Dante Moore’s shocking decision throws a wrench in Titans draft plans at the top of the first round

With a top QB heading back to school, the Titans first round pick just got more complicated.

Easton Freeze — Tennessee Titans Beat Writer
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The Tennessee Titans ended up fourth in the 2026 NFL draft order, but to many that felt like the second overall pick in a way. With such a clear delineation between the top two quarterbacks in this draft class and everybody else, a team like Tennessee picking at fourth was assumed to be looking at the first or second overall player on their big board.

But Tuesday was the deadline for all non-championship players to declare their intent to enter the 2026 NFL draft, and one of those top QB’s made waves by declaring his intent to return to school for another year.

Dante Moore heading back to school changes the Titans’ outlook

Oregon QB Dante Moore announced on SportsCenter that he is heading back to the college ranks another year, throwing a major wrench in the New York Jets’ plans most of all. What a hilarious existence the Jets lead: all of that blatant, ugly tanking in the final month of the season. All of that trade ammo acquired in their trade deadline fire-sale. And their reward for finishing with the second overall pick is… the choice between a position player and another QB that isn’t regarded as a top-5 talent.

Most analysts felt Moore and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza would be the easy first and second overall picks in this class for much of the season, with plenty of smart draftniks regarding him as the more talented prospect. Some pushed back on the idea that a player as raw and inexperienced as him would rush to jump into the NFL, but I refused to believe he’d pass up the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot.

Well, I was wrong! And I can’t help but wonder how much his final game of the year played a role in that. They got routed 56-22 in the CFP semifinal, and Moore had a very rough go of it. While I don’t think one game was the deciding factor in all of this, I do wonder if it was the final nail in the coffin.

So how does this impact the Titans? Well, it makes it even less clear how things will break in front of them in the first round. There is now practically no doubt that Mendoza will be taken first overall, by the Raiders or somebody who pays a kings ransom for the opportunity. But the Jets feel adrift at 2, and the Cardinals were always going to be a wildcard at 3. Tennessee desperately needs help at EDGE and WR, and there are names in this range who can be what they need. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, Miami’s Rueben Bain, and Texas Tech’s David Bailey are the top three names rushing the passer in this range. And Ohio State’s Carnell Tate is the early favorite for top receiver in the class.

The problem with Moore returning to school is that whichever of those names the Titans have atop their list in April, they just got a whole lot less likely to land them.

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