Oregon Ducks quarterback Cbssports turned down a potential NFL rookie contract projected to be worth up to $55 million, choosing instead to return to school for the 2026 season according to reports from Cbssports and The New York Times. Draft experts had projected the 20-year-old quarterback as high as the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, a selection held by the New York Jets, before he decided to remain in Eugene.
Oregon Quarterback Dante Moore Returns for 2026
Following his announcement, Moore immediately went golfing, telling Cbssports at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago that he turned his phone off after making his choice. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning discovered the news while watching ESPN’s SportsCenter in the football building when Moore made his public declaration.
Chasing a National Championship and On-Field Development
Moore stated that avoiding the Jets organization played no part in his decision according to The New York Times. Instead, his primary goals are winning Oregon’s first national championship and improving as a player after leading the Ducks to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season according to Cbssports.
During the previous postseason run, Oregon fell in the semifinals to eventual national champion Indiana in a 34-point blowout where Moore struggled with a pick-six and two first-half fumbles according to Cbssports. Prior to his decision to return, Moore consulted with NFL quarterbacks including Drew Brees, Patrick Mahomes, and Bo Nix, while receiving specific feedback from NFL coaches and scouts to improve his pre-snap reads according to The New York Times.
Brandon Grier, Moore’s agent with Equity Sports, explained the long-term financial perspective behind the choice according to The New York Times: He didn’t want to let $50 million get in the way of $600 million.
Name, Image, and Likeness Earnings
While passing on an immediate NFL salary, Moore commands a prominent position in collegiate name, image, and likeness compensation according to si.com. On3 Sports values Moore’s NIL valuation at approximately $5 million, ranking him fourth across all of college athletics according to si.com.
Moore’s portfolio includes endorsement deals and ventures with EA Sports, Beats By Dre, Raising Cane’s, Dr. Pepper, Nike, and Oregon’s Ducks of a Feather
merchandise brand, alongside his own children’s book titled From Journey to Dream
and youth football camps according to si.com.
Team Expectations for the 2026 Ducks
Entering the 2026 campaign, the Ducks are ranked No. 3 in CBS Sports’ spring top 25 poll, returning 14 starters and 66% of their total production from the previous season according to Cbssports. New offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, who was promoted after Will Stein accepted a position at Kentucky, spent the spring working with Moore to adjust the playbook to the quarterback’s preferences according to Cbssports.
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota drew comparisons to Moore’s trajectory and expressed confidence in the current Oregon star’s ability to lead the program according to OregonLive.com. Mariota noted that Moore’s resilience through past adversity at UCLA and his time backing up Dillon Gabriel at Oregon has prepared him for a significant year according to OregonLive.com.
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