Right now, mock NFL drafts generally have him going as one of the top couple pics. And since this kid just keeps improving by the week, I think over the next couple games, his stock is only going to rise.

If he goes number two, obviously the downside is that he would go to the Raiders.

But, if he is picked as one of the top two or three players in the draft, he's going to immediately have a contract worth about $50 million dollars, with about 60% of that coming in the form of a signing bonus.

And while I definitely do not love money, I certainly have a strong appreciation for what it can do. I just can't see him turning down that kind of money, unless we could possibly could come up with some heavy duty NIL cash-o-la, and make sure he gets one hell of an insurance policy.

So, if he doesn't come back, who are we thinking that we might be able to pick up to backfill his role?

I'm sure the NIL will come in and get close enough.

The bigger question is that does Dante feel like there is still just to learn and grow from college ball?

I think his current NFL evaluation is on his potential. He has a lot of potential.

But if he feels like he can develop mentally and in his leadership with another year of college ball then he'll come back.

Because if his potential doesn't catch up fast enough for the NFL he'll flame out real fast. Another year of college probably solidifies his NFL career for the long run.

8 minutes ago, David Marsh said:

Another year of college probably solidifies his NFL career for the long run.

Just ask Mariota, Herbert, and Nix. They all came back and they all improved their NFL life.

How many junior QB's get used up by a bad team and then discard to become a backup or never play again. The best things that could happen to him is to fall in the draft to mid first round and sign with a team that has a chance like Bo.

A big rookie contact is great but play the long game and the endorsements and contact extensions will payoff big time. Not to mention not getting thrown to the wolves playing for the Raiders or Browns.

2 hours ago, David Marsh said:

Another year of college probably solidifies his NFL career for the long run.

There is no guarantee that he’ll have success in the NFL, even if he used all of his eligibility though.

As much as I’d like, as a Ducks fan, to see him return next year, $40-50 million is a lot to turn down and potentially risk.

Edited yesterday at 10:17 PM1 day by OregonDucks

1 hour ago, Dave23 said:

How many junior QB's get used up by a bad team and then discard to become a backup or never play again. The best things that could happen to him is to fall in the draft to mid first round and sign with a team that has a chance like Bo.

A big rookie contact is great but play the long game and the endorsements and contact extensions will payoff big time. Not to mention not getting thrown to the wolves playing for the Raiders or Browns.

$50 million now is better than the potential for a second contract worth $100M+.

Invest wisely and he’ll be set for life. It’s more than most of us will earn over the course of our careers.

Can he learn Moore from the new OC? As well as learn more by playing more reps.

What does this QB class look like compared to 2027?

I have no doubt NIL $ will be there. Not on the scale of a top-flight NFL draft pick, but if he stays, he will not be on a Ramen Noodles diet. 😁

1 hour ago, OregonDucks said:

There is no guarantee that he’ll have success in the NFL, even if he used all of his eligibility though.

As much as I’d like, as a Ducks fan, to see him return next year, $40-50 million is a lot to turn down and potentially risk.

You're correct ther is no guarantee if success in the NFL.

But he can prepare the best he can and that's his decision to make. Has he learned everything he realistically can from college ball or not?

I'm not answering the question just posing it.

I would like for him to come back for another year personally but I also don't have a day in the matter.

Problem is....we won't know if Dante is leaving until after the CFB Playoffs, but the portal closes before then and many of the top portal QBs will have already decided.

It could put us in a tough spot....

Charles, I agree that it is likely that we will not know Dante's 2065 status until OBD finish their run the playoffs. At the same time I believe it is very unlikely that Dan Lanning will not know.

The chances are high for the NFL if the Ducks win the Natty. If not??

If Novosad and/or Moga enter the portal, Dan will probably go fishing regardless.

No harm in bringing in a good backup if Dante stays, or possible replacement if he leaves.

Question is, does someone else want to play the Dante game of a possible 1-year back-up role?

Me, I've got enough to worry about in regard to the coal haul that I will probably receive in a couple of weeks.

