Dante Moore surprised a few people when he announced on Wednesday that he will forego the NFL Draft in 2026 and return to the University of Oregon for his junior year.
In the wake of Moore’s decision, some have wondering if he may have been turned off by the idea of going to the Jets with the no. 2 pick, and one of those to bring it up on Wednesday afternoon was former NFL great J.J. Watt.
“If you’re projected to be the No.2 overall pick, I mean, let’s get this train rolling, you know. Unless you really don’t like the team that’s drafting up there,” Watt said. “There’s some reason where you don’t like the way things are shaking out for this year.”
On Thursday, Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter essentially said he believes Watt’s suspicions were accurate.
“I’ve alluded to this. I think there were a lot of things that went into his consideration. I don’t think he would have minded being a Raider,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast.
“I want to pick my words here,” Hondo continued. “I think he knew it was a Mendoza pick for the Raiders or someone’s going to have to way overpay with a trade. I fundamentally believe this talking to people close to the situation that the thought of being a Jet… was a great concern. I think there were other things. I don’t think it was just Jets, but I think that was greatly concerning [to him].”
Whatever the reasons that led Moore back to Oregon, the losers in the situation were undoubtedly the Jets, who have a tough decision waiting for them with the second pick.
The no. 2 pick lost considerable value when Moore passed on the NFL Draft, and the Jets are now doomed to another year in quarterback purgatory.
The Raiders, on the other hand, are sitting on the most valuable no. 1 pick since 2024. And there’s a case to be made that the no. 1 pick in 2026 is worth more than the pick used on Caleb Williams (2024) because this year’s quarterback class is generally considered to be a disappointment after Fernando Mendoza.
Looking back, the biggest game of the season for the Raiders was their week 17 loss to the Giants.
Without that loss, the Raiders would be locked into the no. 5 pick with absolutely no chance of getting Mendoza or Moore.
x: @raidersbeat
I think it’s worth noting that the #1 overall pick is only as valuable as the reward it can return. In other words, if Mendoza decides to return to Indiana, then that value drops significantly. I think there is a decent chance he may return to school, especially if the Hoosiers lose the game. They are playing on Miami’s home field. He just seems like that kind of kid to me, Matt Leinart stayed for his senior year after winning the Heisman. I haven’t heard his intentions, maybe because he’s rightfully focused on his games. He also could suffer a significant injury in this game, do you spend #1 overall on a guy with an ACL injury? If Moore’s people were smart, he should have waited 5 days.
Hondo can’t be trusted. Again, the guy just makes up stuff
I’m so glad the Raiders have the #1pick welcome Mendoza to the dark side can’t wait to see you on the field for us GO Raiders!!!
Ameer Abdullah, Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams, Robert Spillane, Demico Autry, Jacobi Meyers all did well for other teams, this year. These players were not the problem, Raiders “leadership” ( or more accurately the lack thereof) was. Tre Tucker’s and Michael Mayer’s “problems” are the Raiders organization, most specifically offensive line and inept quarterback play. If anyone doubts this then watch them go to another team and be productive. The Raiders need, in addition to a competent offensive line, veteran quarterback depth, namely Malik Willis as the starter, Joshua Dobbs as the backup and a rookie who won’t be under pressure to start immediately. That’s how you add competent depth at this position.
Zamir White, Dillon Laube, Tyree Wilson, Kenny Pickett, Geno Smith and Adian O’Connell all need to be let go. Additionally, it wouldn’t hurt to address the (not so) Special teams. The offensive line and Special Teams coaches could use a serious upgrade. It seems that we are stuck with the guys who call themselves “Raiders Management,” so let’s see how they, this year, address last year’s “team” that they put on the field. No matter what they do, all the sportswriters will talk about is how things are looking up, until the team actually starts playing games.