The 2025 quarterback class didn't inspire much excitement, with only Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart landing in the first round.
However, the 2026 quarterback class features several promising playmakers — three quarterbacks appeared in the top 10 of my early mock draft.
If you're already looking ahead to next year for your team's future franchise quarterback, here are 10 passers to watch this upcoming college football season.
All stats from Sports Info Solutions referencing the 2024 season versus FBS opponents, unless otherwise noted.
2026 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings
| Ranking | Quarterback | School |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drew Allar | Penn State |
| 2 | Cade Klubnik | Clemson |
| 3 | Garrett Nussmeier | LSU |
| 4 | Fernando Mendoza | Indiana |
| 5 | Sam Leavitt | Arizona State |
| 6 | Carson Beck | Miami |
| 7 | Sawyer Robertson | Baylor |
| 8 | LaNorris Sellers | South Carolina |
| 9 | Taylen Green | Arkansas |
| 10 | Nico Iamaleava | UCLA |
| 11 | Arch Manning | Texas |
Preorder The Best Analytical 2025 Football Preview
Don't miss out on Warren Sharp's 500+ page preview of the 2025 NFL season.
The preview is unlike anything you have ever seen, featuring stunning visualizations built with the reader in mind.
This preview shares insights into players, coaches, teams, and philosophies with one goal in mind: to get you prepared for the 2025 NFL season by delivering the smartest information in the fastest, most direct way possible.
Preorder the 2025 Football Preview now!
Which college quarterbacks will be drafted in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft?
- Drew Allar
- Cade Klubnik
- Garrett Nussmeier
These QB prospects are on track to be drafted in the first round:
Drew Allar, Penn State (Senior)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 236 pounds
Allar was a five-star recruit and top quarterback in the 2022 class.
He served as Sean Clifford’s backup in 2022 before taking over the following year.
There has been no doubt about Allar’s physical tools from the moment he took the field.
He has the arm to make every throw that will be asked of him and then some.
Accuracy was an issue for Allar initially, but he showed growth in this area in 2024.
As he’s become more patient in the pocket, his mechanics have remained steady, allowing him to more consistently hit his receivers in stride.
To solidify his status as a first-round prospect, Allar will need to continue developing his decision making under pressure.
His fourth-quarter across-the-field interception in the semifinal game against Notre Dame was the most high profile example of his processing breaking down in key moments.
Key Stats for Drew Allar:
- On-target rate was 4.9% above expected based on route-adjusted data
- Took a sack on 15.9% of his dropbacks versus pressure
- Took traditional dropbacks at a 52% rate (NFL average: 60%)
- 78.5% catchable pass rate on traditional dropbacks, ranked 81st in FBS
Cade Klubnik, Clemson (Senior)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 210 pounds
Klubnik was a five-star prospect and the second-ranked quarterback recruit in the 2022 class.
He took over for DJ Uiagalelei in the ACC title game as a true freshman and hasn’t looked back since.
The addition of offensive coordinator Garrett Riley in 2023 led to some growing pains during Klubnik’s first full year as a starter, but he took off in his second year in the system as a junior in 2024.
In the pocket, Klubnik looks like a prototypical passer with clean mechanics and an above average arm.
Although he’s a pocket passer first, he adds to his value as a legitimate threat to take off running.
He has enough athleticism for designed runs to remain a part of his game in the NFL.
To continue enhancing his draft stock, Klubnik will need to be a better decision maker as a downfield passer.
He’s aggressive to a fault at times, and the windows he tries to hit against ACC defenses will turn into interceptions at a higher rate in the NFL.
Key Stats for Cade Klubnik:
- On-target rate was 5.1% above expected based on route-adjusted data
- Took traditional dropbacks at a 50% rate (NFL average: 60%)
- 58% on-target rate on throws 15 or more yards downfield
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU (Redshirt Senior)
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds
Nussemeier is the son of former Saints quarterback and current Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.
He was a four-star recruit in the 2021 class, serving as Max Johnson’s backup during his redshirt-freshman year before backing up Jayden Daniels for two seasons and then taking over in 2023.
Nussmeier doesn’t have Daniels’ athletic traits, but he is a creative playmaker who can move around both in and outside the pocket.
His accuracy on the move and from multiple arm angles bodes well for a transition to the NFL, where you need to make plays under pressure and outside the pocket to win consistently.
To continue his development, Nussmeier will need to cut down on the negative plays.
His aggressive style borders on reckless, but some of that is to be expected from a first-year starter — he should look calmer in his second year at the helm.
Key Stats for Garrett Nussmeier:
- On-target rate was 6.9% above expected based on route-adjusted data
- 56% on-target rate on throws 15 or more yards downfield
- Took traditional dropbacks at a 61% rate (NFL average: 60%)
- 82% catchable pass rate on traditional dropbacks
Which college quarterbacks could become first-round prospects with a good 2025 season?
