In this segment, we've certainly handed out a lot of ratings- buy, sell, hold, strong buy, strong sell etc. However, this is the first time we've done a "suspending trading" on a NFL Draft prospect. Yes, you read that correctly, we are indeed halting trading on the draft stock of Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore.
As you have probably heard by now, Moore, out with a concussion since suffering that horrific hit back on Sept. 26, will not play again this season. And honestly, this development is expected, given the way things have gone the past few weeks. Moore has long been a public advocate for mental health, so of course he is going to prioritize physical health as well.
When USC linebacker Desman Stephens II gave Moore that nasty, cheap shot
about a month ago, you knew the QB's injury was going to be very serious.
The back of Moore's head violently hit the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum turf, and he had to immediately be stretchered off, and taken to the hospital.
When it comes to concussions, they are notoriously unpredictable for projecting an accurate timeline for recovery and return. Gone are the days of "he just had his bell rung, but then shook it off and continued playing" or "take some smelling salts and then get back out there." Society has long progressed that kind of barbarism.
And while yes, we have "concussion protocol," it's not a one-size-fits-all kind of injury. Concussions are often referred to "brain bruises," but they're actually much more than that.
With a concussion, the jolt to the head causes the brain to move quickly and bounce or twist inside the skull. That stretches and injures brain cells to point of disrupting chemical and electrical function.
It's not surprising that Oregon and Moore decided to shut it down for 2026, even if it took a loss at Illinois to make them realize this was the best course of action, and that this campaign is indeed a lost season.
Falling by double digits to the Illini, in a game where they entered as double digit favorites, was also the final straw for Offensive Coordinator Drew Mehringer, who sacked the next day. It's yet another scalp for Illini coach Bret Bielema, who has now seen several opposing coaches get fired right after his team beat them.
Moore still has one remaining season on eligibility left, and according to reports, he has not yet made a decision on his future. And for the four games he did play this term, his statistics look pretty good: 69-of-99 passing for 926 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions.
That said, he did show some struggles at times this season, in that limited body of work, and he was not as impressive this year, as he was last year. And obviously, he should have entered the draft last year. That has already been said, numerous times already.
He could have gone as high as #2 overall, potentially, and maybe gotten a $50 million deal. So where does that leave Moore now?
Most prognosticators see him as the sixth or seventh QB off the boards, more or less. And he's projected to likely to go somewhere in the late first or early second round
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: NFL Draft stock trading suspended on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore
