2026 NFC North Draft Review

Chicago Bears

(25) Dillon Thieneman S Oregon
(57) Logan Jones C Iowa
(69) Sam Roush TE Stanford
(89) Zavion Thomas WR LSU
(124) Malik Muhammad CB Texas
(166) Keyshaun Elliot LB Arizona St.
(213) Jordan van den Berg DL Georgia Tech

Immediate Impact: S Dillon Thieneman

The Bears didn’t need to get a lot of immediate help and as it stands right now, Thieneman is the only rookie who should start, and he will have an immediate impact. He’s an incredible athlete who should fit perfectly next to Coby Bryant at safety and they will be nearly interchangeable.

Best Value: LB Keyshaun Elliot

Getting Elliot in the fifth round was a steal. He has starter potential and it might be soon given the depth chart. The Bears have a lot of LBs; TJ Edwards, Devin Bush, Jack Sanborn, Noah Sewell, D’Marco Jackson, and Ruben Hyppolite II, the only LB I like in that group more than Elliot is a healthy Edwards. The rest of them may be able to play a specific role but Elliot can play every down.

Sleeper: CB Malik Muhammad

If the Bears decide they want to get off the Tyrique Stevenson roller coaster, Muhammad is the perfect steady player for them. He might not give you the big, flashy plays Stevenson gives you, but he’s not getting beat for a Hail Mary because he’s too busy talking trash to the crowd. He has starter ability even if he’s a little lighter and not as strong as you might like.

Overall Analysis

Getting Thieneman at 25 overall was a gift. This team needed more safety help, and they got the second-best safety in the draft at a discount. He’ll make plays all over the field and will make the backend of the defense a lot harder to throw against. C Logan Jones may have been taken a tad earlier than expected but he’s a starting center in the league. He may have to wait a year if the Bears want to let the veteran, Garrett Bradbury, start and ease Jones in. Jones can beat him out, but the Bears traded for Bradbury for a reason, so we’ll see. Jones isn’t a big center, but when you have Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson at guard, it’s a little easier to go with the undersized center.

The team went 1 for 2 on their third-round picks. TE Sam Roush is a ready-made NFL blocking TE who immediately replaces Durham Smyth who left in free agency. It’s not the most impactful spot but it matters to Ben Johnson. He’s also good enough that if the team wants to move on from Cole Kmet at some point, he can be the second TE to Colston Loveland. WR Zavion Thomas was a major reach. If you watched LSU last year you know they weren’t very good. Thomas is small and while I can see they might think he can be Khalif Raymond, he’s not Khalif Raymond and they could have done better. I think they will regret passing on guys like Skyler Bell or Brenan Thompson. Muhammed and Elliot are fourth and fifth round guys who have a legitimate chance to start for this team in the near future. DL Jordan van den Berg was solid sixth-round flyer after the DT position had been picked pretty clean. He’s probably not making the roster this year but he’s worth a practice squad spot to see if he can develop.

Detroit Lions

(17) Blake Miller OT Clemson
(44) Derrick Moore Edge Michigan
(118) Jimmy Rolder LB Michigan
(157) Keith Abney II CB Arizona St.
(168) Kendrick Law WR Kentucky
(205) Skyler Gill-Howard DL Texas Tech
(222) Tyre West DL Tennessee

Immediate Impact: OT Blake Miller, Edge Derrick Moore

Taylor Decker retired and the Lions are moving Penei Sewell to LT, that leaves his RT spot wide open for Miller to step into. Miller doesn’t wow you with any part of his game but he’s strong, steady, and reliable. The Lions offense line was an issue last season and Miller should be the last piece to fix it. Moore isn’t the biggest or fastest edge rusher but he’s pretty good and they have needed a steady guy opposite Aidan Hutchinson since they drafted him. Moore is the “Blake Miller” of edge rushers, strong, steady, and reliable. Hutchinson is the star; Moore is the guy doing the work on the other side

Best Value: CB Keith Abney II

Abney isn’t the biggest CB but don’t tell him that. He plays with the type of edge that Dan Campbell is going to love. It might get him in trouble with a flag or two from time to time but he’s a tough CB and he can cover. Somehow, he fell to the fifth round and Lions lucked out, they need some depth at CB, and he can fill that need.