4 hours ago, OregonDucks said:

$50 million now is better than the potential for a second contract worth $100M+.

Invest wisely and he’ll be set for life. It’s more than most of us will earn over the course of our careers.

Like Lanning, I don't think he's after F'U amounts of money.

The 5-10 million he'll have at age 22 from Oregon NIL compounded for 40 years at 8% is already an ungodly sum, major generational wealth. He from Detroit, he does even have a clue what to spend money on.

He already waited one year to invest in himself getting better, which ironically also reduced the amount of games/plays he's participated in.

Why would he not wait again when he knows he would benefit a lot from one more year in college playing ball?

He's coming back unless he sees Mehringer as a problem/risk and we win a Natty. I don't think the former is the case, and odds on the latter are still kinda low.

He's coming back.

If I were projected to be a top-5 pick I'd 100% leave for the NFL. No question. Bo Nix was lucky to go to the Denver Broncos, but that was at pick #12- which is basically in the first third of the draft. Being #1-#5 gets you wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more money.

If Dante Moore stays and gets picked worse than #12, then that might be a bad sign for our season. We need to keep things stable and not lose more than one game in the regular season (ever, ha!). If the Ducks are 11-1 or 12-0 next season, then Dante Moore will be exactly where he will be come this draft: a projected top-5 pick. So, destined for the Raiders, Browns, Jets, Giants, etc.

I don't buy that he'll learn "so much" my finishing his senior season. If Herbert and Nix were projected to go in the top 3-5 after their junior years- they'd be gone as well.

I think Novosad might be OK. I hope we don't see that Brock Thomas walk-on guy- what on Earth was that all about? Was Novosad out for the season? I say we need to dip into the portal once again if there is talent there. Cincinatti's Brenden Sorsby would be a good get if he doesn't declare.

3 hours ago, 2002duck said:

I hope we don't see that Brock Thomas walk-on guy- what on Earth was that all about?

I hope we see the best backup QB in the room, and DL explicitly said it was Brock.

Who cares how many stars he had in HS?

OBD have had soooooo many 4-star fail QBs.

1 hour ago, Dr Hilarius said:

I hope we see the best backup QB in the room, and DL explicitly said it was Brock.

Who cares how many stars he had in HS?

OBD have had soooooo many 4-star fail QBs.

I'm not sold on Thomas. And mind you, he threw the ball really well for the most part. He reads well as well, though is a little behind schedule (probably due to few reps). We will know much more when the season ends. Moore looks ready enough to go pro. Not ready enough to step up to the level of play required to excel.

The question is more "will NFL execs draft him high since he has so much upside?". Logic says Moore should wait. There are enough solid QB candidates that will enter this year. The other question is will the QB competition be truly open? Thomas is in a good spot whether Moore declares or stays. Its up to Moga and Novo to decide what their best options are.

We might not know but I'am certain Lanning will know. You don't think they talk.

As far as leaving.......the cash is attractive but.......he may have a different view considering how things went at UCLA with no OL.

He'll probably be drafted by a team that is a bottom dweller.......Dante knows how that feels and how unhealthy that can be.

If he waits and plays well next year he could have a hand in who drafts him. Just refuse to play for a loser.

Could cost him a few bucks but keeps him healthy for a longer career. He needs to watch film of Caleb Williams getting pounded by playing for the Chicago Bears. Sack after sack. He does hold the ball too long but.....it's the line.

Barring some CFP catastrophe, Mendoza and his freshly acquired Heisman will almost certainly go as the #1 qb to a cellar dweller like the Giants, Raiders or (sorry, Dillon) Browns. They all desperately need a franchise qb that actually has a pulse and could be considered as plug and play. Or maybe to a contender that trades up for him.

After Mendoza it's Nussmeier, Simpson or Dante, with DM having the most potential in what is arguably a so-so qb draft class.

The problem is that 2027 may present the same dilemma if Dante stays, wins the Heisman and guides OBD deep into the playoffs. He then goes #1 to the NFL's smoldering dumpster fire de jour. As much as I hate to say it, maybe going #5-10 next spring to a team that doesn't have to play him is his best option.

