Top draft insider insists Jets won’t even get a shot at top 2026 QB prospect

The New York Jets are hoping to have no shortage of quarterback options available in the 2026 NFL Draft, but one prominent draft insider believes one of the top QBs in the class isn't actually going to declare — and he's been saying it for months.

Longtime NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay has continued to insist that Oregon quarterback Dante Moore will return to Eugene in 2026 and opt to forgo entering the draft. According to McShay, Moore’s parents, his agent, and the Oregon coaching staff are all united in that plan.

Moore is widely viewed as one of the top prospects in the 2026 draft and would have a real chance to be the No. 1 overall pick if he were to declare. Instead, McShay maintains Moore is “100 percent” returning to school, even as the redshirt sophomore surges up draft boards and leads Oregon to the brink of the College Football Playoff.

That's far from an ideal scenario for a Jets team that is expected to target a quarterback early in this year's draft. Moore is part of the presumed trio of top quarterbacks alongside Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Alabama’s Ty Simpson.

If Moore stays at Oregon — and McShay remains adamant he will — the Jets' quarterback pool suddenly gets a whole lot thinner.

Todd McShay is adamant the Jets will not have a chance to draft Dante Moore

McShay insists that he has it “on good authority” that Moore plans to remain at Oregon, develop further, and enter the 2027 draft instead. Given his situation, it’s not hard to see why that path might appeal.

Moore is only 20 years old and won’t turn 21 until after draft night. This is his first full season as Oregon’s starter, and he’s doing it as a redshirt sophomore. Still, the allure of being a high draft pick is usually enough to convince many prospects.

Moore has thrown for 2,447 yards while completing 73 percent of his passes, adding 23 touchdowns to just six interceptions and averaging 8.6 yards per attempt.

He’s led Oregon to an 11–1 record and a No. 6 national ranking, with the Ducks tracking toward a playoff berth despite missing the Big Ten title game. On talent and production alone, he may be the most naturally gifted passer in the 2026 class.

If Moore doesn’t declare, the top of this quarterback class shrinks dramatically. Mendoza remains the leader in the clubhouse, while Simpson has slipped in recent weeks after a strong start.

Removing Moore from the equation increases competition, narrows the Jets' options, and raises the risk that the team simply won’t love whoever is available when they’re on the clock.

With most regimes typically getting one real shot to select their franchise quarterback, the Jets may not force a pick they don’t fully believe in. If Moore stays in school — and McShay insists he will — the Jets could pivot entirely, potentially waiting for the 2027 class, where the organization holds three first-round picks.

Moore still has time to change his mind, but McShay is rarely this firm without reason. If he’s right, the Jets’ QB outlook could be a bit more complicated than anticipated.

Todd McShay is adamant the Jets will not have a chance to draft Dante Moore

Schedule