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Jordan Reid
After solely two first-round picks at quarterback within the 2025 NFL draft, the 2026 NFL draft is anticipated to have much more thrilling choices. A number of already stand out — Cade Klubnik (Clemson), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), Drew Allar (Penn State) and Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) soar to thoughts — and that does not even embrace ballyhooed Texas sophomore Arch Manning, who has began simply two school video games.
Whereas Manning would possibly keep in school till 2027, I’ll group him in with the highest 22 draft-eligible passers beneath. I am going to additionally reply a few questions on NFL groups that may be taking a protracted have a look at these signal-callers. Gamers in every part are listed in alphabetical order.
Leap to a bit:
High names | Better of relaxation | Questions
High names to know
Top: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 238 kilos
Class: Senior
The place he excels Allar skilled a leap in his growth in 2024, growing his completion proportion from 59.9% in 2023 to 66.5%. The massive, prototypical pocket passer excelled underneath first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, throwing for 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns with eight interceptions. His upper-tier arm energy provides him the arrogance to check difficult throwing home windows in intermediate areas. He additionally has sufficient mobility for his dimension to flee defenders within the pocket.
The place he wants work: Whereas Allar’s completion proportion made a serious leap, his ball placement was nonetheless inconsistent. He too usually places the ball on the flawed shoulder and his throws may be too excessive or too low on what must be straightforward completions. His efficiency towards top-ranked groups has additionally been woefully inconsistent. Scouts can be watching him intently towards Oregon (Sept. 27) and Ohio State (Nov. 1). Penn State is the top-ranked workforce in ESPN’s post-spring Means-Too-Early High 25, however it’s going to want Allar to play higher in showcase video games to stay as much as that billing.
Top: 6-4 | Weight: 220
Class: Sixth-year senior
The place he excels: Beck was considered a candidate to be the No. 1 total decide in 2025 however had a disappointing ultimate season at Georgia, throwing for 3,485 yards and 28 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. He now has an opportunity to revive his inventory at Miami, which simply produced the No. 1 decide in April’s draft in Cameron Ward. Beck is a rhythmic passer who performs properly when he will get into an early groove. He will get the ball out in a rush and is a real distributor who can unfold the ball across the discipline.
The place he wants work: Beck experiences tough stretches with accuracy, particularly when he is not sharp early. Final 12 months’s Alabama recreation completely encapsulated Beck’s inconsistency, as he threw two interceptions whereas finishing 47% of his first-half passes. Then, he turned it round with 339 passing yards and three touchdowns within the second half to steer a near-comeback. He was a curler coaster in 2024, however there is a cause many evaluators had him because the QB1 getting into final season. Miami’s offense has Air Raid ideas, which ought to accent his items as a passer.
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Carson Beck’s greatest performs of the season for Georgia
Check out Carson Beck’s greatest performs of 2024 for Georgia after asserting his intention to enter the switch portal.
Top: 6-2 | Weight: 210
Class: Senior
The place he excels: Klubnik entered 2024 with query marks after a tough sophomore season however emerged as a star, ending with 3,639 passing yards and 36 landing passes to solely six interceptions. He is in a position to repeat his mechanics and maintain his eyes, toes and throwing movement in sync whereas going by way of his progressions. Klubnik saved his greatest recreation of the season for the primary spherical of the School Soccer Playoff, throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns towards Texas. He must be arrange for achievement in 2025, as Clemson returns its high three receivers. That is a giant cause why he was the No. 1 decide in my Means Too Early 2026 mock draft.
The place he wants work: Scouts across the league I’ve talked to have raised considerations about Klubnik’s arm energy and whether or not he can construct on his 2024 success. Questions on his arm floor when he is compelled to check tight home windows in beneath protection and along with his inconsistent trajectory on deep passes. Klubnik averaged solely 8.56 air yards per passing try in 2024, rating 58th within the FBS. He should be extra assertive and prepared to problem protection in intermediate and deep areas.
Top: 6-2 | Weight: 210
Class: Redshirt sophomore
The place he excels: Leavitt was a revelation final season after transferring from Michigan State, passing for two,885 yards, 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions whereas main the Solar Devils to a Huge 12 championship and the School Soccer Playoff. He is a relaxed and poised passer whose 80 QBR was the Tenth-best charge within the FBS. Leavitt at all times appears to be in management and persistently makes the right play from the pocket. He is at his greatest in play-action, as he can flip his again to the protection and reset his eyes to make throws.
