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Insider reveals how Dante Moore’s NFL Draft decision impacts Dylan Raiola
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Insider Hayes Fawcett of On3 went back in time and found some similar lineage with what Dante Moore is about to take on after deciding on Wednesday to head back to Oregon for the 2026 season instead of heading off to the NFL.
Moore could’ve been one of the top picks of this spring’s draft after leading the Ducks to the College Football Playoff semifinals in his first season as the starting quarterback. He threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025, and going pro could’ve been a lucrative move for the Detroit native.
But that’s now what he decided to do, and after fellow quarterback Dylan Raiola recently transferred from Nebraska to Oregon, Moore’s decision to return to Eugene creates an interesting situation for 2026 that reminded Fawcett of something very recent.
That would be Moore’s previous big decision to transfer from UCLA to Oregon after the 2023 season. Moore didn’t start for the Ducks right away in 2024, sitting behind star QB Dillon Gabriel, and barring something unforeseen Raiola won’t start immediately either, instead sitting behind Moore in 2026. That’s the interesting parallel that Fawcett was drawing on Wednesday in the aftermath of Moore’s big decision to stay.
Sure enough, Moore touched on his excitement to work with Raiola during an interview with ESPN on Wednesday.
“I want to give (Raiola) the same ideas and resources that Dillon Gabriel gave me and help him be better at his game,” Moore said. “I know when he comes here, he’s going to push me, and we’re going to compete and have fun. I’m glad to be able to see him.”
With Moore’s decision to come back to Oregon, he’ll definitely be seeing Raiola up close and personal very soon, as the standout quarterbacks go head-to-head this offseason in Eugene.