Sleeper: LB Jimmy Rolder

The Lions lost Alex Anazalone in free agency and that leaves Malcolm Rodriguez penciled in at weakside LB, that’s not ideal. There’s no real depth at LB and Rolder has more size and ability to hold up as a starter than Rodriguez. I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s the starter weakside LB fairly quickly in Detroit.

Overall Analysis

Miller, Moore, Rolder and Abney were their first four picks in this draft and all four of them could contribute quickly. Miller and Moore as immediate starters with Rolder as a possibility and Abney more of a fil-in if needed. WR Kendrick Law isn’t expected to contribute much beyond being a fourth WR and a return guy but he’s basically the new Khalif Raymond for this team. If he can be that that’s a solid fifth-round pick. Defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard and Tyre West are two smaller DTs who are just depth pieces who give the Lions players who are a little different than starters Alim McNeil and Tyliek Williams.

Green Bay Packers

(52) Brandon Cisse CB South Carolina
(77) Chris McClellan DT Missouri
(120) Dani Dennis-Sutton DE Penn St.
(153) Jager Burton C/G Kentucky
(201) Domani Jackson CB Alabama
(216) Trey Smack K Florida

Immediate Impact: DT Chris McClellan, K Trey Smack

The Packers traded Kenny Clark last year and they haven’t been able to fill that hole. They signed Javon Hargrave this off season but he’s 33 and hasn’t been effective for the past several years. McClellan wasn’t one of the bigger names at DT, but he’s a very talented player who fits into their rotation very easily. The Packers have been looking for consistent kicking since Mason Crosby’s best days. Brandon McManus has the spot for now, but he’ll be 35 next season, Trey Smack was arguably the best kicker in this draft.

Best Value: DE Dani Dennis-Sutton

Dennis-Sutton isn’t the most productive edge rusher but he’s big, strong, and can hold up across all downs. He’s a big edge rusher who might be able to bulk up a bit and play end in Green Bay’s three-man front. No matter where he plays, he’s better than a fourth-round pick.

Sleeper: CB Domani Jackson

Jackson was the second CB they took and while I can see Brandon Cisse stepping in reasonably quickly and getting some playing time, don’t forget about Jackson. He was a highly ranked recruit out of high school who never quite lived up to the hype. However, he has the height, weight, and speed combination that makes him very interesting as a developmental player

Overall Analysis

CB Brandon Cisse will play for this team this year, but he shouldn’t start unless Keisean Nixon or Carrington Valentine are out. He’s a good prospect and they took him at the right spot. He has starter ability and eventually he should be a good player for them. McClellan should be featured heavily in their defensive line rotation, and I would use him more than Javon Hargrave. I really like the McClellen pick. The Dani Dennis-Sutton pick was great value in the fourth round. He isn’t the most dynamic player, but he will give them some important snaps.

OL Jagar Burton couldn’t be more perfect for the Packers, they love a versatile offensive lineman, and he can play three positions. If Anthony Belton isn’t up to the task at RG, Burton could take that job. Domani Jackson is a bet on a guy with great physical traits, you can do way worse in the sixth round. I’m generally not in favor of taking a kicker unless you have at least eight or nine picks in a draft. I also question the wisdom of taking a kicker from Florida when you’re bringing him to Green Bay, Wisconsin. Could be a wasted pick if he can’t handle the weather.

Minnesota Vikings

(18) Caleb Banks DT Florida
(51) Jake Golday LB Cincinnati
(82) Domonique Orange DT Iowa St.
(97) Caleb Tiernan OT Northwestern
(98) Jakobe Thomas S Miami
(159) Max Bredeson FB Michigan
(163) Charles Demmings CB Stephen F. Austin
(198) Demond Claiborne RB Wake Forest
(235) Gavin Gerhardt OL Cincinnati

Immediate Impact: DT Caleb Banks (maybe), LB Jake Golday, DT Domonique Orange

If Caleb Banks’ foot heals up and he doesn’t have any problems with it, he could be the steal of the draft. That’s a very big “if” when you’re talking about a guy who’s 6’6 almost 330 lbs. and has had two injuries to the same foot in less than a year. If he’s healthy, he’s an unblockable menace, if not, he’s a massive bust. Jake Golday is such a unique player, it’s really good he’s going to go play for Brian Flores, the perfect DC to unleash him. Golday isn’t a traditional LB, Flores will figure out the best way to use him. The Vikings needed DT help and even after taking Banks in round one, Domonique Orange was just too good to pass up. If Banks can’t stay healthy, at least Orange will be around to wreak havoc on the defensive line.

