The 2026 NFL draft kicks off April 23 in Pittsburgh, and we’re already breaking down prospects — particularly the quarterbacks.
After a banner 2024 draft wherein a document six quarterbacks went off the board within the first 12 picks, solely two QBs had been drafted within the first spherical in 2025. Will 2026 find yourself nearer to the document 2024 crop or extra just like the understated 2025 model? We’ll begin the journey to the reply by stacking quarterbacks who’re eligible and will get picked within the 2026 class.
To make clear, I do not anticipate each QB listed beneath to finish up within the 2026 draft pool. Accidents may occur, and gamers may select to remain at school and wait till 2027 (and even later in some circumstances). Conversely, extra quarterbacks may hop on the radar between now and April. And these rankings will change and evolve as we get extra info. In spite of everything, convention play is simply beginning up within the 2025 school soccer season, and we nonetheless have all-star occasions, the mix and professional days forward of us.
So let’s get to it, rating the very best QBs within the 2026 class as of now.
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Day 2 picks | Day 3 picks
Top: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 206 kilos
Class: Redshirt sophomore | Projected vary: Spherical 1
The place he excels: Moore has been among the many greatest risers within the nation no matter place because of his accuracy and poise. After beginning his profession at UCLA in 2023 after which transferring to Oregon and sitting behind Dillon Gabriel final season, Moore has been given the keys to the Geese’ assault this season. He has flourished within the first 5 video games, throwing for 1,210 yards, 14 landing passes and 1 interception whereas showcasing a easy, compact launch.
Moore was unflappable at Penn State on Sept. 27, finishing 74.4% of his passes (29-of-39) and throwing for 248 yards. He was unaffected by the hostile surroundings, throwing the eventual game-winning landing cross in double extra time.
“It would not matter if it is the primary play of the sport or a deciding play in extra time, his heartbeat stays the identical,” stated an AFC scouting director from a QB-needy crew.
Moore is a fluid passer with an above-average arm and the wonderful subject imaginative and prescient essential to dissect defenses. Regardless of his skinny, wiry body, his energy within the pocket and general calmness are two of his higher attributes. His excessive consciousness ranges assist him not solely scan and execute throws precisely but additionally escape and make performs together with his legs when flushed. His uncanny capacity to maintain his eyes ahead on the transfer permits him to rediscover receivers when scrambling, making him simply as harmful exterior the pocket as inside it. Moore’s 0.7% sack charge is the fourth-lowest proportion within the FBS; he not often panics.
The place he wants work: Moore has performed at a excessive stage to this point this season, however the pattern dimension remains to be small. He is additionally younger (would not flip 21 till after the draft), so scouts need to see how he does in additional huge video games, as Penn State is the one high-quality protection he has confronted to this point this season. That might occur shortly, because the Geese host No. 7 Indiana on Saturday and are in good place to make the Huge Ten championship recreation and qualify for the School Soccer Playoff. So far as on-field issues to work on, Moore has been inconsistent driving the ball on beneath throws.
There’s loads of uncertainty about what Moore will resolve to do at season’s finish. With two seasons of eligibility remaining, he has the choice of returning to Oregon in 2026 for his redshirt junior season. However he has put himself in place to be drafted extremely if his high quality play continues.
Top: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 225 kilos
Class: Redshirt junior | Projected vary: Spherical 1
The place he excels: There all the time appears to be a quarterback who shortly surges from Day 2-3 consideration earlier than the season into early Spherical 1 (see Jayden Daniels and Cam Ward). Mendoza is the main candidate to fill that position this yr. He transferred to Indiana within the offseason after spending his first three seasons at Cal. He generated loads of buzz within the offseason, which has carried over into the primary few video games of the 2025 marketing campaign. Mendoza’s 16 landing passes ranks second within the FBS, and he has thrown for 1,208 passing yards and just one interception.
Mendoza is a lanky, decisive pocket passer who makes split-second choices, which inserts completely in Indiana’s quick-passing, environment friendly scheme. Half of his passing yards this season have come on run-pass choices or ideas that embrace zero- or one-step drops. Attaching remoted or singular routes behind run-game ideas has been helpful for Mendoza, who’s comfy with reads that put single defenders in battle. His three-quarter throwing movement makes him ultimate for the Hoosiers’ scheme.
