Release the Doves. Mel Kuiper Jr.'s first mock draft of the season has arrived.

That is coming up here on First Draft.

Plus, we are always responding to your questions, your takes, and your draft dreams live as first draft starts.

Right now it is Field and Mel holding it down and we have a gigantic show today.

As Mel's first mock draft is now available

over on ESPN.com. We're going to dive into the top 10. By the way, the draft order has been

finalized for the first 28 teams with four more slots to go. But Mel, since you and I last

talked, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore Jr. threw a wrench into all mock draft plans as he announced he is staying in Eugene for one more season. What did you make of that choice? First of all, I'm still recovering from the bills and that process. Let's eliminate process. It's a catch of the catch and that problem. But let's get that out of the way. Common sense has to prevail at some point.

It's still recovering from that.

But the end of the day, Dante Moore made the right choice. We had talked about that for weeks. Dante Moore is poised. He's a beautiful thrower of the football, decision making at times, but experience. What's experience the best teacher? and all that will come together, add a little weight and strength to that frame.

All of a sudden now, 27 draft, you're competing for a national

title in 2026. Arch Manning's thinking he's got a national champ chimmy with the Longhorns. Those

two quarterbacks vying for that number one pick, Arch and Dante, Dante's so poised, but he's only

20 years of age. Turns 21 end of May, right? May 24th. Now he'll be more prepared in year two with Oregon. They've got to have weapons all over the place. They know their defense is bringing back all those stars, right? Everything that sets up for Dante Moore to have a great year, for Arch Manning to have a great year, and both those kids have the necessary number of starts.

Arch had two going this year, now at full season, another full year.

Dante had five full season.

Now another full season sets up beautifully for teams picking one and two next year.

And remember, Lenora Sellers from South Carolina could jump way up there.

We have to see what happens with Sam Levitt now at LSU and others, Julian Say in Ohio and a lot of other quarterbacks, right? But those two, Arch and Dante, is going to be a really good race to that number one spot. And we're going to be watching that very closely, but a great move for a 20-year-old with only 20 starts. I think it was the obvious move after all of a sudden done. and fortunately he made the right move. All right. So let me start by saying there are a few things that I enjoy less than quarterbacks who come into the NFL and get ruined by their teams early. And I just feel bad for the players when they don't meet the expectations that are cast on them when they're taken in the first five picks. I want to set that aside for a moment, though,

because I actually thought Dante Moore Jr. should have come out this year, Mel.

And perhaps this is me being a little bit too simple-minded.

Let me ask you quickly.

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