Regulars will have heard my consistent complaints about the standard of the 2026 draft. It’s the worst class I’ve covered since 2008 when this blog began.
And it isn’t getting any better.
A number of players have opted not to turn pro with the deadline for non-Indiana and Miami players set for today. The main headline is Oregon quarterback Dante Moore choosing not to declare. It shouldn’t be a surprise — the horrible loss to Indiana shouldn’t have been his college finale. He needs games.
Two other big name Oregon players have also opted against turning pro in A’Mauri Washington (DT) and Matayo Uiagalelei (DE).
Here’s a full list of the other players who made the call to return to their schools:
Anthony Smith (DE, Minnesota)
Keon Sabb (S, Alabama)
Ryan Baer (T, Pittsburgh)
Kenyatta Jackson (DE, Ohio State)
Austin Siereveld (T/G, Ohio State)
Bray Hubbard (S, Alabama)
Kelley Jones (CB, Mississippi State)
Quincy Rhodes (DE, Arkansas)
Mark Fletcher Jr (RB, Miami)
Bear Alexander (DT, Oregon)
Jayden Maiava (QB, USC)
LaNorris Sellers (QB, South Carolina)
Darian Mensah (QB, Duke)
Nyck Harbor (WR, South Carolina)
Whit Weeks (LB, LSU)
Trevor Goosby (T, Texas)
Yhonzae Pierre (EDGE, Alabama)
Evan Stewart (WR, Oregon)
Lucas Carneiro (K, Ole Miss)
Here are the players who chose to transfer rather than turn pro:
Sam Leavitt (QB, LSU) transferred from Arizona State
Brendan Sorsby (QB, Texas Tech) transferred from Cincinnati
Byrum Brown (QB, Auburn) transferred from USF
Josh Hoover (QB, Indiana) transferred from TCU
John Henry Daley (DE, Michigan) transferred from Utah
Raleek Brown (RB, Texas) transferred from Arizona State
Xavier Chaplin (T, Florida State) transferred from Auburn
Billy Edwards Jr (QB, North Carolina) transferred from Wisconsin
Drew Mestemaker (QB, Oklahoma State) transferred from North Texas
Cade Uluave (LB, portal) —transferring from California
Preston Zachman (S, Indiana) transferred from Wisconsin
Jaden Craig (QB, TCU) transferred from Harvard
Earl Little Jr (S, Ohio State) transferred from Florida State
Justice Haynes (RB, portal) transferring from Michigan
Dylan Raiola (QB, Oregon) transferred from Nebraska
AJ Harris (CB, Indiana) transferred from Penn State
Damon Wilson (EDGE, Missouri) — remains in the portal
The class was already suffering with a lack of top-end blue-chip talent but now the depth has further been diminished.
On my updated horizontal board I now have four ‘legit round one’ players, 10 more players I’d happily take in round one this year and only 15 more with second round grades. That’s 29 players for the first 64 picks.
I’m further convinced there will be a very active veteran trade market this off-season among the teams picking later in round one.
If you missed my conversation on Puck Sports on the Seahawks vs 49ers game earlier, check it out here:
