Prior to announcing his return to the Oregon Ducks for the 2026 season, quarterback Dante Moore was neck-and-neck with Indiana's Fernando Mendoza as the QB1 for this year's draft class. While he had just 20 college starts under his belt, he was largely seen as the player with the most long-term potential and, if he he hadn't gone No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, was almost a shoo-in to be taken by the New York Jets at No. 2.
But, Moore decided to put off the NFL for one more year, instead with the expectation that he'll put himself in the coveted quarterback draft class of 2027. It's far from the quarterback class of 2026, which featured just two first-rounders with Alabama's Ty Simpson being a shock to go as high as No. 13 to the Los Angeles Rams.
The 2027 class could feature upwards of five passers taken in the first round, similar to the 2024 draft. The headliners challenging Moore for the top spot are viewed as Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Texas' Arch Manning — though both of which slot in behind the Ducks quarterback in USA TODAY's ranking of the best quarterback prospects in the 2027 class.
Analyst Ayrton Ostly dove into the strengths of Moore's game, highlighting him as "a mobile pocket passer with a fast release who took steps as an intermediate passer in 2025. His deep ball touch is among the best in the class. He’s not a true dual-threat quarterback, but his mobility can extend plays and he’s comfortable throwing on the run."
As far as weaknesses go, it came down largely to his two games against the Hoosiers in which he struggled mightily.
"Moore struggled against Indiana in 2025," Ostly wrote. "The Hoosiers’ defense is as close to a pro system as he has seen in the college ranks with their use of pre-snap disguises. If Moore can improve on his post-snap play recognition, he’ll be a lock top-three pick. His leaner frame (206 pounds at 6-foot-3) is a slight concern as well."
While part of Moore's return to Eugene for 2026 was to make a run at a championship, the other was to ready himself for the pro level. He showed that he wasn't quite ready for the Indiana defense in both matchups, potentially acting as a tell-tale sign that another year at the college level would serve him well.
Assuming it does serve him well and he stays healthy, there's a huge reason to believe that Moore will take the QB1 spot in the 2027 NFL Draft. And in the way that drafts go nowadays, there's a huge likelihood that that pick is No. 1 overall and Moore etches his name into the prestigious group of passers to go first off the board a year from now.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Where Dante Moore lands in the 2027 NFL draft class QB rankings