The place he wants work: Leavitt has solely 13 profession begins, so the pattern dimension is comparatively small. He tends to be too bouncy within the pocket and must be extra constant in taking choices which can be out there to him early in progressions. He’ll additionally face much more strain this season, with star working again Cam Skattebo off to the NFL and the Solar Devils not being a sleeper workforce anymore after their convention title win. Leavitt can be counted on because the catalyst of Arizona State’s offense.
Top: 6-4 | Weight: 222
Class: Redshirt sophomore
The place he excels: Manning has began simply two school video games, throwing for 583 yards, 4 touchdowns and two interceptions in these begins. He has a well-put-together body, permitting him to keep away from defenders within the pocket and bounce off tacklers in open house as a runner. Manning has a picture-perfect base and clean supply as a passer. He would not have a lot expertise in that division, as Texas used him primarily as a runner in 2024, however his prototypical construct and bodily instruments had been obvious on tape and provides him immense potential. He can be underneath the tutelage of one of many nation’s greatest QB builders in Steve Sarkisian, however Manning’s lack of expertise makes him extra prone to be within the 2027 draft class on the earliest.
The place he wants work: Manning has solely 95 profession passing makes an attempt, so his pattern dimension is small and extra growth is important. He had a behavior of sticking to his main learn too lengthy in his begins, resulting in poor decision-making. He might want to enhance his timing in getting by way of progressions and understanding when to maneuver off his first learn. He might additionally use his mobility way more on non-designed QB runs to assist string collectively optimistic performs. He’ll be examined on these items early, because the Longhorns begin the season at defending nationwide champion Ohio State.
Top: 6-1 | Weight: 224
Class: Redshirt junior
The place he excels: Mateer joins the Sooners after three seasons at Washington State. He broke out in 2024, ending with 3,139 passing yards and 29 touchdowns to solely seven interceptions. He is an aggressive playmaker who has all kinds of funky releases, permitting him to reposition his physique and nonetheless get the ball out successfully. He has straightforward arm energy and is not hesitant to make far-hash throws. Mateer is a fierce competitor and a particularly efficient runner on scrambles and designed QB runs, dashing for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns final season. He represents a transparent improve for an Oklahoma offense that struggled mightily in 2024.
The place he wants work: Due to Washington State’s schedule, Mateer was in a position to get away with unhealthy habits within the pocket that will not fly within the SEC. He tends to be a tick gradual on reads, counting on his arm energy to alleviate tardiness in his progressions. The arm overconfidence additionally results in him passing up simpler shallow reads for more difficult deeper throws. He’ll be examined towards a schedule that includes eight SEC colleges and a Week 2 nonconference recreation towards Michigan. If he passes with flying colours, Mateer might climb draft boards rapidly.
Top: 6-5 | Weight: 225
Class: Redshirt junior
The place he excels: Mendoza arrives at Indiana after being the hub of Cal’s offense in 2024, throwing for 3,004 passing yards and 16 touchdowns with six interceptions. He has a handy guide a rough launch that helps the ball come out of his hand with loads of life. Mendoza is a exact passer who places the ball within the correct place for his receivers, as evidenced by his FBS-best 5.1% off-target proportion final season. He’s efficient throwing from inside or outdoors the framework of the offense, rating ninth within the FBS with a 91.1 QBR on throws outdoors of the pocket. He additionally excels at figuring out and attacking advantageous one-on-one protection conditions.
The place he wants work: Mendoza’s escapability and effectiveness throwing from outdoors the pocket can result in him being impatient and breaking the pocket prematurely. He must have extra persistence in letting ideas unfold, particularly now that he’ll face upgraded defenses within the Huge Ten. However Indiana’s offense is eerily much like what he operated at Cal, giving Mendoza an opportunity to be a breakout candidate in 2025.
Top: 6-2 | Weight: 200
Class: Fifth-year senior
The place he excels: Nussmeier was up and down in his first season as a starter after changing Jayden Daniels, throwing for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The son of Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, Garrett has a agency grasp of defensive constructions and coverages. He has essentially the most jaw-dropping spotlight tape of any QB within the class, as he routinely delivers the ball to the place his targets are purported to be. He additionally has a versatile arm, which permits him to change his arm slots whereas sustaining accuracy.
The place he wants work: Nussmeier’s confidence and daredevil mentality can typically backfire. Although he would not get sacked usually (his 2.9% sack proportion was the twelfth lowest within the FBS), he may be careless with the ball, particularly towards higher defenses. He had three video games of two or extra interceptions towards ranked groups in 2024. Plenty of these errors occur when he’s flushed from the pocket, the place his decision-making should enhance.