He has additionally been phenomenal within the pink zone. His 13 pink zone touchdowns is 4 greater than the next-best FBS quarterback.
The place he wants work: Whereas Mendoza is comfy throughout the confines of the pocket, he struggles when pressured off his unique launch level. He has accomplished solely 16.7% of his passes when on the transfer, displaying inaccuracy when flushed exterior the pocket, transferring his ft or in scramble conditions. He has additionally had points towards stress, finishing solely 45.8% of his passes there whereas being sacked 5 instances.
Mendoza has asserted himself as one of many high passers within the 2026 class and is on an upward trajectory, however he will likely be examined down the street. Together with Saturday’s recreation towards Oregon, Mendoza can even play at Penn State on Nov. 8. These are prime alternatives for him to stake a declare as this class’s QB1.
Top: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 240 kilos
Class: Redshirt sophomore | Projected vary: Late Spherical 1-Early Day 2
The place he excels: A number of scouts informed me earlier than the season that Sellers was one of many favorites to be the highest QB within the 2026 class. He has a chiseled body, a robust arm and dynamic operating capacity, making him a high-impact dual-threat prospect.
Sellers has 886 passing yards, 4 landing throws and 1 interception this season whereas including 98 dashing yards and one other landing. He has vastly improved his accuracy, together with his 7.2% off-target proportion rating nineteenth within the FBS and a transparent improve over his 13.6% determine in 2024, which ranked 88th. He can put the ball the place it must go when working in construction and trusting what he sees downfield.
I feel he’s geared up to thrive instantly within the NFL. Sellers’ pocket energy to flee and keep away from the push when issues are crumbling round him will likely be among the many greatest within the league as quickly as he arrives. He’s a robust runner who’s extraordinarily tough to corral and produce down.
The place he wants work: Whereas Sellers is proficient, he is nonetheless working by way of the nuances of seeing, studying and reacting to defenses as a passer. When is all of it going to return collectively? It is the query that just about all scouts I’ve talked to proceed to ask, they usually really feel South Carolina’s offense is not boosting him.
“I like his ability set, however that offense simply is not serving to him develop proper now,” an NFC director of scouting stated. “If a crew with offensive playcaller can get their arms on him and be affected person, I feel he has an incredible ceiling, nevertheless it must be a protracted, affected person course of.”
A leaky offensive line hasn’t finished Sellers any favors. He has confronted stress on 42.5% of his dropbacks, the eighth most within the FBS. He has additionally been sacked on an FBS-high 12.4% of his dropbacks, and his 2.95-second common time to throw ranks a hundred and twentieth out of 138 quarterbacks. And he should develop higher tempo on short-to-intermediate throws, as he routinely makes these passes too sizzling to deal with for receivers.
All of this makes him an especially polarizing passer in NFL circles, however he’ll get loads of probabilities to vary that narrative. Beginning Saturday at LSU, Sellers will face a five-game gauntlet that additionally contains Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
Top: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 205 kilos
Class: Redshirt junior | Projected vary: Early-mid Day 2
The place he excels: Simpson has been a giant shock, particularly after a disappointing all-around efficiency in Week 1 towards Florida State. He has appeared fully totally different since, throwing for 1,478 passing yards and 13 touchdowns to 1 interception in 5 video games. He has proven maturity and tranquility for a first-year starter together with B-level arm energy, as nothing appears to faze him within the pocket.
Simpson’s 84.2% catchable cross try charge ranks eleventh within the FBS — he routinely delivers in-stride passes. He has additionally proven pocket maneuverability that is close to the highest of this class, with an underrated athleticism that enables him to make performs out of construction. Six of his 15 whole touchdowns (passing and dashing) have come when Simpson was exterior the pocket. That, plus a eager capacity to acknowledge and regulate to pre-snap seems, has gained him followers within the scouting group.
“He is grown on me loads over these previous few weeks,” an AFC space scout stated. “I feel he has an opportunity to get into the Spherical 1 dialogue if he stays on this present trajectory.”
