The 2025 NFL draft is over, and we’re on to the following. The 2026 draft class has some thrilling prospects. And the quarterback place ought to have a bounce-back 12 months, with extra first-round signal-callers anticipated. Very like the 2025 group, the defensive position class could be very sturdy, too.
Who’re the highest QBs to know forward of the season? Who’re the early sleepers? Which groups and prospects would be the most enjoyable to observe within the 2025 faculty soccer season? NFL draft analysts Matt Miller and Discipline Yates had been joined by faculty soccer reporter Adam Rittenberg to reply seven massive questions concerning the 2026 draft — 12 months out.
For extra on subsequent 12 months’s class and its projected prime picks, try Jordan Reid’s way-too-early mock draft of Spherical 1. However here is an introduction to the perfect gamers to know for the 2026 draft, which is able to happen in Pittsburgh.
Bounce to:
Prime QBs | Prime non-QBs | Sleepers
Early energy | Evaluating to 2025
Sneaky CFB group | Finest tape to observe
Who’re the highest quarterbacks within the 2026 class?
Matt Miller: Subsequent 12 months’s class does not function a transparent QB1 heading into the season, however there’s a sturdy group of passers vying for that spot. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik acquired loads of reward after a powerful 2024 season. Becoming a member of him shall be Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) and Drew Allar (Penn State) as well-known prospects. Scouts are additionally buzzing about Sawyer Robertson (Baylor) and LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina) as high-upside prospects to observe.
Discipline Yates: This listing at all times appears longer presently of the 12 months in comparison with the way it will look after we get to draft day in April. However I will provide up Nussmeier as the important thing title to know. I consider he has the trajectory to be a first-round choose, and he is the one I’ve studied probably the most to date (he was eligible for the 2025 draft however elected for another season). Nussmeier throws with glorious accuracy, contact and anticipation. He’s a ample mover and operates nicely within the pocket. Nussmeier threw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns final season.
Adam Rittenberg: Apart from Allar — who has all the specified NFL quarterback traits however lacks big-game success — the dialog begins within the SEC. Nussmeier will end 2025 with huge expertise in the identical program. Sellers may also be a multiyear SEC starter who may see his inventory rise. The one we have not talked about is Texas’ Arch Manning, who shall be below the brightest of spotlights given his household ties and the place he performs. However will Manning enter the 2026 draft? He has solely two begins below his belt.
One quarterback outdoors the SEC and Large Ten who actually intrigues me is Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt. Coach Kenny Dillingham thinks he has excessive potential.
Which prospects may find yourself being the highest non-QB within the class?
Miller: Ohio State’s Caleb Downs will start the 2025 season as my prime general prospect, though security is not a premium place by way of worth. Nobody can prime Downs — he’s the perfect participant in faculty soccer and probably the most thrilling prospect. I see explosiveness and flexibility on the tape. I am additionally excited to see what Miami offensive deal with Francis Mauigoa does in his junior season. He has the look of a standout prospect.
Yates: Whether or not he winds up being drafted excessive stays to be seen, however I agree with Matt on Downs. He was probably the most gifted participant on the Buckeyes’ protection final season, mixing distinctive motion traits in house, deep-range cowl potential and severe energy to be a disruptive drive towards the run. Over two seasons, Downs already has 30 begins, 4 interceptions and 184 tackles.
Rittenberg: Clemson’s protection ought to bounce again, probably once more reaching elite ranges below new coordinator Tom Allen. He inherits gifted linemen Peter Woods and T.J. Parker, who will enter the 2025 season as projected excessive first-round picks. Woods, a strong defensive deal with, has slimmed down significantly throughout the offseason. His sack numbers ought to rise below Allen, who helped Penn State’s Abdul Carter turn into the 2025 No. 3 choose. And Parker had 11.5 sacks and a program-record six pressured fumbles final season. He ought to be one of many prime go rushers on draft boards.
Who’re some early draft sleeper picks who may rise this season?
