Well I sure as hell wouldn't want to be the second pick and headed to Las Vegas. On the other hand 50 million big ones with half of that up front, properly invested, will be worth a whole lot more down the road than whatever NIL Oregon can come up with. As I financial consultant (which honesty compels me to admit that I am not) I'd clearly have to advise Dante to take the money and run. That is a no-lose proposition even if Dante never starts a game in the NFL.

On 12/15/2025 at 9:31 AM, OregonDucks said:

Sam Leavitt?

DJ Lagway?

Bryce Underwood?

If Dante does enter the draft, I've got a "stranger things have happened" name. Nico Iamaleava.

New staff at UCLA, some talk on UCLA sites, him returning there isn't currently guaranteed. The Duck staff obviously has familiarity with him due to him being a California kid and recruiting him. If he is interested and ready to attempt a Bo Nix type redemption arc, well, no better place.

If a top portal name doesn't make sense for Oregon a second move might be the round of highly rated QB recruits who appear nearly locked into at least another year of sitting (who often portal). For example, it might be tough for Alabama to hold onto both Keelon Russell and Austin Mack (another California kid with a listed Oregon offer); or, Ohio State with Lincoln Kienholz and Tavien St. Clair. That sort of thing (imagine Ohio State fans if Kienholz or St. Clair joined Oregon). 🙂

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by AnotherOD

7 hours ago, Nevada Dawg said:

Well I sure as hell wouldn't want to be the second pick and headed to Las Vegas.

The problem is - if you are a high NFL draft pick you are going to go to a bad team/ organization and are expected to make an immediate impact, as a rookie, regardless of the talent around you or lack thereof. The same organizations seem to pick at the top of the NFL draft every year (e.g., NY Jets, NY Giants, Cleveland, Tennessee) for a reason.

What’s the alternative? Come back to college another year and HOPE a good organization, in need of a QB, falls apart next season?

IMO, Las Vegas would not be a terrible place to live as a young millionaire (if you can avoid the off-field distractions). It certainly beats some of the other locations…

You’ve also seen a recent resurgence of NFL QBs who were not successful at their first stop and have found new life on new teams (better organizations).

For “older” fans, Steve Young (Tampa Bay to San Francisco) comes to my mind.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by OregonDucks