on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Klatt did not hesitate when asked what advice he would give Moore if the quarterback called him directly. “I wouldn’t even blink,” Klatt said. “I’d tell him to go back to school.”
Klatt acknowledged that organizational fit and readiness to develop a young quarterback matter tremendously when entering the NFL. That context is especially relevant for the New York Jets, the $9.1 billion franchise, according to CNBC, which holds the second overall pick in the 2026 draft. The franchise has been widely criticized for cycling through young quarterbacks without providing the stability, coaching, or surrounding talent necessary for success.
Meanwhile, Fernando Mendoza has emerged as the early favorite to go first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, further complicating the top of the quarterback market. While Moore is currently projected as QB1 on Pro Football Sports Network’s (PFSN) Draft Consensus Big Board and a top-five overall prospect, Klatt emphasized that draft slot alone should not dictate the decision.
Instead, Klatt focused on one critical factor above all else is experience. One of the most compelling points Klatt raised involved quarterback starts at the collegiate level. According to him, the least experienced college quarterback to win a Super Bowl in the past 25 years was Tom Brady, a name that alone underscores the rarity of early success.
The takeaway is clear: the more starts, reps, and high-level game situations a quarterback experiences before entering the NFL, the better their odds of long-term success. Moore’s talent is undeniable, but additional seasoning could significantly raise both his floor and ceiling as a professional prospect.
NIL Changes the Financial Equation
Historically, financial pressure pushed elite prospects toward the NFL as soon as possible. That is no longer the case.
With NIL opportunities exploding across college football, Moore can return to Oregon and still earn life-changing money without risking premature entry into a league that may not be ready to maximize his talent. Klatt made it clear that finances alone should no longer be the deciding factor, especially for quarterbacks at powerhouse programs like Oregon.
That said, the temptation to declare is legitimate.
The 2026 quarterback class is viewed as weaker than normal at the top, making Moore’s current standing even more appealing. PFSN ranks him ahead of Mendoza on its big board, largely due to Moore’s immense upside. However, the advanced metrics tell a slightly more nuanced story.
Mendoza posted a 93.3 QB Impact Grade for the 2025 season, the second-highest among all quarterbacks, while Moore finished at a still-impressive 85.9. The gap suggests Moore has room to refine aspects of his game and further separate himself with another dominant season.
Why Dante Moore’s Oregon Decision Is Bigger Than One Draft?
There are legitimate concerns about what Oregon’s offense looks like moving forward. Offensive coordinator Will Stein is expected to depart after the 2025 season to take the head coaching job at the University of Kentucky, raising questions about continuity.
Replicating the Ducks’ 2025 success, when they graded as the 13th-highest offense nationally with an 84.6 grade per PFSN, won’t be guaranteed. Still, these are the kinds of “problems” most 20-year-olds dream of having.
When weighing all factors, development, experience, organizational fit, financial security, and long-term success, the argument for returning to Oregon is compelling. Moore doesn’t need to rush. The NFL will still be there, and with another year of growth, he could enter the league as a more polished, resilient, and prepared franchise quarterback.
For now, Dante Moore stands at the crossroads of patience and temptation, and according to Joel Klatt, patience may be the move that defines his career.
