Dante Moore's 2026 draft stock continues to rise in latest report

To date, there has been no indication from Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore that he'll declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. Draft experts such as The Ringer's Todd McShay have emphatically reported that Moore is, and should, return to Oregon for one more season. After all, he's a redshirt sophomore with just 16 career starts under his belt.

But there's also been no indication directly from the source that he won't, leaving the door open ever so slightly. With that as a possibility, NFL organizations are doing their due diligence.

"I heard a lot about Oregon quarterback Dante Moore from scouts this week," draft analyst Matt Miller wrote in ESPN's latest draft prospect roundup article.

Due to his lack of starts, "there is some concern about his NFL readiness, but teams love the 6-foot-3, 206-pound signal-caller's command, poise and touch accuracy."

An NFC West scout even went as far as calling him the best quarterback in the 2026 draft class based on a combination of his tools, production and potential.

Though unconfirmed, the 2026 draft class is widely expected to include Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza. There's also buzz that Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson could declare, though he's started just one season.

At the beginning of the season, each of the Texas Longhorns' Arch Manning, South Carolina Gamecocks' LaNorris Sellers, Clemson Tigers' Cade Klubnik and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier were seen as potential first-round picks. But after disappointing 2025 campaigns, the quarterback class is revealing itself as a one or two-man race.

With a fast start to the season and continuing to show impressive mental resolve and physical tools, Moore is in position to capitalize on the seemingly weakening class of passers.

"Moore's 2026 plans are not known at this time -- he is a third-year sophomore and still has college eligibility -- but the talk of him being a top-five pick should he enter this class is heating up."

Being a top-five pick, receiving millions of dollars guaranteed and realizing a lifelong dream is certainly hard to pass up. And without publicly denying any sort of rumors, draft analysts and scouts will continue to float the possibility that the Ducks' quarterback will declare at the end of the season.

But there's still a long way to go in the process.

Ahead of Oregon is a potentially deep run through the College Football Playoff, giving Moore an opportunity in which he could log more starts and gain more experience. As far as whether or not he declares or returns: we'll have to wait and see where everything stands by the end of January.

But one thing is for sure: when Moore does declare for the NFL draft, he's going to be very highly-sought after.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore's draft stock continues rising