Best Value: DT Domonique Orange

Getting a guy of Orange’s caliber in the back half of round three is insane. He could legitimately start for the Vikings even if Caleb Banks is healthy. I know the team got good play out of Jalen Redmond and Levi Drake Rodriguez last season, but Orange is just a different guy up front.

Sleeper: RB Demond Claiborne

Claiborne was only a sixth-round pick, but this team needs some juice in the backfield. Aaron Jones is aging and Jordan Mason isn’t bringing speed to the equation. The only other back on the roster is Zavier Scott. Claiborne has 4.37 speed and it shows. He’s not a physical runner but he can gain yards in a hurry. It was a little surprising they waited until round six to address such a critical need.

Overall Analysis

The Vikings clearly saw a need to address their defense when four of their first five picks were on that side of the ball. Banks is a bet on the upside that could legitimately change your defense. Adding Golday and Orange is adding two players who can fit the scheme and really give you some outstanding play. S Jakobe Thomas was the fourth defender after they took OT Caleb Tiernan. Tiernan fills a need as a swing tackle and after last year with some injuries it was necessary. He also has long-term potential as the replacement RT for Brian O’Neill who is getting older and is coming to the end of his contract. Thomas felt like a bit of a reach at safety. He’s not particularly great at any one thing, and he can be inconsistent.

The Vikings took FB Max Bredeson in round five. While they listed him as a TE, he’s really a full-back or H-back and it’s kind of a dying position in the NFL. I’m not sure they needed to take him in round five. CB Charles Demmings is a guy from Stephen F. Austin and that’s unique because most small school guys transfer up before finishing out their eligibility. Demmings gives the Vikings a CB with a little more length than most of their guys, he’s 6’1. Then came Claiborne, he’s a solid pickup for a sixth-round pick. C Gavin Gerhardt is just a body, they like Blake Brendel at center.

2026 NFL Draft Quick Hits

2026 NFL Draft-1^st Round Reaction

I have some thoughts about how the first round of the draft went; I thought I’d share them. I mentioned it many times last night to many people, it felt like this draft was drunk. It was just stumbling around and incoherently mumbling from pick three on.

The first two picks were pretty clear. QB Fernando Mendoza and Edge David Bailey made perfect sense for the Raiders and Jets, well done.

In the last week there were reports of the Arizona Cardinals looking at taking RB Jeremiyah Love, an understandable rumor if you’re trying to drum up interest for someone to trade up. Instead, a bad organization made a bad move and actually took Love. Jeremiyah Love is arguably the best player in the draft but now he’s going to go to waist on a team that doesn’t have QB, has a suspect offensive line, and has Tyler Allgier, James Connor, Trey Benson and Bam Knight already on the roster. Bad organizations stay bad because they do things like this. This seems like an ownership decision hoping to sell tickets with a big-name college player they can put on posters, that’s not how you win in the NFL.

The Titans pulled the next stunner by taking WR Carnell Tate fourth overall. I like Tate as a player; I just don’t see him as a guy you take this high in the draft. He’ll be a good pro, I’m just not sure he’ll ever reach the level you want from a guy you take this high at WR.

The Giants weren’t expecting LB Arvell Reese to fall to five, but they couldn’t pass him up, he’s way too good. They don’t really need him with Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Keyvon Thibodeaux already on the defense but Reese was too much value. This probably means Thibodeaux is on the trading block, someone from New England should give the Giants a call.

The Chiefs were the team to make the move up with the trade from nine to six with the Browns (the Browns are collecting draft picks like Pokémon cards). They didn’t move up for an edge rusher, they took CB Mansoor Delane. Delane is a perfect scheme fit for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, and they certainly had a hole to fill. So much for them counting on mid-round CBs to fill the need, they got aggressive, it’s a good move.

Dan Quinn thanks the football gods for dropping a football god right in his lap. Sonny Styles is an athletic freak who actually plays with the type of LB instincts you want. They desperately needed a guy to take over the defense from Bobby Wagner and Styles is a great player to do that.

The Saints stood pat at number eight and took a shot at greatness. WR Jordyn Tyson has some big injury concerns to overcome but he’s a truly impressive talent. If he’s healthy, he and Chris Olave are going to be a problem.