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Garrett Nussmeier launches a 41-yard dime to Chris Hilton Jr. for an LSU TD
Chris Hilton Jr. catches a 41-yard throw from Garrett Nussmeier to pad the Tigers’ lead.
Top: 6-3 | Weight: 242
Class: Redshirt sophomore
The place he excels: Sellers is a toolsy, explosive dual-threat passer who accomplished 65.6% of his passes for two,534 yards and 18 touchdowns. On the bottom, he rushed for 674 yards and 7 touchdowns final season. He can simply throw to each degree of the sphere and his compact, sturdy body makes him a recreation changer on designed QB runs. Sellers’ distinctive energy and imaginative and prescient within the pocket permits him to make performs in unfavorable conditions. Lots of his high highlights final season had been the results of him avoiding and shaking off tacklers. His uncooked potential, instruments, youth (he is 20 years previous) and projected ascension are promoting factors groups are prepared to wager on early within the draft.
The place he wants work: The offense Sellers ran final season was a simplistic combination of mesh ideas, pre-snap reads and an occasional go route. He threw 27.4% of his passes at or behind the road of scrimmage, which ranked 92nd within the FBS. Together with growing his understanding and development of ideas, Sellers must take higher care of the ball. He had 11 fumbles (six misplaced) final season. He additionally must make choices faster — his 3.06-second common time to throw was the Eleventh-slowest within the nation.
Better of the remaining
Rocco Becht, Iowa State
Becht was regular as a third-year sophomore in 2024, throwing for 3,505 yards and 25 touchdowns with 9 interceptions. The son of former NFL tight finish Anthony Becht has a sudden over-the-top launch that matches completely in a Cyclones offense that primarily operates in 10 and 11 personnel units. The 6-1, 210-pound Becht would not have the bodily instruments of different passers within the class, however he’s constant in conserving his eyes down the sphere and may make powerful throws with strain in his face.
Aidan Chiles, Michigan State
Chiles transferred to Michigan State from Oregon State previous to the 2024 season. He handed for two,415 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with the Spartans and has an explosive throwing launch, resulting in thrilling flash performs when protected. However safety was an issue for the 6-3, 217-pound Chiles, who was pressured on 42.3% of his dropbacks (eighth highest in FBS). That led to loads of turnover-worthy performs, particularly early final season.
Taylen Inexperienced, Arkansas
Inexperienced enters his second season with the Razorbacks after spending his first three years at Boise State. He is a giant, dynamic dual-threat passer at 6-6, 230 kilos who had 602 yards and eight touchdowns on the bottom final season. He threw for 3,154 yards with 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Inexperienced’s throwing movement is a bit elongated, and he must work on his consistency in rhythm from the pocket.
Mark Gronowski, Iowa
Gronowski had a historic profession at South Dakota State, main the Jackrabbits to 2 nationwide championships and tying for the most-ever wins (49) for an FCS beginning quarterback. He flirted with getting into the 2025 NFL draft and even acquired an invitation to the mix however determined to go to Iowa, whose offense confirmed enchancment in 2024. The 6-3, 230-pounder is a densely constructed passer who can even make performs along with his legs.
Eli Holstein, Pittsburgh
Holstein thrived as Pitt’s starter final season after transferring from Alabama, throwing for two,225 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions. The 6-4, 225-pound Holstein is a strong-armed passer who can push the ball down the sphere with ease. He must play with extra management and enhance his ball placement, as his 14.7% off-target proportion ranked a hundredth within the FBS.
Josh Hoover, TCU
Hoover broke out as a redshirt freshman in 2024 with 3,949 passing yards and 27 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. The 6-2, 200-pounder possesses a compact launch that enables him to get the ball out in a rush. His 25 completions on passes of 20-plus air yards had been the twelfth most within the FBS final season.
Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
Iamaleava’s offseason was eventful and ended up with him leaving Tennessee to play for the Bruins. He completed his first season as a starter with 2,616 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. The 6-6, 215-pound Iamaleava is a slender, fluid passer with the arm expertise to get the ball to his desired spots, however he struggled along with his contact and accuracy on deeper passes. That can be value watching this fall, as will his adjustment from the Vols’ unconventional passing offense to a extra pro-style UCLA scheme.
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How Nico Iamaleava ended up at UCLA
Take a look at the timeline that led to Nico Iamaleava going from Tennessee to UCLA.
