With the 2025 NFL season in the history books and most of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft already set, some prospects have big decisions to make. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is firmly expected to be the No. 1 pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, but other promising prospects could still choose to go back to college.
That’s where things could get tricky for the New York Jets. The Jets, who have the No. 2 pick and could also be in the mix for a quarterback, will most likely set their sights on Oregon prospect Dante Moore, the second-best prospect, according to most scouts.
With that in mind, NFL Draft insider Todd McShay believes Moore and his camp might not want him to be in Gotham. As such, he could try to convince the Raiders to take him with the No. 1 pick or go back to college instead.
"Would you not as a representative of Dante Moore kind of reach out to the Raiders [who have the first pick] and say, 'Hey, my client is trying to make a decision. I can't allow him to go to the New York Jets?' I can allow my client to go back to Oregon, or you can pretty much promise me he'll be the overall number one pick. Is that so far-fetched?" McShay said in his podcast. "Not only single player in this Draft, unless they grew up a New York Jets fan or has some kind of family tie, wants to be a New York Jet.”
The Raiders hold all the cards here
While it’s easy to understand why a young prospect with years of eligibility left, like Dante Moore, would rather go back to college than play for the Jets, the Raiders are in total control here.
They can certainly afford to take a flyer on a more raw prospect like Moore, who doesn’t have that much experience, because they have Geno Smith in the building. Smith was a turnover machine this season, but the Raiders might feel better with him with a revamped offensive line, a new head coach, and a new offensive coordinator. That would allow the younger Moore to sit back for a year and learn the ropes of the game.
Then again, if they’re fully convinced that Fernando Mendoza is their guy, there’s no amount of pressure or threats that Moore’s camp can put on them to change their minds.
Mendoza is the reigning Heisman winner and seems to have a high floor and ceiling. If they like him, there’s no need to hesitate.