The Browns traded down to nine and took Spencer Fano. I have questions about this pick. They need a LT and Fano hasn’t played LT for a couple of years and only played it one year at Utah. He doesn’t have ideal length and he’s a very slight player. I’m not saying he can’t do it but it’s a question.

The Giants used the tenth pick to take OL Francis Mauigoa, he’s going to start at RG until they need him at RT, solid choice.

The Cowboys moved up one spot to make sure no one gave Miami a better deal so they could secure S Caleb Downs. Downs is a game changer for that defense. Great move.

The Dolphins move down one spot and take OT Kadyn Proctor, yikes. Proctor’s former coach Nick Saban said it best, he’s not a self-starter. He’s likely moving positions as the team has Patrick Paul at LT. Do they move Proctor to RG, the obvious hole on the line, or to RT to replace Austin Jackson. Either one puts Proctor under some pressure to adapt, I’m not sure that’s going to be a good thing for him. This feels like the moment in the Marvel Universe where Dr. Strange tells Tony Stark there’s a 1 in 14 million chance of it working.

I said this draft was drunk and the Rams were doing Jagerbombs all night. They took QB Ty Simpson to be Matthew Stafford’s heir apparent. Go watch the Rams post draft presser, Sean McVay looked very unhappy. When I say “they” took Ty Simpson, seems like GM Les Snead was “they” in this situation. A team that was very close going to the Super Bowl who doesn’t usually pick this high taking a backup QB (maybe 3^rd string if he can’t beat out Stetson Bennett), strange choice. McVay could turn Simpson into an NFL QB but if he’s not on board with the pick, that’s tough for Simpson.

We got a couple of no brainer picks. The Ravens took OG Vega Ioane, of course they did. Then the Bucs rejoiced because they desperately need pass rush help and Rueben Bain Jr. fell all the way to 15. He may not be an obvious fit in the scheme, but Todd Bowles better figure out how to use him, he might just save his job.

The Jets took TE Kenyon Sadiq, I should have seen that coming. New OC Declan Doyle wants to run two-TE sets, now he can. The Lions are moving Penei Sewell to LT and so they took the RT equivalent of Taylor Decker, Blake Miller. Steady, experienced, and thoroughly unspectacular, good choice.

The Vikings are shooting for the moon with DT Caleb Banks. From a talent standpoint he’s a top ten player in this draft. He also happens to be 6’6 330 lbs. and has multiple broken bones in his left foot. If he’s healthy, he has All-Pro potential, there’s just as good of a chance he plays 15 games in the next three years, and they are declining his fifth-year option and drafting another DT.

The Panthers are thinking long-term, not a bad idea. Their starting LT from last season tore his patellar tendon and might not play this season, which is his last on his contract. They signed Rasheed Walker to be the stopgap, but his is a one-year deal. LT Monroe Freeling would be best served if he doesn’t have to play right away. Freeling sits for a year and then in 2027, he’s the starting LT.

The Eagles traded with the Cowboys to move up and snake the Pittsburgh Steelers and drafted Makai Lemon while the Steelers were on the phone with him. He’s headed to Philly to be part of the revamped WR corps that is assuredly losing AJ Brown on June 1.

The Steelers had to quickly pivot off Lemon and for some reason they didn’t just pivot to KC Concepcion, instead they took RT Max Iheanachor. Iheanachor is pretty raw, but LT Broderick Jones has been a disappointment and has a neck injury. Iheanachor isn’t playing LT, but Troy Fautanu played LT in college and he can slide over to the left side and Iheanachor can play the right side.

The Chargers stayed put and took Edge Ahkeem Mesidor. They need an edge rusher and Mesidor will hit the ground running. He’s already 25 but they are ready to win now.

The Cowboys moved down and still got the edge rusher they like, Malachi Lawrence from UCF. He’s unpolished and for now, probably just a designated pass rusher, but that works for this team, they have starters, Rashan Gary and Sam Williams can play the early downs.

The Browns took WR KC Concepcion. He’s immediately the best WR on the roster and he’ll be really happy in 2027 when they finally get a QB. 2026 is not going to be great, although they could target him 150 times this season.

The Bears are the luckiest team at the end of this round. Not only did their division rival Vikings take a DT with a bad foot but they passed on a really good safety. What did the Bears need? A really good safety. They let all their safeties go and the only guy they brought in was Coby Bryant. Dillon Thieneman is a playmaker in the secondary. Also, some good edge rushers fell to round two, they can still make a move there.