Kevin Jennings, SMU
Jennings was a breakout star in his first season as a starter, throwing for 3,245 yards and 23 touchdowns with 11 interceptions whereas including 354 dashing yards and 5 floor touchdowns. The 6-0, 189-pounder is a blur that defenses struggled to include because of his mobility and decision-making as a passer. His lack of dimension and quickness with the ball in his fingers might make Jennings a candidate to play one other place within the NFL.
Avery Johnson, Kansas State
With 2,712 passing yards and a school-record 25 landing passes, Johnson was the engine of Kansas State’s offense final season. The thinly constructed 6-2, 192-pounder additionally ran for 605 yards and 7 touchdowns. He is equally efficient throwing and working, as he rushed for 50 or extra yards in seven video games final season. He must proceed to develop as a passer, having thrown 10 interceptions final season, however Johnson is among the most harmful dual-threat QBs within the nation.
Haynes King, Georgia Tech
King is getting into his third season as Georgia Tech’s starter after enjoying his first three seasons at Texas A&M. His passing numbers fell from 2,842 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2023 to 2,114 and 14, respectively, in 2024. However the 6-3, 215-pound King took care of the ball final season (two interceptions) and was efficient on designed runs, dashing for 587 yards and 11 touchdowns. He may be explosive on the bottom, however King must unlock the following degree of his passing growth.
Darian Mensah, Duke
Mensah was a giant switch portal pickup for Duke, as he handed for two,723 yards and 22 touchdowns with six interceptions for Tulane final season. The 6-3, 200-pounder throws from a balanced, sturdy base and has good ball placement, finishing 65.9% of his passes. The third-year sophomore performs with a lot of poise and management whereas displaying sturdy mechanics and pocket presence. Scouts can be monitoring how properly Mensah handles the step-up in competitors from the AAC to the ACC.
Miller Moss, Louisville
Moss transferred to Louisville after spending 4 seasons at USC. He began 9 video games in 2024, ending with 2,555 passing yards and 18 touchdowns to 9 interceptions. The 6-1, 205-pounder has beneath common arm energy, so he depends closely on anticipation in brief and intermediate throws. He is able to shopping for time along with his legs and creating out of construction. He steps into a very good state of affairs, as Louisville coach Jeff Brohm is among the greatest QB builders within the nation. Brohm helped Aidan O’Connell and Tyler Shough turn into NFL draft picks.
Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
Robertson ignited Baylor’s offense in 2024, ending with the seventh-best QBR within the FBS (82.9). The 6-4, 220-pound Robertson is a decisive passer who understands the way to assault completely different protection seems. He was particularly efficient down the stretch, throwing for 17 touchdowns to solely 4 interceptions throughout the Bears’ six-game win streak to finish the common season. Robertson will goal to construct on that run in his second 12 months as a full-time starter.
Different QBs to look at: Ty Simpson (Alabama), Conner Weigman (Houston), Maalik Murphy (Oregon State), Tommy Castellanos (Florida State), Noah Fifita (Arizona), Byrum Brown (USF), Kyron Drones (Virginia Tech), Dante Moore (Oregon), Kaidon Salter (Colorado), Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), Jayden Maiava (USC), Luke Altmyer (Illinois), Jalon Daniels (Kansas), Joey Aguilar (Tennessee), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Behren Morton (Texas Tech), Jake Retzlaff (BYU)
Huge QB questions for NFL groups
At this level, which workforce most must draft a QB to construct round?
Pittsburgh Steelers. Drafting Will Howard in Spherical 6 this 12 months hardly answered the Steelers’ long-term quarterback questions. The workforce is set to signal Aaron Rodgers, however he’ll be 42 years previous in December. The Steelers presently have eight picks in 2026 (their seven alternatives plus Dallas’ third-rounder from the George Pickens commerce) and will stand up to 4 further compensatory alternatives. Count on the Steelers to be aggressive subsequent spring of their seek for a franchise quarterback, particularly because the 2026 draft can be in Pittsburgh.
Who’s a sleeper workforce to look at at QB?
Los Angeles Rams. The Rams have two first-round picks in 2026 and will get aggressive with a commerce up for Matthew Stafford‘s inheritor obvious. Stafford is getting into his age-37 season on a reworked two-year contract, so the Rams have time to determine a signal-caller from what must be a powerful 2026 crop. They may draft a passer subsequent 12 months and be afforded the posh of getting him study behind Stafford for a full season.
