Adapt or Perish
Lou Pickney's Latest Insight
September 29, 2025
Any doubts which might have lingered about Oregon QB Dante Moore as a bona fide top quarterback prospect evaporated in the Ducks' thrilling 30-24 win in double OT at Penn State this past Saturday night.
That sets up a fascinating matchup on October 11 when Indiana plays at Oregon. Two undefeated teams, both in the AP Top 10, with Moore vs. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza as quite the headliner.
Just look at the stats for both players this season.
Moore: 14 TDs/1 INT, 74.6% completion rate
Mendoza: 16 TDs/1 INT, 73% completion rate
Where it gets really interesting for Moore is that he has two years of eligibility remaining beyond the 2025 season. We're rapidly approaching the point where it will be more financially lucrative for most college quarterbacks with remaining eligibility to stay in school versus going to the NFL.
That's because of the rookie salary cap. It works out well for the NFL, which doesn't have to pay for its de facto developmental system and benefits from having more well-seasoned prospects entering the league.
Some have been quicker to adjust to change than others. Contrast unbeaten Texas Tech, and its major booster NIL spending, with Mike Gundy being out at Oklahoma State after more than 20 years as head coach.
Remember, the NIL era required a Supreme Court ruling to happen. Those who opposed it in some cases resented the change and resisted adjusting to a very new landscape.
Adapt or perish.
Parity is alive and well in the NFL. Four weeks in and only two teams are 4-0: the Buffalo Bills and the Philadelphia Eagles.
On the flip side, only two teams are 0-4: the New Orleans Saints and the Tennessee Titans. Tonight the 0-3 Miami Dolphins play the 0-3 New York Jets, so absent a tie there will be only three winless teams remaining by the end of the evening.
As always, the NFL doesn't sell football. The NFL sells hope.
2027 NFL Draft Prospects
AFC East: Buffalo Bills | New England Patriots |
New York Jets | Miami Dolphins
AFC North:
Baltimore Ravens | Cincinnati Bengals | Cleveland Browns | Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South:
Houston Texans | Indianapolis Colts |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
Tennessee Titans
AFC West:
Denver Broncos |
Kansas City Chiefs | Las Vegas Raiders | Los Angeles Chargers
NFC East:
Dallas Cowboys |
New York Giants |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Washington Commanders
NFC North:
Chicago Bears |
Detroit Lions |
Green Bay Packers |
Minnesota Vikings
NFC South:
Atlanta Falcons |
Carolina Panthers |
New Orleans Saints |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West:
Arizona Cardinals |
Los Angeles Rams |
San Francisco 49ers |
Seattle Seahawks