- Fernando Mendoza
- Sam Leavitt
- Carson Beck
- Sawyer Robertson
These QB prospects are potentially first-round talents:
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (Redshirt Junior)
Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 225 pounds
Mendoza was a three-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class and spent his first three years at Cal.
He saw his first action filling in for the injured Sam Jackson in Week 2 of his redshirt freshman year and effectively Wally Pipped Jackson, starting all but two games the remainder of the year.
Mendoza wins with accuracy but also has an above-average arm and enough mobility to make some plays outside the pocket.
He might throw the best deep ball of any quarterback in this class.
To enter the first-round conversation, Mendoza will need to tone down his hero ball tendencies and remain calmer and more collected against pressure.
Games at Penn State and at Oregon will be critical tests of his ability to handle pressure in tough environments this season.
Key Stats for Fernando Mendoza:
- On-target rate was 7.4% above expected based on route-adjusted data
- Took a sack on 26% of his dropbacks versus pressure, ranked 61st out of 68 qualified Power Four quarterbacks.
- 59% on-target rate on throws 15 or more yards downfield
- Took a traditional dropback at a 30% rate (NFL average: 60%)
- 14% sack rate on traditional dropbacks, ranked dead last among qualified Power Four quarterbacks
Sam Leavitt, Arizona State (Redshirt Sophomore)
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 210 pounds
Leavitt was a four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class who spent his freshman year at Michigan State but transferred after head coach Mel Tucker was fired.
Arizona State's shocking trip to the college football playoff elevated Leavitt's profile earlier than expected due to his performances on the big stage.
Leavitt excels as an off-script playmaker, and his running ability has drawn comparisons to Arizona State legend Jake Plummer.
For a young scrambling quarterback who often throws on the run, Leavitt demonstrated a surprising ability to protect the football in his first year as the Sun Devils' starter.
Leavitt has the arm strength, mobility, and accuracy to be a first-round quarterback.
He just needs to prove he can replicate last year's production now that opposing coaches have had an offseason to identify weaknesses and prepare for Arizona State's offensive attack.
Key Stats for Sam Leavitt:
- On-target rate was 4.2% above expected based on route-adjusted data
- Took a sack on 14% of his dropbacks versus pressure
- Took a traditional dropback at a 45% rate (NFL average: 60%)
- Zero interceptions on 79 throws made outside the pocket
Carson Beck, Miami (Sixth-Year Senior)
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 220 pounds
Beck was a four-star prospect and the 13th ranked quarterback in the 2020 recruiting class (the Bryce Young/C.J. Stroud class).
After five years at Georgia, two as the starter, he transferred to Miami this offseason.
Initially considered the favorite to be the top quarterback in the 2025 draft class, Beck's progress stalled during his final year at Georgia, and he was ultimately forced back to school due to a season-ending elbow injury during the SEC championship game.
Beck is a pure pocket passer with the arm strength and accuracy to make all the necessary throws from a clean pocket.
Where his game breaks down, however, is when he's forced to move off his spot in the pocket.
To elevate his game and generate first-round buzz again, Beck must prove he has enough athleticism to avoid pressure and make some plays outside the pocket.
Key Stats for Carson Beck:
- On-target rate was 4.8% above expected based on route-adjusted data
- 59% on-target rate on throws 10 or more yards downfield
- Took a traditional dropback at a 50% rate (NFL average: 60%)
- 18% of dropbacks versus pressure resulted in a sack
- Five carries for 24 yards on designed quarterback runs
Sawyer Robertson, Baylor (Redshirt Senior)
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 220 pounds
Robertson was a four-star recruit in the 2021 quarterback class, originally landing at Mississippi State and spending two years as a backup for Mike Leach.
After starting a few games in 2023 with unimpressive results, Robertson's career took off last season in his first year under coordinator Jake Spavital.
Robertson excels at getting the ball out quickly in Spavital's spread offense, likely aided by his experience running Leach's Air Raid scheme.
When he does stand in the pocket, Robertson is patient and poised relative to his inexperience (15 career starts).
Though when the play breaks down, he does become too much of a risk-taker and will need to learn to handle pressure with more composure.
To elevate his draft stock, Robertson will need to continue his development as a pocket passer while showing some improvement in his accuracy and poise under pressure.
Key Stats for Sawyer Robertson:
- On-target rate was 2.3% above expected based on route-adjusted data
- Took a sack on 16% of his dropbacks versus pressure
- 54% on-target rate on throws 15 or more yards downfield
- Took a traditional dropback at a 38% rate (NFL average: 60%)
Which college quarterbacks have to improve to be first-round quarterbacks?
