The lazy narrative around Dante Moore's Jets-related decision misses the point

A familiar narrative has already been formed in the wake of Dante Moore’s decision to return to Oregon. Many have taken to social media, television, or wherever else they broadcast their nonsensical opinions to insist that Moore stayed in school to avoid the New York Jets.

It’s an easy conclusion to draw, one that fits neatly into the NFL’s long-running habit of turning the Jets into the punchline of every storyline. It’s also a lazy narrative that just doesn't hold up in the slightest.

No one is going to sit here and pretend that the Jets are a model franchise or ignore their very real historical struggles. But we can also acknowledge that Moore’s decision was driven by far more practical — and far more common! — factors than which logo happened to be holding the No. 2 pick.

Dante Moore didn't return to school to avoid the Jets, despite what your favorite (or least favorite) analyst or Twitter follow might suggest.

Dante Moore didn't return to Oregon to avoid the Jets

Start with the money, because that’s where this theory immediately falls apart. Yes, Moore will make significant NIL money — reportedly up to $7.5 million — by staying in school, but it doesn’t come close to what a top-five NFL draft pick earns.

Even the signing bonus alone would dwarf anything available on the NIL market. As former NFL executive Andrew Brandt pointed out, the only way Moore’s decision makes sense is if there was a sizable gap between his actual NFL draft advisory and where fans and analysts were projecting him.

If Moore were truly viewed by the league as a lock to go No. 2 — Jets or otherwise — staying in school would make little sense. That's why it's important to make the distinction that mock drafts are not reality.

It was never a lock that the Jets were going to draft Moore at No. 2 overall. This quarterback class is not viewed particularly favorably around the league, and there isn’t even certainty that the Las Vegas Raiders will select Indiana's Fernando Mendoza at No. 1.

Fans tend to treat January mock drafts as settled fact, but teams are still months away from finalizing evaluations. Moore returning to school may actually signal that the Jets — and others — weren’t as high on him as the discourse suggested.

Moore himself essentially confirmed that. He didn’t sound like a quarterback ready to carry the weight of being a top-two pick, let alone do it in New York, when speaking on ESPN on Wednesday. At 20 years old, Moore acknowledged the need for more development, both on the field and in terms of experience.

He was self-aware of his current limitations. The NFL seems to be aware of them as well.

Moore also wasn’t alone in returning to Oregon. Several Ducks opted to stay in school, including potential first-round talents like defensive linemen Matayo Uiagalelei and A’Mauri Washington.

Reports indicated Oregon submitted draft grade requests to the NFL Draft Advisory Board late, which helps explain why so many decisions came down to the wire. That strongly suggests the advisory feedback played a central role in Moore’s choice, which is exactly how the system is designed to work.

The lazy Jets narrative persists because it always does. When Moore struggled against Indiana, the joke was that he already looked like a Jets quarterback. When he returned to school, the punchline became that he was running from them. When there’s ambiguity, the Jets become the easiest target.

But, listen, when you strip away the baggage and ignore the narrative, Moore's decision becomes far easier to comprehend.

The Jets are not some uniquely toxic landing spot compared to other teams picking near the top. They have an excellent young offensive line, Garrett Wilson, Mason Taylor, and an offensive coordinator whom many around the league are high on.

Teams drafting in the top five are almost always flawed — that’s why they’re drafting there. The Jets are not some uniquely terrible football team. They're flawed just like the Raiders, Cardinals, etc. are.

Dante Moore didn’t return to school to avoid the Jets. He stayed because the NFL likely told him he wasn’t ready yet, and because he agreed. The Jets just happened to be the laziest story to attach to it because, well, they're "the Jets."