Dante Moore 2026 NFL Draft Profile

Oregon has produced several first-round picks at quarterback in recent years. Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert, and Bo Nix all hailed from Eugene before being top draft selections. The Ducks have found another gem under center in Dante Moore. Moore was a highly-touted prospect coming out of high school, but his path to college football stardom has been an up-and-down one. He has proved the hype was valid this season, leading Oregon to a 7-1 record. The Ducks rank sixth in scoring offense, averaging 41.2 points per game. Moore is the most prominent factor in their success offensively. His talent is undeniable, but can he be the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?

2026 NFL Draft: Dante Moore Player Profile

Background

Moore was a five-star recruit coming out of Martin Luther King High School (Michigan). He was the third-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2023. Moore initially committed to Oregon, but flipped to UCLA, where he’d see the field immediately. His college career got off to a bumpy start, completing just 53.5% of his passes for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 2023. He entered the transfer portal after one season with the Bruins, joining the team he was initially committed to. Moore paired up with Dan Lanning at Oregon and redshirted the 2024 season with Dillon Gabriel already establishing himself as the starter. He completed seven of eight passes for 49 yards during his redshirt season.

With Gabriel off to the NFL, Moore took over as QB1 for 2025. It took a couple of years, but Moore has lived up to his five-star billing this season. Through eight games, Moore’s completion percentage has skyrocketed to 71.4%, throwing for 1,772 yards, 19 touchdowns, and four interceptions.

Strengths

The first thing that jumps out when watching Moore is his arm strength. He generates remarkable velocity on his throws and can hit every blade of grass with his arm. Moore’s deep passing is arguably the best in the country, keeping defenses on their toes. He is also an exceptional intermediate thrower, as he can thread passes into tight windows over the middle of the field. Moore’s accuracy extends beyond his high completion percentage. He understands the more nuanced aspects of being an accurate passer, such as throwing defenders away from coverage to maximize yards after the catch. Moore’s mobility isn’t elite, but he is a capable scrambler who can pick up chunk plays with his legs when he has open grass.

Weaknesses

The biggest concern for Moore is his frame. He measures at just 206 pounds, which is certainly on the lighter end for quarterbacks. This can raise questions about the ability to withstand the physical demands of a 17-game NFL season. While Moore’s accuracy is mostly good, he can miss layups in the short passing game. Moore also tends to hang onto the ball too long, which leads to taking sacks and stalling drives.

Overview

Moore has surpassed several of his peers on mock drafts this season. His arm strength and improved accuracy make him a surefire first-round pick. The smaller frame is a concern, and there’s still room for growth, but the talent of a franchise signal-caller is evident. Moore is still a relatively young player, with this being his first full season as the starter. He may decide to return to Eugene for one more season, though it’s increasingly likely he will turn pro after 2025. His game is similar to Jayden Daniels, both having smaller frames but possessing elite arms and dual-threat playmaking ability. While Moore isn’t as mobile as Daniels, he can still beat defenses as a runner. There are plenty of teams towards the top of the draft that need quarterbacks. Moore will likely be a top-five pick and just may hear his name called first overall.