Shortly after the 2025 NFL Draft concluded, I wrote an article highlighting the highest QB prospects within the 2026 NFL Draft class that the Pittsburgh Steelers ought to contemplate after they waited on addressing the place within the sixth spherical with Ohio State’s Will Howard, placing them squarely in-position to focus on their way forward for the franchise in subsequent yr’s draft which might be held within the metropolis of Pittsburgh.
Nonetheless, as we nicely know at this level, the highest prospects heading into the yr don’t all the time maintain that spot, and new names appear to emerge from nowhere to turn out to be first-round picks and faces of their respective franchise. Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow got here out of nowhere in 2019 after a mediocre 2018 marketing campaign, throwing for 60 touchdowns and profitable a nationwide championship with the LSU Tigers and the Heisman Trophy, getting chosen first total within the 2020 NFL Draft. Simply on this draft, Jaxson Dart went from being thought of a late-round draft choose in 2024 to the twenty fifth total choose by the New York Giants within the 2025 NFL Draft.
That stated, listed here are three sleeper quarterback prospects that might come out of nowhere through the 2025 marketing campaign and shock with a large ascension up draft boards.
TAYLEN GREEN, QB, ARKANSAS
Personally, it’s baffling that Arkansas QB Taylen Inexperienced isn’t getting extra hype heading into the 2025 season. The 6’6, 230-pound redshirt junior is a unit beneath middle, and the tape backs up the measurables. He loved a robust first season in Fayetteville final season with the Razorbacks. He accomplished 60.4-percent of his passes for 3,154 yards and 15 touchdowns to 9 interceptions whereas dashing for 602 yards and one other eight scores on the bottom.
Inexperienced noticed his play as a passer drastically enhance in his first season within the SEC after transferring from Boise State, turning into extra of the point of interest of the offense after enjoying second-fiddle to RB Ashton Jeanty with the Broncos. If Inexperienced’s landing numbers enhance this season whereas showcasing his talent set as an enormous, athletic quarterback that may beat you within the pocket and together with his legs, he might simply soar up boards and be thought of a Day 2 choose at worst subsequent spring.
MARK GRONOWSKI, QB, IOWA
Need a point-for-the-fences sleeper choose? Mark Gronowski is mine. The 6’3, 230-pound redshirt senior has the scale that you simply search for on the place in addition to a confirmed observe file as a beginning quarterback on the school degree, having racked up a 49-6 file because the beginning quarterback for South Dakota State, profitable back-to-back Nationwide Championships with the Jackrabbits in 2022-23.
Gronowski transferred to Iowa earlier than his ultimate yr of eligibility as a redshirt senior to assist increase his draft inventory, having represented himself nicely on the FCS degree the final a number of years. By 4 seasons as a starter at SDSU, Gronowski accomplished 63.5-percent of his passes for 1,190 yards and 93 touchdowns to only 20 interceptions whereas dashing for 1,767 yards and 37 touchdowns on the bottom. He has the athleticism, arm expertise, and management you search for on the place and may very well be the quarterback Iowa has been on the lookout for to assist make them success on offense in 2025.
JOHN MATEER, QB, OKLAHOMA
A quarterback transfers to a powerhouse SEC college and efficiently improves his draft inventory. Does that sound like a well-recognized storyline? While you take a look at Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels, and Jaxson Dart, to call a couple of, all transferred to the SEC and noticed their play and draft inventory take off. That’s what John Mateer is hoping for after transferring from Washington State to Oklahoma this spring, having established himself as a productive quarterback on the school degree. Nonetheless, he must show himself towards a number of the finest groups within the nation.
Mateer had a profitable first season because the beginning quarterback for the Cougars in 2024, finishing 64.6% of his passes for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns to fifteen interceptions, however he did loads of injury on the bottom together with his legs, too, dashing for 826 yards and 15 scores. He lacks prototypical dimension (6’1, 220 kilos), however his athleticism, footwork, and arm expertise are harking back to Baker Mayfield, who additionally transferred to Oklahoma from Texas Tech and loved a breakout season with the Sooners, propelling his stand up the draft boards to be the primary total choose again in 2018.
Mateer will hope to have an analogous impression as a switch to Oklahoma, because the SEC has turn out to be extra large open with the losses from different groups within the convention. He may have his work minimize out for him, but when Mateer can produce an analogous season to what he had final yr with Washington State, search for him to turn out to be a family title in school soccer.