So many valid points in all the above posts.

In rewatching all of this seasons games it is difficult for me to guage if Dante is NFL ready.

In the first 4 games OBD's opponents put no pressure on Dante. The Ducks were on cruise control and Dante was punching his ticket to the Heisman awards dinner.

A tremendous team effort pulled off a white-out win and destroyed the PSU program. The train was rolling......

Then the Hoosiers rolled into Eugene and derailed that train. It was evident that Dante could not recognize their schemes and audible out. He was relentlessly pressured and showed he couldn't throw on the run or flat on his back. Afterall, this was his 12th start. Only the extreme talent on this squad kept the game close.

To his and there credit, Dante and his teammates picked themselves up off the turf and won 6 straight.

The Ducks destroyed the teams they were supposed to, battled the weather against Whisky and Iowa and handled business against the great pretenders, USC and UW.

In those 6 games the team grew stronger, overcame injuries and new stars emerged out of the next man up legions.

Dante engineered come from behind wins and clock killing drives. He showed out his arm strength, pin point accuracy and proved he could lead under pressure.

Most important he showed against the trojans and huskies he could recognize schemes and call succesful audibles. Those were in his 18th and 19th starts.

Bo Nix took 62 starts and Dillion Gabriel took 63 starts to the NFL. One got a descent team the other got picked by a poop show. Who knows what POS team Dante would go to.

Dantes 20th, 21st, 22nd and hopefully 23rd start will go along way to Dantes decision.

I hope he and his team choose wisely.

12 minutes ago, HappyToBeADuck said:

So many valid points in all the above posts.

In rewatching all of this seasons games it is difficult for me to guage if Dante is NFL ready.

In the first 4 games OBD's opponents put no pressure on Dante. The Ducks were on cruise control and Dante was punching his ticket to the Heisman awards dinner.

A tremendous team effort pulled off a white-out win and destroyed the PSU program. The train was rolling......

Then the Hoosiers rolled into Eugene and derailed that train. It was evident that Dante could not recognize their schemes and audible out. He was relentlessly pressured and showed he couldn't throw on the run or flat on his back. Afterall, this was his 12th start. Only the extreme talent on this squad kept the game close.

To his and there credit, Dante and his teammates picked themselves up off the turf and won 6 straight.

The Ducks destroyed the teams they were supposed to, battled the weather against Whisky and Iowa and handled business against the great pretenders, USC and UW.

In those 6 games the team grew stronger, overcame injuries and new stars emerged out of the next man up legions.

Dante engineered come from behind wins and clock killing drives. He showed out his arm strength, pin point accuracy and proved he could lead under pressure.

Most important he showed against the trojans and huskies he could recognize schemes and call succesful audibles. Those were in his 18th and 19th starts.

Bo Nix took 62 starts and Dillion Gabriel took 63 starts to the NFL. One got a descent team the other got picked by a poop show. Who knows what POS team Dante would go to.

Dantes 20th, 21st, 22nd and hopefully 23rd start will go along way to Dantes decision.

I hope he and his team choose wisely.

Thanks for the statistics on how many games each have played. Again I think Moore is aware that just like a grade schooler held back a year, he essentially did that to himself last year. He will benefit significantly from playing another 12 games next year.

I don't think Thomas is a preferred QB1 next year if Dante went in the draft. Either Smith Jr is developed enough to take over or a transfer portal QB is brought in. I certainly don't see Novasad or Moga ever starting.

1 hour ago, fred flintstone said:

We might not know but I'am certain Lanning will know. You don't think they talk.

As far as leaving.......the cash is attractive but.......he may have a different view considering how things went at UCLA with no OL.

He'll probably be drafted by a team that is a bottom dweller.......Dante knows how that feels and how unhealthy that can be.

If he waits and plays well next year he could have a hand in who drafts him. Just refuse to play for a loser.