When I said the draft was drunk the last ten picks were like everyone at the end of the night at the bar looking for someone to go home with. Of the last 10 picks, 8 of them were traded, some of them multiple times. Everybody was dancing with everybody and just grabbed someone when the music stopped. There were six picks in a row traded, 25-31, including the Bills and 49ers both trading down multiple times and out of round one completely.

The Texans took OG/C Keylan Rutledge, he either beats out Jake Andrews at center or he’s Wyatt Teller’s eventual replacement at LG.

The Dolphins moved up to get CB Chris Johnson. He’s a Jeff Hafley kind of guy and only the second CB taken in the draft, there’s going to be a run on CB in round two.

The Patriots moved up to take OT Caleb Lomu. He was the last of the top OT prospects and Patriots needed some help. They have 35-year-old Morgan Moses at RT and when Will Campbell went down last season, they didn’t have much behind him. Lomu gives them depth and he will eventually be the RT, it might even happen this season.

The Chiefs taking DT Peter Woods is pretty amazing. Woods is a smaller, attacking DT who will give them someone other than Chris Jones to rush from the inside. They signed Khyiris Tonga to be the big run-stuffer in the middle, Woods is the penetrating DT next to him.

The Jets jumped back into the round to grab WR Omar Cooper Jr. That gives them three first-round picks. Cooper is a really good player who will make life easier for Geno Smith. I’m obviously not a Jets fan but I will feel bad if the Jets curse ruins the careers of David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, and Omar Cooper Jr., I like those players.

The Titans decided to do the same and jumped back in to get DE Keldric Faulk. Of course they did, Robert Saleh had to get his defensive end. Faulk is an excellent run defender and is a very nice complement opposite Jermaine Johnson.

The one team that desperately wanted to trade out of round one was the Seahawks but after so many trades, there was no one left to go home with at the end of the night. They took RB Jadarian Price. He fills a huge hole where Kenneth Walker III used to be but this feels too high for Price. He’s never been a lead back; he was Jeremiyah Love’s backup at Notre Dame. When you’ve just won the Super Bowl, you get a pass, but this could be much like the Chiefs taking Clyde Edwards-Helaire a few years ago. That wasn’t a good pick.

Round 2 Thoughts

There are some very good players still on the board. CB Jermod McCoy has fallen and it’s all because of his knee injury. Apparently running his blazing 40 at his workout didn’t answer questions and teams are scared of his injury. If he can overcome it, he’s going to be the steal of this draft.

There’s going to be a run on CBs at some point. McCoy, Avieon Terrell, Colton Hood, and Brandon Cisse were all guys with round one potential at one point.

The defensive tackle and edge rush group is still quite deep. DTs Kayden McDonal and Christen Miller should go pretty quickly. TJ Parker, Zion Young, Cashius Howell, and Gabe Jacas are still left at edge.

S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren fell to round two as I thought he might. He had a good year and he’s a good prospect, but he’s got some flaws. He’s going to be a good pick for someone, but they need to use him right.

The OT class got picked pretty clean so if you want an offensive lineman you’ll have to settle for a guard. There are good guards left, Chase Bisontis, Gennings Dunker, and Emmanuel Pregnon are all immediate starters for a team in need.

The LB group is also deep since only Sonny Styles went as an off-ball LB in round one. CJ Allen, Jacob Rodriguez, Anthony Hill Jr., Jake Golday, and Josiah Trotter could all be second round picks.

The last guy I can’t believe fell to round two is WR Denzel Boston. He’s a potential WR1 and he’s going to go very early.

The top of the second round got shuffled a bit with San Francisco ending up with the first pick of round two (33) and the Bills with the third pick (35). That means two playoff teams from last season who want to compete are looking for the best value here. If San Francisco doesn’t want Denzel Boston, they should be shopping this pick to the highest bidder.

Let’s see if the drunken party that was last night’s round one has a hangover in round two or if the party continues. Day two is always my favorite, enjoy the ride.

