Why Dante Moore declaring would be a win for the Jets no matter what

The New York Jets are paying close attention to today's deadline. The deadline for underclassmen not playing in the National Championship Game to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft is today, Wednesday, January 14, and one decision undoubtedly looms larger than the rest.

Dante Moore is set to announce whether he’ll enter the draft or return to Oregon, and that choice will impact the entire direction of the Jets' offseason, and in reality, the franchise as a whole. No pressure, though, right?

The Jets are in desperate need of a quarterback, but this isn’t just about whether they would draft Moore with the No. 2 overall pick. It’s also about leverage.

In a draft class where quarterback talent at the very top is limited, Moore’s presence alone dramatically alters the value of the team's pick. Simply put, whether the Jets want him or not, Moore declaring would be a best-case outcome.

Every Jets fans should want Dante Moore to declare for the draft

This is widely viewed as a two-quarterback class at the top, headlined by Indiana's Fernando Mendoza and Moore. There are other intriguing names — Alabama’s Ty Simpson, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier — but none are expected to find their way into the top of the draft.

Without Moore in the mix, the draft board thins quickly at quarterback, and that's particularly notable for a team like the Jets picking second overall.

If the Jets love Moore, the path is obvious here. Quarterback remains the franchise’s biggest need, and Moore would immediately become the favorite to be selected at No. 2 if he declares. That scenario is straightforward and rather easy to sell.

But that's not their only potential path. The more interesting outcome comes if the Jets don’t view Moore as their guy. In that case, his declaration still significantly boosts the value of their pick.

Quarterback-needy teams behind the Jets, like the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and others, could look to move up. The Jets are under no obligation to draft Moore simply because he’s available, and trading down would allow them to pile even more assets on top of an already enviable stockpile of draft capital and cap space.

It's also fair to say that it's not a lock that Mendoza is the No. 1 overall pick just yet. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold that pick, and while Mendoza is often assumed to be their preferred option, teams are still early in the evaluation process.

There’s a very real world where Moore rises during the pre-draft process and ends up graded higher than Mendoza by the Raiders. The draft is rarely written in permanent ink, especially in mid-January.

Even Jets fans who don’t want Dante Moore at No. 2 overall should still be rooting for him to declare. His decision doesn’t force the Jets' hand. If anything, it simply gives them more leverage and flexibility.

Whether the Jets draft him, trade the pick, or let the board come to them, Moore entering the draft gives them more options, more leverage, and more control over their future.