Miller: I am watching the switch portal for potential affect gamers, and one which caught my eye within the winter window is new Oregon security Dillon Thieneman. He was good at Purdue the previous two seasons, with 174 tackles and 6 interceptions. Thieneman will not attain prime security standing because of Downs additionally being within the class, however he is an under-the-radar switch to observe.
Yates: I did a great quantity of labor on Tacario Davis final season, although the prolonged nook determined to switch from Arizona to Washington — reuniting with coach Jedd Fisch — as a substitute of declaring for the NFL draft. At one level, I had a second-round grade on him. Davis’ dimension (6-foot-4, 190 kilos) and ball expertise give him an opportunity to interrupt by subsequent season. He has 19 go breakups over the previous two seasons.
Rittenberg: I will select a distinct former Purdue participant than Matt did. New Ohio State tight finish Max Klare won’t qualify as a sleeper since he is taking part in for the defending champs in 2025, however Klare generated a whole lot of optimistic suggestions from coaches I talked to this offseason. He had spectacular numbers — 51 receptions, 685 yards and 4 touchdowns — in a struggling Boilermakers offense final season. Being at Ohio State ought to assist him turn into a fair stronger prospect.
What’s the early energy of the category?
Miller: Very like the 2025 class, subsequent 12 months’s group could be very sturdy alongside the defensive position. Clemson’s stars Woods and Parker could possibly be the perfect gamers at their respective positions and get chosen within the top-five picks. They be part of Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), Keldric Faulk (Auburn), LT Overton (Alabama), Matayo Uiagalelei (Oregon), Patrick Payton (LSU), David Bailey (Texas Tech) and Tim Keenan III (Alabama) as defensive linemen on my preliminary top-32 watch listing.
How does the 2025 class evaluate to the 2024 group?
Yates: The obvious distinction is the potential of the QB class. We will dive deep into any draft, however in the end the variety of quarterbacks who will get drafted early will play a serious roll in the best way the category is seen as a complete. It is too early to foretell the precise variety of who may have first-round grades, however this class will definitely provide extra choices than 2025. I had just one participant with such a grade (Cam Ward).
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Lang lists the highest returning SEC QBs to regulate
SEC Now’s Alyssa Lang goes over which quarterbacks look like poised for an enormous 12 months heading into the 2025-26 season.
What’s a sneaky faculty group to observe for 2026 prospects?
Rittenberg: Illinois had just one participant drafted this 12 months — broad receiver Pat Bryant (choose No. 74 to the Broncos) — however that quantity ought to rise subsequent April. The Illini retained a number of gamers with draftable grades from their 10-win group final season, together with outdoors linebacker Gabe Jacas. He could possibly be a first-round choice in 2026.
Illinois has produced excessive draft picks from the secondary up to now and returns cornerback Xavier Scott, a first-team All-Large Ten choice. Left deal with J.C. Davis shall be an intriguing prospect with a whole lot of expertise, and quarterback Luke Altmyer ought to assist his probabilities after a 3rd season because the Illini starter. Others to observe right here embody: proper deal with Melvin Priestly, defensive deal with James Thompson Jr. (a Wisconsin switch), security Miles Scott and probably tight finish Tanner Arkin.
Which prospect’s tape are you excited to observe if you begin setting your preseason board?
Miller: In the course of the analysis course of annually, I make notes about prospects who aren’t but eligible however pop on tape. Utah offensive tackles Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu are the primary non-quarterbacks I will be diving in on. Fano has been glorious for the Utes in each deal with spots, however he in all probability initiatives as a middle on account of his lack of dimension (6-foot-5, 304 kilos). Lomu is one to observe as an ascending left deal with as a redshirt sophomore.
Yates: Like Matt, I filter ineligible draft prospects right into a nook and make notes on them. I examined that technique on Auburn’s Keldric Faulk. The lengthy, explosive edge rusher broke out in 2024 with seven sacks and jumped out once I was finding out different Auburn prospects for the 2025 draft, together with linebacker Eugene Asante. Faulk shall be a real junior subsequent season. I stay up for watching him extra.