2026 NFL Draft QB Prospects

In the 2024 NFL draft there were six QBs taken in the top 12 picks, in 2025, Shadeur Sanders was the sixth QB off the board and he was taken in round five with pick #144. In 2026 there probably won’t be six QBs that go in the top 12 (it’s not completely out of the question but it’s unlikely), but we won’t be waiting until pick 144 for the sixth one either. When I made my preliminary list of QBs to look at just to get a sense of draft eligible guys who could reasonably get drafted, I had 25 to start. That doesn’t include guys like Diego Pavia or Noah Fifita who just don’t physically profile like NFL prospects. They could change my mind with incredible seasons but I’m not going there at this point. I’m going to do my Top 10 QB prospects for now and then throw in some others to watch out for. All these players are draft eligible meaning they have been out of high school for at least three years. The heights and weights are generally from there school’s listing so take those with a grain of salt, and I’ll note any that seem really out of whack. Also, their listed class, take that with a grain of salt too, with all the NCAA rule changes, transfers, redshirts, JUCO things, and other issues, some of these guys may have more eligibility than it seems. While we should essentially be at the end of the Covid extra eligibility guys there was a TE at Miami last year who was in his 9^th year of college eligibility so I’ll believe anything at this point. Let’s take a look.

1. Arch Manning Redshirt Soph Texas

I’m going to start with this; Manning is the #1 QB prospect in this draft until we reach the deadline to enter the draft in January. I don’t think Manning will be in this class, I think he goes back to Texas unless three things occur. 1. Texas wins the national championship, 2. He wins the Heisman Trophy, 3. A team he wants to play for has the #1 overall pick. If he pulls off the first two things in his first year as a starter for the Longhorns, he’s a legend and has nothing left to prove, if he fails to achieve either one, he can say he’s got something to come back to accomplish and just cash some more checks; NIL and otherwise. The third one is going to be the huge piece here. Do you remember his grandfather Archie Manning making the Chargers trade his uncle Eli to the Giants because he didn’t want to go to that organization. Well, if the Cleveland Browns have the first pick it’s not hard to see Arch saying, thanks but no thanks, I’ll stay in Austin. If it’s the New Orleans Saints, a team where his grandfather was a legend, he might be more tempted to come out. Now, as for Manning the prospect.

He’s a legit 6’4 225 lbs. QB with a rifle for an arm like his uncles (Peyton and Eli) but he is more athletic than they ever were (his dad Cooper played WR before an injury ended his career). Arch has some serious wheels when he leaves the pocket and he can still throw on the run too. He’s everything you want from a physical standpoint, plus he has Manning DNA. The one thing lacking is playing time in college. He stepped in for Quinn Ewers when he was banged up but he only has a few starts so his sample size is limited. If he balls out at Texas this year, there will be no stopping the hype train and we will just be living in the Arch Manning world until he decides when he wants to go pro. If he has just a good year and enters the draft, he’s going first overall because there isn’t a GM on the planet who will pass on drafting the next great Manning. Like I said though, I think he has to be great and have a hugely successful year to come out and if he does that, he’s a no-brainer at #1 overall.

2. Drew Allar Senior Penn St.

If I were a betting man and I had to bet who I think will actually be the first pick of the 2026 draft, I’m taking Allar. He’s 6’5 235 lbs. and this is going to be his third year as the starting QB at Penn St. He’s had his issues against the best competition the Nittany Lions have faced over the last several years but he was pretty good last year against some good teams, his team let him down. He’s straight out of central casting with his size and build for an NFL franchise QB. While he’s a big, strong-armed pocket passer, he’s not a statue, he can move out of the pocket and throw too. They aren’t designing runs for him like the Longhorns do for Arch Manning but he’s not going to just stand in the pocket and get killed either.

He has a howitzer for an arm and can make any throw necessary but his ball placement needs some work. He doesn’t always give his WRs the most catchable pass and Tyler Warren bailed him out of some bad throws last year. Allar doesn’t play with the greatest group of WRs so some of it is him and some of it could be them not being exactly where they should be. The good news is that over the last several years you can watch Allar get better as he plays. He’s making the progress you want to see and after another full year as the starter, he could easily be the best QB in the draft…if there’s no Arch Manning.

3. Garrett Nussmeier Senior LSU

Nussmeier is the son of longtime NFL and college coach and former NFL QB Doug Nussmeier. His father is the new OC for Kellen Moore with the New Orleans Saints. Doug was a journeyman QB and Garrett has a higher ceiling than that. Garrett took over as the starter for LSU last year after Jayden Daniels graduated and he didn’t miss a beat. He didn’t have Malik Nabers or Brian Thomas Jr. to throw too but that didn’t slow him down. He did play behind a brick wall last year but OT Will Campbell, OT Emory Jones, OG Miles Frazier and G/C Garrett Dellinger all got drafted. That’s a major revamp happening in front of him.

