There was serious buzz of Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore challenging Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft — that was, if he decided to declare. If he hadn't gone first overall, there's a high likelihood that he would've gone No. 2 to the New York Jets, a franchise starving for consistant quarterback play.
But in the end, Moore made the mature decision to return to college for one more season, further building upon and improving an exceptional 2025 season that showcased his pro-level skills.
Being in contention for the No. 1 pick in 2026 would mean that he'd more than likely be the far-and-away top passer in the 2027 class, right? You'd be wrong, if you were looking at The Athletic's 2027 quarterback
draft rankings.
Instead of the Ducks' signal-caller, Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning took the top spot — despite struggling mightily early in the year. He improved as the season progressed, but still wasn't nearly as polished as a passer as Moore. Arguably, he wasn't even in the same stratosphere. But the Manning name holds a lot of weight, potentially factoring into Manning being ranked No. 1.
The Athletic's draft analyst Dane Brugler broke down Moore's game, noting his best trait as being his passing touch.
"Moore is a loose passer with a quick setup and release," Brugler wrote. "He has a high batting average in the screen game because the ball gets out fast with both velocity and placement. He also shines on intermediate and downfield throws because of his feathery touch. Last season, Moore completed 54.5 percent of attempts beyond 20-plus yards, including 15 touchdowns. His physical traits (size, mobility, arm) are more good than great, and those won’t change, but his feel for layering throws should translate well to the pro game."
On the other hand, the trait that Moore most needs to improve upon, in Brugler's evaluation, is excelling under pressure. Brugler noted that there were times when the Oregon passer premeditated where he was throwing the ball, resulting in Indiana's pick-six to open the College Football Playoff Semifinal. He also drops his eyes too soon when facing pressure, as Moore had a wide-open Kenyon Sadiq for a touchdown against Penn State but checked the ball down at first sight of pressure.
While Moore may have passed up on being the No. 1 or No. 2 pick in last year's draft, he did it at the cost of being more ready for the pro game and setting himself up for a long and illustrious NFL career. From a long-term point of view, he made the right choice — even if Manning ends up being the top passer selected from this class.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Dante Moore falls behind Arch Manning in The Athletic's 2027 QB ranks