The place he wants work: Simpson generally would not acknowledge when a play is over. He tends to carry the ball longer than essential and run round in circles within the pocket whereas making an attempt to increase performs which can be clearly busted. Subsequently, he loses yardage with destructive performs that would have been prevented by checking down, operating or tossing the ball out of bounds.
Simpson additionally has a small pattern dimension of 5 profession begins. Whereas his previous 4 begins have been very constructive, one-year school starters have a low NFL hit charge. Simpson’s ascension is noteworthy, however scouts will stay considerably cautious of him till he supplies extra tape as a starter.
Top: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 220 kilos
Class: Sixth-year senior | Projected vary: Early-mid Day 2
The place he excels: As soon as thought to be a candidate for the No. 1 choose in 2025, Beck’s inconsistencies resulted in him coming into the switch portal after a disappointing remaining season at Georgia. However Beck has began to revive his draft inventory at Miami. A rhythmic passer who’s at his greatest when allowed to play on-beat, he has 1,213 passing yards, 11 landing throws and three interceptions this season.
Beck has been helped by a extra constant and improved receiving construction round him and is wanting extra like what he confirmed in 2023 versus 2024. He’s a balanced pocket passer who needs to methodically dissect and ship towards defenses. His recreation is centered round accuracy and decisiveness, so he wastes little time getting the ball out and stays synchronized with progressions. His 74.4% adjusted completion proportion this season is the Twenty eighth-highest mark amongst all FBS passers.
Beck is coming off one other standout efficiency towards a ranked opponent. In final week’s win over Florida State, he recorded his fifth profession recreation with 4 or extra landing passes. Beck has reentered the early-round dialogue and continues to pattern upward.
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Carson Beck connects for 40-yard TD cross
Carson Beck connects for 40-yard TD cross
The place he wants work: Groups which have been capable of persistently generate early stress towards Beck have been capable of knock him off his recreation. Beck’s completion proportion when his ft are planted (75.7%) is considerably higher than when he is pressured to maneuver from his unique launch level (57.1%).
Beck will have to be drafted to a crew the place he is the ultimate piece of the puzzle reasonably than one which lacks surrounding playmakers; he is extra reliant on good infrastructure than most QBs. The Miami offensive line has been key, as Beck’s 17.7% stress charge confronted is the third lowest within the FBS. He will get a median of three.08 seconds to throw the ball (twelfth greatest) and has been sacked solely 4 instances (fifth fewest). However can he maintain up when situations are much less ultimate?
Top: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 224 kilos
Class: Redshirt junior | Projected vary: Early-mid Day 2
The place he excels: Earlier than arriving in Norman, Mateer had a breakout junior season at Washington State in 2024, ending with 3,139 passing yards, 29 landing passes and seven interceptions to go together with 826 yards and one other 15 scores on the bottom. Many scouts recognized him as a chief candidate for a soar like what Ward — who additionally performed at Washington State — had within the final cycle.
One may argue that Mateer was the most popular QB prospect within the nation in September, highlighted by standout performances towards Michigan and Auburn. He performs with a “him towards the world” mindset, using a rugged play fashion and sudden side-arm launch. He has loads of zip on his passes however may layer the ball with precision within the intermediate to deep areas of the sphere. Mateer produces at a excessive stage, as his 351.3 yards of whole offense ranks second within the FBS whereas his 23 performs of 20-plus yards is tied for fourth most.
Mateer can also be an underrated runner. His competitiveness can be utilized on designed quarterback runs and in creating yards when passing ideas are well-covered by defenses. He rushed for 5 touchdowns in his first 4 video games earlier than being sidelined with a damaged bone in his throwing hand suffered towards Auburn, an harm that required surgical procedure.
“Final competitor, man,” one other NFC scouting director stated. “It would not matter if the sport is 28-28 or if he is down 28-0, he will hold firing it with 100% confidence.”
The place he wants work: Mateer has a variety of unconventional mechanics and mannerisms within the pocket. There are occasions when he has random actions in his higher and/or decrease physique when throwing. These mechanics, mixed together with his bouncy nature whereas permitting ideas to unfold, have resulted in spraying the ball excessive and out of doors the strike zone. He should tone down his herky-jerky nature within the pocket and present extra persistence in construction. Mateer welcomes enjoying in chaos however generally to the purpose the place his impatience unnecessarily will increase the diploma of issue on throws.
