Mel Kiper Jr. warns Dante Moore: Return to Oregon could boost 2026 NFL Draft stock

Through three games in 2025, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has stepped firmly into the spotlight. Taking over for Dillon Gabriel, Moore has guided the Ducks to a 3-0 start with commanding wins over Montana State, Oklahoma State, and Northwestern.

In those contests, he has thrown for 657 yards with seven touchdowns, just one interception, and a completion rate of 78 percent. The early success has drawn the attention of longtime Mel Kiper Jr., who believes Moore should not rush to the professional level.

Instead, Kiper said Moore would be better served returning to Oregon in 2026 to strengthen his draft value further.

“I think the opponents have kind of allowed him to settle into this game after the struggles he had at UCLA,” Kiper said. “Will Stein, the (offensive) coordinator, has done a great job with him. I think another year, even if he finishes this year and he’s great, that’s just one year as a starter. You don’t want that number to be that low coming out. Go back to Oregon for another season. You know the talent is gonna be around you. You’re gonna have talented kids coming every year.”

Also read: Oregon HC Dan Lanning warns Dante Moore can’t win alone despite Ducks' 3-0 start

Kiper, who has covered the NFL Draft since 1984, labeled Moore “a guy to watch.” He pointed to Moore’s status as the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2023 ESPN300, just behind Malachi Nelson and ahead of Arch Manning. Moore’s first stop at UCLA was rocky, as he threw nine interceptions in 2023, including a pick-six in three consecutive games.

Now at Oregon, Moore is thriving under Stein, whom Kiper called “a great coordinator who’s gonna be a head coach soon at 35 years of age.” Stein has previously worked with Bo Nix and Gabriel, and Moore has become his latest project.

Moore’s path has been eventful. A five-star prospect and top-five quarterback out of high school, he became one of only nine true freshmen to start a game at UCLA in 2023.

After transferring to Oregon in 2024, he played limited snaps, completing 7 of 8 passes for 49 yards. Now, as a third-year sophomore, he is delivering on the expectations that followed him out of high school.

This weekend, Moore and the Ducks face in-state rival Oregon State, which has started 0-3. Continued strong play could push Moore’s stock even higher with analysts like Kiper closely watching.

More: Oregon Ducks HC Dan Lanning claps back: $100M joke at Mike Gundy after 69-3 beatdown.