- LaNorris Sellers
- Taylen Green
- Nico Iamaleava
These QB prospects are talented but need to improve:
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina (Redshirt Sophomore)
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 240 pounds
Sellers was a three-star prospect in the 2023 class who, somewhat surprisingly, beat out senior Robby Ashford for South Carolina's starting job in 2024 and nearly carried the Gamecocks to the playoff.
At this stage of his development, however, Sellers is a runner first and still a ways off from the NFL in terms of his passing and processing from the pocket.
As a runner, Sellers has Cam Newton-like ability, and at that size, his run game should translate easily to the NFL.
As a passer, Sellers has effortless arm strength, but he's lacking the ability to stand in the pocket and process what the defense is showing him.
As a result, South Carolina mostly tries to keep the ball out of his hands in big moments.
For example, in last year's win over Clemson, Sellers was just 5 of 12 with an interception when throwing beyond five yards downfield.
But, excluding sacks, he ran the ball 13 times for 175 yards.
If it clicks for Sellers as a passer, he'll emerge as a candidate to be the first overall pick.
With three years of eligibility remaining, there's a decent chance he eventually figures it out.
Key Stats for LaNorris Sellers:
- On-target rate was 3.9% below expected based on route-adjusted data
- Excluding sacks, averaged 11 carries and 73.2 rushing yards per game
- Sacked on 23.4% of his dropbacks versus pressure
- Took a traditional dropback at a 59% rate (NFL average: 60%)
- 6.3% interception rate on throws 15 or more yards downfield (FBS average: 5.5%)
Taylen Green, Arkansas (Redshirt Senior)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 230 pounds
Green was a three-star recruit in the 2021 quarterback class and spent his first three seasons at Boise State, two as the starter.
At Boise State, Green was more effective as a runner, but his passing game took off in 2024 under the tutelage of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bobby Petrino.
Although off-field incidents have tarnished Petrino's reputation, the man can coach quarterbacks.
Every quarterback who has started multiple seasons under Petrino over the last 20 years has been drafted into the league no later than the fourth round (most notably, Lamar Jackson).
Green tends to hold the ball too long — possibly a sign of issues processing the defense — but he still manages to get rid of the ball to avoid too many sacks.
All of his other traits point towards a future NFL starter, so if Green continues his growth in the mental side of the game, his draft stock should continue to rise.
Key Stats for Taylen Green:
- On-target rate was 8.8% above expected based on route-adjusted data
- 65% on-target rate on throws 15 or more yards downfield, ranked fourth among Power Four quarterbacks
- 75% on-target rate when throwing on the move, ranked ninth among Power Four quarterbacks
- Took a sack on 20% of his dropbacks versus pressure
- Took a traditional dropback at a 62% rate (NFL average: 60%)
Nico Iamaleava, UCLA (Redshirt Sophomore)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 215 pounds
Iamaleava was the second overall recruit in the 2023 class, landing at Tennessee where he backed up Joe Milton during his freshman year before taking over in 2024.
Although he led Tennessee to the playoffs, the Vols scaled back their typically aggressive passing attack and leaned heavily on the run game due to Iamaleava’s struggles as a downfield passer.
To live up to the hype in his second year as a starter at a new school, Iamaleava will need to improve his downfield accuracy while also making significant strides in his processing.
Unfortunately, off-field questions will also play a role in Iamaleava’s draft stock.
He and his family asked for more money from Tennessee following the 2024 season, leading to a public dispute and a bitter divorce.
The perception that Iamaleava’s short-term greed took priority over his development as a quarterback is a dark cloud that will hang over his draft stock and lead to difficult conversations during the interview process.
Key Stats for Nico Iamaleava:
- Took a traditional dropback at a 12% rate (NFL average: 60%)
- On-target rate was 1.1% below expected based on route-adjusted data
- Took a sack on 28% of his dropbacks versus pressure, ranked 65th out of 68 qualified Power Four quarterbacks.
Will Arch Manning be in the 2026 NFL Draft Class?
Manning is expected to spend a full four years in college, following the blueprint laid out by his uncles, so it is unlikely he is in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
Arch Manning, Texas (Redshirt Sophomore)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 225 pounds
In addition to uncertainty about Manning declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, we also have not really seen him play.
He made two starts last year, against Louisiana Monroe and Mississippi State (arguably the worst Power Four team in the country).
Although he showed some flashes of the talent that made him a top recruit, especially as a runner, he certainly didn’t look like he was about to steal Quinn Ewers’ job.
Based on route-adjusted data, Manning’s on-target rate was 2.6% below expected 一 an area that must improve for him to be considered a top prospect.
Manning also took a sack on 25% of his dropbacks versus pressure, slightly worse than the less-mobile Ewers (24%), and dramatically more concerning considering the competition he faced.
If his last name weren't Manning, we wouldn't be talking about him yet.
Check back next year.