Could cost him a few bucks but keeps him healthy for a longer career. He needs to watch film of Caleb Williams getting pounded by playing for the Chicago Bears. Sack after sack. He does hold the ball too long but.....it's the line.

But Caleb endured. The Bears are 9-4, in the PO hunt, and have a legit shot to win a couple of games, if not more.

1 hour ago, EastBayDuckDad said:

Barring some CFP catastrophe, Mendoza and his freshly acquired Heisman will almost certainly go as the #1 qb to a cellar dweller like the Giants, Raiders or (sorry, Dillon) Browns. They all desperately need a franchise qb that actually has a pulse and could be considered as plug and play. Or maybe to a contender that trades up for him.

After Mendoza it's Nussmeier, Simpson or Dante, with DM having the most potential in what is arguably a so-so qb draft class.

The problem is that 2027 may present the same dilemma if Dante stays, wins the Heisman and guides OBD deep into the playoffs. He then goes #1 to the NFL's smoldering dumpster fire de jour. As much as I hate to say it, maybe going #5-10 next spring to a team that doesn't have to play him is his best option.

Don Diego?

I think that Allar will go in the first two rounds. Nussmeier should have left last season, and the same goes for Klubnik. Ty Simpson will be drafted. Archie will be back at Texas.

Sellers is staying with South Carolina for another season.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/diego-pavia-nfl-prospect-updated-102001173.html

15 hours ago, Steven A said:

If Novosad and/or Moga enter the portal, Dan will probably go fishing regardless.

No harm in bringing in a good backup if Dante stays, or possible replacement if he leaves.

Question is, does someone else want to play the Dante game of a possible 1-year back-up role?

Me, I've got enough to worry about in regard to the coal haul that I will probably receive in a couple of weeks.

QB portal names that are being tracked. Some, like Norris Sellers of South Carolina, will remain in college.

ASU's, via Michigan State, Sam Leavitt looks to be the most wanted.

Dan will know if Dante is leaving, and if so, Dan's people will be in discussion with representatives of the players in the portal.

Not a QB, but if he leaves CU, I hope Dan can bag OL Jordan Seaton. I'm more concerned about OL replacements in 2026 than Dante possibly leaving. The Joe Moore candidate OL will, again, likely be losing four starters.

JJ, good call on the need for filling spots on the O Line. Those big boys are the main reason that OBD's are 46-7 under Coach Lanning.

These bad boys have proved they can both run and pass block. They dont need another 15-20 starts to learn and hone their skills like a QB may need.

DL and staff will bring in the best players available to them. The NIL money will be a significant factor but DL and staff have proved that they can help get you to the NFL.

Whoever is under center in 2026 will not thrive without a great OL in front of them.

Another factor to think about ...

If Oregon wins the national championship I think Moore is gone. If we don't then I think that's when he has to make a decision.

15 hours ago, Solar said:

The 5-10 million he'll have at age 22 from Oregon NIL compounded for 40 years at 8% is already an ungodly sum, major generational wealth.

$5-10M is not generational wealth for a 20 year old. It’s enough to retire on and lead a comfortable life, if you invest it wisely and don’t spend it foolishly.

$50M is generational wealth.

3 hours ago, EastBayDuckDad said:

Barring some CFP catastrophe, Mendoza and his freshly acquired Heisman will almost certainly go as the #1 qb

I don’t think this is guaranteed.

Once scouts see Dante Moore throw in pro day and individual workouts they may reassess. No one in college football throws a prettier ball than Dante Moore. He can make all of the NFL throws. I haven’t been as impressed by Mendoza’s arm talent. Dante’s highlights are light years ahead of Mendoza’s (no one threw a better ball than that dime Dante hit against Iowa).

The NFL drafts bad on potential.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by OregonDucks

5 hours ago, Jon Joseph said:

But Caleb endured. The Bears are 9-4, in the PO hunt, and have a legit shot to win a couple of games, if not more.

Caleb has improved. Nice to see but he has taken some nasty shots.

And Herbert's Chargers just sent KC packing... NFL scouts may well be pondering what effect playing at Oregon is having on DM's developing potential.