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Time is starting to run out on Geno Smith to prove that he should be the Las Vegas Raiders‘ starting quarterback going forward. He’s been playing like a bottom-five quarterback in the NFL. Smith’s long-term future isn’t just in jeopardy, but his job as the starter this season should be in question. If the Raiders bench him in favor of Kenny Pickett or Aidan O’Connell, it’s clear that the team will have to go all-in on drafting a quarterback early in the 2026 NFL Draft. There are some college prospects who are starting to separate themselves from the competition. One quarterback who has played his way into the No. 1 pick conversation is Oregon’s Dante Moore. In Mike Renner’s new mock draft for CBS Sports, he predicts the Raiders to take Moore with the No. 5 pick. “While the Indiana game was tough, Moore bounced back with his best performance of the season against Rutgers,” Renner wrote. “He’s got such a talented arm that it’s hard not to see him getting drafted highly — it’s more just a matter of when at this point. With the Raiders having Geno Smith under contract, they can afford to take someone like Moore, who hasn’t played a ton of football, to develop in the background.” Moore Has Ties to Chip Kelly The Raiders have a coach on their staff who should know Moore well. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly recruited and coached the quarterback at UCLA in 2023 when he was still the head coach. As a freshman in 2023, Moore played in nine games and threw for 1,610 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He transferred to Oregon last year and was Dillon Gabriel’s backup, but earned the starting job this year. He’s thrown for 19 touchdowns to just four interceptions this year. If the Raiders’ offense doesn’t improve, Kelly could get fired, so his connection to Moore won’t matter, but it wouldn’t stop the team from drafting him if they like him. Scouting Report on Moore Moore has all the physical tools a team would want from a first-round pick quarterback. The concern with him is a lack of experience, but he’s proving to be an impact player for one of the best teams in college football. “Dante Moore has skyrocketed as a prospect during his first year as a full-time starter and has emerged as our QB2 with potential to be a legitimate NFL franchise quarterback,” Damian Parson wrote in his scouting report of Moore for Bleacher Report. “Mentally, Moore plays with poise inside the pocket. He is not easily rattled or thrown off his game. Moore shows the leadership and respect of his teammates on the sidelines that NFL coaches will love.” Parson believes that Moore’s skill set can translate to the NFL. “Dante Moore is a former 5-star recruit in the 2023 class,” Parson added. “Moore is a natural thrower of the football, possessing touch, accuracy, and precise ball placement. All things that translate and excel in the NFL on Sundays.” The Raiders have avoided drafting a quarterback in the first round since JaMarcus Russell in 2007. They can no longer afford to put band aids over the position.