There are additionally questions on when Mateer will return to motion following his surgical procedure and the way it will have an effect on his recreation.
Top: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 205 kilos
Class: Redshirt senior | Projected vary: Early-mid Day 2
The place he excels: Nussmeier entered the season with heightened expectations after a promising first season as starter. He confirmed flashes in 2024, throwing for 4,052 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. That had many evaluators believing that he had the potential to rise to the highest of the 2026 QB class. By 5 video games in 2025, Nussmeier has 1,159 passing yards, 7 landing passes and three interceptions.
Nussmeier primarily operates from the pocket and performs with fearless anticipation. He throws precisely to spots within the intermediate recreation whereas displaying a wonderful gauge on route depth and the place his receivers will end on passing ideas. Nussmeier has a versatile arm, permitting him to simply alter his arm slots and ball trajectories to suit passes into spots, too.
He navigates the pocket effectively, is conscious of shops and will get the ball out of his hand shortly. Nussmeier just isn’t sacked typically, as his 3.9% sack proportion is the forty sixth lowest within the FBS this season. He was sacked on solely 2.9% of dropbacks in 2024.
The place he wants work: Nussmeier has been decreased to attacking primarily the quick space of the sphere this season as a result of LSU’s scheme of quick-hitters and frequent display screen passes. Whereas he does get to unleash the occasional go ball, he is averaging solely 6.7 air yards per goal (111th within the FBS). LSU’s operating recreation being ranked a hundred and twentieth within the FBS hasn’t helped issues, both.
He additionally has a propensity to be a daredevil with the ball, which could be a present and a curse. Nussmeier has sporadic moments of carelessness due to his confidence in with the ability to anticipate throwing the ball to sure areas of the sphere.
Top: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 235 kilos
Class: Senior | Projected vary: Early-mid Day 2
The place he excels: Allar has prototypical dimension and arm energy. He additionally has loads of expertise, having began 34 video games and performed in 44 general. He made a noticeable leap from his sophomore to junior season, rising his completion proportion from 59.9% to 66.5%. Upon saying his return to highschool, Allar was instantly anticipated to be probably the greatest QBs on this class.
By 5 video games, Allar has thrown for 963 passing yards, eight landing passes and two interceptions. He is an above-average intermediate passer who is not afraid to check tight home windows and might precisely hit routes in between the numbers. He exhausts progressions and delivers to targets, and he has greater than sufficient arm energy to succeed on the subsequent stage. He additionally has the mobility to navigate the pocket and acquire yardage that is accessible.
The place he wants work: Allar’s accuracy appears to have regressed, as he has accomplished greater than 60% of his passes solely as soon as in 2025 (Week 1 towards Nevada). His 13% off-target proportion ranks 98th within the FBS, and Allar has moments the place he places the ball too excessive or low. He tends to make receivers work more durable than they need to to safe catches. Scouts are additionally hesitant about his play in Penn State’s greatest video games, although he’ll have an opportunity to vary that criticism in November with back-to-back matchups towards Ohio State (Nov. 1) and Indiana (Nov. 8).
“The most important situation is that he seems good towards the low- and middle-tier groups, however he simply hasn’t had that signature efficiency any time that he performs towards the elite ones,” an AFC assistant basic supervisor stated.
In a traits-based league, I imagine that there will likely be a crew that convinces itself to draft Allar early due to his bodily attributes and a perception it could reconstruct his decrease half to enhance his ball placement. Allar will have to be in a real under-center, dropback offense that assaults the intermediate and deeper parts of the sphere.
Top: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 205 kilos
Class: Redshirt sophomore | Projected vary: Early Day 3
The place he excels: Arizona State was one of many greatest shock groups of 2024, and Leavitt was a main purpose why, throwing for two,885 yards and 24 touchdowns after transferring from Michigan State. Leavitt had lofty expectations heading into his second season as a starter and has thrown for 1,039 passing yards, 8 landing passes and three interceptions this season.