Nussmeier is accurate and smart, two things you would expect from a coach’s kid. He’s also fearless with where he will throw it. He will chuck it all over the yard if you let him. He has a good arm for sure, he thinks he has an elite arm, which can get him in trouble. One other knock on his is he’s not very big. He’s listed at 6’2 200 lbs. and the height might be true but he looks really slight compared to other players. I will be interested to see how he performs this season after losing most of his o-line to the NFL draft. He’s not built to take a beating if the o-line struggles.

4. Sam Leavitt Redshirt Soph Arizona St.

I’m probably higher on Leavitt than many people but after watching him at the end of last season and in the college football playoff, I’m a believer. He got overshadowed by all the Cam Skattebo hype but Arizona St. doesn’t sniff the Big 12 title game or the college football playoff without Leavitt. He brings an attitude and a swagger you want in a QB. He will throw the ball anywhere, anytime, and it does get him in trouble a little, but it really energizes his team. He does have the same flaw as Nussmeier in the fact that he’s a bit undersized, listed at 6’2 200 lbs. I actually think it maybe his height is a little exaggerated but he’s probably 200 lbs. at least. I think he has a little bit more of a frame that could grow and he’s almost three full years younger than Nussmeier so he has some time to fill out his frame. Leavitt does have a good arm with strength and touch and he plays in a more pro-style offense, they use some play action like pros. His head coach is Kenny Dillingham who is an excellent QB coach too. I’m a fan of Leavitt and there’s a good chance he could pass up Nussmeier if has a big year. There’s also a chance he doesn’t enter the 2026 draft if he’s making good money at Arizona St. or someone else wants to pay him a big number in college he could return. He doesn’t turn 21 until December so he’s got time.

5. Cade Klubnik Senior Clemson

Klubnik was a highly rated recruit out of Texas who has been a multi-year starter at Clemson. It wasn’t until last year, and mostly later in the year, that he truly started to put it all together. He’s 6’2 210 lbs. so he’s not the biggest guy, and that 6’2 may be a bit generous. The one big difference between him and guys like Leavitt and Nussmeier is he doesn’t show the same arm strength they do. He has great mechanics and keeps them consistent but he just doesn’t have the same level of arm strength to make all the throws. That means he has to have great anticipation because if he’s not ahead of the defense, he doesn’t have the arm to make up the difference. His level of experience and accuracy make him a good prospect and guy someone is going to take a shot on early in the draft next year.

6. LaNorris Sellers Redshirt Soph South Carolina

Sellers is a 6’3 240 lbs. athletic specimen who is everything you want physically in a modern QB. He’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical, and he has a very strong arm. He’s underdeveloped as a passer, which is understandable given his physical profile. In the college game, when your QB is a physical mismatch, coaches tend to lean towards a one-read and go offense. That means teaching the QB to look for his one read and if that guy isn’t open, just get going. That tends to lead to good offensive plays and winning for the team and coach but doesn’t develop great QB traits for the player. If Sellers shows advancement in his ability to read defenses and make plays with his arm, it will really help him as a prospect. He also isn’t a guy who’s great in the short game which is also a product of being a superior athlete. You don’t teach great athletes to dump off short passes to guys who aren’t as athletic when Sellers can just take the ball and get yards. He probably has the highest potential of anyone not named Manning in this class but it’s all going to depend on where his QB development goes this season. His ceiling is being the #1 overall pick in the draft; his floor is being Jalen Milroe and dropping to the third round. He is only a redshirt sophomore so he can always go back to school if the season doesn’t go great for him.

7. John Mateer Redshirt Junior Oklahoma

This one is a bit of a projection because Mateer is transferring from Washington St. to Oklahoma and it’s a big step up from Washington St. to the SEC. Mateer will be running the same offense he excelled in at WSU and I mean the exact same because his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, is now Oklahoma’s OC. However, he’ll be getting used to a whole new team around him and way better competition. Mateer is 6’1 219 lbs. and he’s got a pretty stout build to him. He has great arm strength and he’s a great runner. He picks up a lot of yardage on the ground and it’s a big part of his game and the offensive game plan. While he has great arm strength, what he doesn’t have is great consistency with his mechanics. He can get himself in trouble trying to make off balance and off platform throws and while his arm made up the difference against last year’s competition, the SEC is a different level. He needs to make sure he’s in good position to throw and needs to throw with better anticipation or he could turn the ball over more. If he’s awesome against the SEC, his prospect profile is going to skyrocket.

