Dante Moore's brash, bold decision could cost him millions

Back in January the NFL was ready to make Dante Moore the second quarterback taken in the draft, with a payday approaching $50 million.

Moore thought carefully. He consulted with his family, his agent and his coaches. He took heart from Dan Lanning's decision to promote Drew Mehringer as offensive coordinator, a guy he trusted.

On January 14 Moore announced live on the Wednesday morning SportsCenter a return to Oregon for one more year.

"I've prayed a lot about it, talked to many people, my mentors, and people I just look up to, and with that being said, of course I'll be coming back to Oregon for one more year."

Dante Moore

It's a bet on himself and a trust in his development and the ability of Lanning, Mehringer and his teammates to support him. It made Oregon an instant favorite (at least one of the favorites) to win their first national title.

He'll earn a good payday in Oregon's NIL program, but it won't be anything like an NFL signing bonus, which for Top Ten picks hovers around $30 million.

The brashness of the decision lies in the fact that some quarterbacks play their way out of the first round by coming back. Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier and Cade Klubnik all regressed as seniors. Their draft stock plummeted.

Those three got exposed for their lack of pocket presence and inability to lift talented rosters toward their potential. Allar and Nussmeier got their coaches fired.

Moore's season isn't likely to go in that direction. He's talented and intelligent, starkly humble and frank in his self-evaluation. He knew he wasn't ready to play his best in the pros after 20 college starts, making the mature decision to get more seasoning and improve his handling of the blitz, pressure and obvious passing situations.

Dante Moore undertakes a battle of pressure, projections and performance

Right now the mock drafts place him as the No. 1 or No. 2 quarterback taken, in a preseason battle with Arch Manning, another quarterback under the NFL microscope, enduring constant reevaluations.

The 6-3, 206 passing talent from Detroit, Michigan doesn't have far to rise in the draft, but the freefall experienced by Allar, Nussmeier and Klubnik illustrates what he risked to return.

Ultimately, Moore and his family trusted his commitment to growth, believing that returning to the Ducks gave him the best choice of long-term success.

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