Dante Moore’s decision may have just saved both himself and the Jets

New York Jets fans are understandably spiraling after Dante Moore announced on Wednesday that he would return to Oregon for another season. The immediate reaction has been panic — that the sky is falling, the Jets are out of options, and the quarterback situation has officially hit rock bottom.

Yes, it certainly feels like the Jets have hit rock bottom at least a dozen times over the past five years alone.

And while it’s true that the short-term outlook at the quarterback position is rather grim, Moore’s decision may end up being the best possible outcome for both parties when viewed through a more long-term lens.

It’s also worth stating upfront that it was never a lock that the Jets would have drafted Moore at No. 2 overall. They may have felt compelled to, but that’s not the same thing as being convinced he was the answer. And that distinction is important here.

The Jets may have been saved from a Dante Moore-sized mistake

The discourse around Moore and the Jets has been frustrating, to say the least. One week ago, he was labeled the next Zach Wilson after a less-than-stellar performance against Indiana. Now, his decision to stay in school is being treated as an unmitigated disaster for the franchise.

As usual, the truth lives somewhere in the middle. Moore wasn’t nearly as bad as that playoff performance suggested, but he was also a massive projection at No. 2, especially for a team in the Jets’ current position.

Moore himself all but admitted that. The way he explained his decision made it clear he doesn’t believe he’s ready yet. At 20 years old, he sounded exactly like a quarterback who knows he needs more development.

He passed up significant money to stay in college, opting to prioritize development over being rushed into a situation that would demand immediate results. NFL teams likely share that assessment.

That’s where this decision may have quietly saved the Jets. Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey would have been boxed into a corner. The Jets regime would have likely felt compelled to draft Moore at No. 2 to help save their jobs, even if they weren’t fully sold.

Drafting a quarterback you don’t believe is ready simply because you feel like you have to is how franchises repeat the same mistakes over and over. Moore staying in school removes that temptation.

The Jets no longer have the option to overreach just to satisfy urgency or optics. That’s not ideal for a regime that needs wins in 2026, but it may be exactly what’s best for the organization long-term.

The Jets still hold premium picks at No. 2, 16, 33, and 44, along with significant cap space and three first-rounders in 2027. That future quarterback class already looks stronger than this one, which currently feels like Fernando Mendoza and a sea of uncertainty.

The organization can add multiple impact players, find a competent veteran like a Kyler Murray or a Mac Jones (yes, the options are bleak), take a Day 2 swing at quarterback, and revisit the position in 2027 if need be.

Moore staying doesn’t solve the Jets’ quarterback problem, but it may have prevented them from making it worse. And sometimes, avoiding the wrong answer is the most important step toward finding the right one.