He’s a real dual-threat participant, coupling his scrambling capacity and willingness to go off schedule with a whippy throwing movement that enables him to make throws even when his higher and decrease halves aren’t in sync. He additionally has a aptitude for drama, which he displayed in the course of the Solar Devils’ run to a Huge 12 title in 2024 and in a comeback victory over TCU earlier this season.
The place he wants work: Leavitt typically performs the sport in an unconventional method, as he is too fast to go away the pocket and places himself in hurt’s method by enjoying out of construction too typically. He is nice at making Houdini-like performs however should perceive when to eliminate the ball, as he’s sacked 6.3% of the time (forty third within the FBS).
He tends to make ill-advised throws each inside and out of doors of the pocket. Whereas he is good at placing out fires, Leavitt is vulnerable to creating a variety of them together with his impatience. Arizona State’s scheme has fewer pro-style throws and emphasizes stretching defenses out horizontally, with 32.7% of Leavitt’s passing makes an attempt this season being at or behind the road of scrimmage (nineteenth highest within the FBS).
Top: 6-foot-6 | Weight: 224 kilos
Class: Fifth-year senior | Projected vary: Early-Mid Day 3
The place he excels: Inexperienced instantly turned the Razorbacks’ starter after transferring from Boise State following the 2023 season. He has 1,398 passing yards, 12 landing throws and 5 interceptions this season, together with one other 441 yards (most amongst FBS QBs) and two touchdowns on the bottom. His lengthy stride places groups in a bind when he runs (Inexperienced has two 100-yard dashing video games in 2025), and he has the arm expertise to get the ball to the spots he needs together with his elongated over-the-top launch.
He has proven the flexibility to make explosive performs together with his arm (eight completions of 20-plus air yards) and his legs. He’ll doubtless be a preferred middle-round goal for groups trying to develop a toolsy passer with upside.
The place he wants work: Inexperienced’s warts have been noticeable in latest weeks, most notably the time he takes to cross the ball. His 3.08-second common time to throw ranks 129th out of 138 quarterbacks within the FBS, and his indecisiveness within the short-to-intermediate areas is a giant purpose.
Inexperienced has additionally struggled dealing with stress. The six instances he has been sacked have come towards true stress, and he has accomplished solely 38.2% of his passes in these conditions.
Top: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 200 kilos
Class: Redshirt junior | Projected vary: Mid-late Day 3
The place he excels: Hoover is without doubt one of the most underrated passers within the nation regardless of throwing for a school-record 3,949 yards final season. He is off to a different quick begin, as his 1,517 passing yards are tenth most within the FBS. He additionally has 15 landing passes and 4 interceptions.
Hoover can match his quiet ft with an explosive throwing movement, and his fast launch permits him to get the ball to the perimeter with a flick of his wrist. That launch helps him squeeze throws into tight home windows, and he has a high-level understanding on which sort of ball pace he wants when attacking all parts of the sphere.
He is able to studying out passing ideas and attending to bottom choices on progressions. That has helped him convert 54.3% of his third-down passes this season, the very best charge within the FBS.
The place he wants work: Hoover’s overconfidence in his arm presents some points, as a number of the turnovers this season have occurred when he is throwing into closing home windows regardless of having higher choices. This was obvious in his two-interception efficiency towards Arizona State.
I would additionally prefer to see Hoover enhance on climbing within the pocket as an alternative of all the time standing on the apex of it. He has already taken 10 sacks this season (thirty fifth most within the FBS), and plenty of of these sacks might be prevented by climbing vertically to make it tougher for cross rushers.
Top: 6-foot | Weight: 200 kilos
Class: Redshirt senior | Projected vary: Mid-late Day 3
The place he excels: There may not be a greater story in school soccer than Chambliss. After spending 4 seasons at Division II Ferris State, he transitioned to the SEC. Chambliss began the season backing up Austin Simmons however grabbed the beginning job towards Arkansas within the third recreation of the season. He has 1,033 passing yards, 5 landing throws and 1 interception whereas dashing for 266 yards since taking on because the starter.
Chambliss throws from a agency, balanced base and has a sudden launch that enables his passes to return out in a rush. Chambliss’ arm energy helps him assault all three ranges of the sphere in Lane Kiffin’s offense, and his mobility places defenses off-balance. His compact body makes him a aggressive runner who welcomes contact and will be utilized in QB run designs.
The place he wants work: There may be a variety of projection for Chambliss, who has performed solely three Division I video games. There nonetheless are moments when he makes an attempt performs that labored in Division II however are a wrestle towards SEC competitors. Chambliss additionally tends to cross up secure, simple beneath choices within the hunt for a giant acquire. Understanding that he would not must go for explosive performs each time is the subsequent step in his improvement.
Scouts have already famous how shortly Chambliss has transitioned to raised competitors: “He has that Russell Wilson-esque body, however I feel there’s one thing to him,” an NFC space scout who covers the Southeast area stated.
Top: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 210 kilos
Class: Senior | Projected vary: Mid-late Day 3
The place he excels: With 4 starters returning alongside the Tigers’ offensive line and his high three huge receivers again for an additional season, I believed Klubnik had the very best supporting forged within the nation and a chief alternative to construct off a breakout 2024. That is a part of why I had him because the No. 1 choose in my way-too-early mock draft in Could. By 5 video games, Klubnik has 1,250 passing yards, 10 landing throws and 4 interceptions. He is most comfy working off play-action, as he has 6 touchdowns, 1 interception and an 80% completion proportion there.
Klubnik has stretches of cold and hot play all through video games, just like a streaky 3-point shooter. His clear throwing launch permits him to distribute the ball evenly to all his targets within the beneath areas the Tigers function in. Klubnik can also be a menace as a runner when pressured to interrupt the pocket.
The place he wants work: Klubnik has a variety of borderline-average traits however would not have one superior trait. Outdoors of his Week 6 efficiency towards North Carolina (22-of-24, 254 yards and 4 TDs), Klubnik has hesitated throwing the ball on time, too. I noticed him up shut towards LSU within the season opener and seen that he had timing troubles when studying ideas. His anticipation abilities have been missing, and he has been defaulting to ready for teammates to get open earlier than throwing.
His mechanics are inclined to wane when dealing with stress, and his accuracy turns into scattershot. Klubnik has accomplished solely 46.3% p.c of his passes when dealing with true stress. There have been combined opinions of Klubnik coming into the season, however his efficiency in the course of the first half has created a late-round consensus.
Top: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 225 kilos
Class: Redshirt sophomore | Projected vary: Late Day 3
The place he excels: There wasn’t a school participant extra touted than Manning coming into the season. Regardless of having solely 95 profession passing makes an attempt earlier than 2025, he was handed sky-high expectations in main the preseason No. 1 crew. Although he hasn’t come near matching that hype, there have been sprinkles of promise. With prototypical dimension and a strong arm, he has 1,151 passing yards, 11 landing throws and 5 interceptions this season. And in contrast to his uncles, Peyton and Eli, he’s a harmful runner.
Steve Sarkisian has altered the Longhorns’ offense to suit Manning’s ability set, deviating from an RPO-centric cross recreation to 1 that assaults deep. Manning has had some success with that, as his 11.2 air yards per passing try is fourth greatest within the FBS. He additionally has 15 completions of 20-plus air yards, and 6 of his 11 landing passes have come on these deep throws.
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Arch Manning throws 4 TDs in 5 minutes for Longhorns
Arch Manning brushes off the cobwebs from final week’s Texas loss to Ohio State by throwing 4 touchdowns within the first half vs. San José State.
The place he wants work: Indecisiveness and inaccuracy have continuously popped up all through every recreation this season. Manning’s wonky mechanics and uncharacteristic side-arm throwing fashion have led to a 17.9% off-target proportion (fifth highest within the FBS). There was a shocking deterioration of his mechanics from what we noticed in 2024, and that has pressured receivers into far harder catches than essential.
He has been extraordinarily sluggish in eliminating the ball, too, as his common time to throw of three.22 seconds is the second slowest within the FBS. Manning should discover ways to launch the ball on time. Maybe that may include extra expertise, particularly towards upper-level competitors. However the 2027, and even 2028, draft is a extra lifelike NFL entry level for Manning, and the hardships he has confronted to this point this season have bolstered that.