8. Fernando Mendoza Redshirt Junior Indiana

There’s a trend here at the end of my top 10 which is the same trend that’s happening in college football, the last four guys are transfers for this season. Mendoza was awesome last year at Cal and he’s got the prototypical size for an NFL QB. He’s 6’5 225 lbs. and he’s an excellent athlete. He’s very accurate with his ball placement and he understands coverages but he has a little of the same thing as Sellers, he takes off quickly and uses his athleticism instead of letting the play develop. He does have a little bit of a strange follow through with his delivery and I wonder if they will change that at Indiana. It will be interesting to see him in a new offense at Indiana. Curt Cignetti, his new head coach, designed a great offense last year for his one-year transfer QB Kurtis Rourke and Mendoza is a better talent at QB than Rourke was. The move from Cal to the Big Ten will also be a challenge and he doesn’t have the luxury of already knowing the offense the way Mateer does at Oklahoma.

9. Nico Iamaleava Redshirt Soph UCLA

The saga of Iamaleava transferring from Tennessee to UCLA has been well chronicled and you can google it if you want to read about everything that is wrong with college sports, NIL, and the transfer portal. The way he has handled that situation and himself could bother teams, we just watched Shadeur Sanders fall in the draft because of the way he handled himself. Iamaleava is a far superior talent to Sanders but he could get dinged for the whole fiasco at Tennessee. Dealing with the player as a prospect is another story. Iamaleava is 6’6 215 lbs. and he’s a supreme athlete with a rocket arm. He’s completely undisciplined and needs plenty of development as a QB but his physical gifts are incredible. He’s transferring from Tennessee’s weird college spread offense that doesn’t translate to the NFL to a more pro-style system at UCLA. They also don’t have the same supporting cast at UCLA that he had a Tennessee so it’s going to be an interesting transition. I would say there’s a very good chance he declares for the NFL draft regardless of the season he has at UCLA. How he plays and progresses will determine if he’s a top 15 pick in the draft or a mid-round developmental prospect for someone. Iamaleava could turn out to be Vince Young, and I mean that in both the best ways and the worst ways.

10. Carson Beck Senior Miami

Beck was arguably the top QB prospect going into last season and oh how the mighty have fallen. Beck’s season was a disaster and then he got hurt. His draft stock was in shambles to end the season and instead of declaring for the draft, he took a huge NIL deal to transfer to Miami and replace Cam Ward. It’s not a great sign that Georgia didn’t seem to want him back. He needs a massive bounce back season and this is going to be a tough QB class to compete with. He should be recovered from his elbow injury and ready to start for the Hurricanes but if he stumbles, they could turn to Emory Williams and that could be the end of things for Beck. Beck has the physical profile of an NFL starter with his 6’5 225 lbs. frame. He had the arm strength to go with is size but it will be interesting to see if his elbow injury affects that. He struggled last year after losing his top targets from 2023 (Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers were awesome for him in 2023). Beck doesn’t seem to be the guy who raises the play of the guys around him so I think he’s a mid-round pick at best.

Out of my top 10 QBs only four are seniors. Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier, Cade Klubnik, and Carson Beck are certain to be in the 2026 NFL Draft. The rest of these guys could return to school and my best guess is Arch Manning, Sam Leavitt, and John Mateer feel like the best bets to return to college for the 2026 season. That would leave LaNorris Sellers, Nico Iamaleava, and Fernando Mendoza as the wildcards for this draft. I think Sellers has a great year and comes out, Iamaleava has a decent year and declares, and Mendoza has a very good year but goes back to Indiana to improve his overall position for the 2027 draft. So, that would give us a top of the QB class of Allar, Nussmeier, Klubnik, Sellers, Iamaleava, and Beck. That would be a huge upgrade over 2025 but doesn’t rival 2024. Unless…

What this class could really have is depth we haven’t seen in a long time. While the 2024 class had six guys in the top twelve the seventh guy was Spencer Rattler who was a fifth-round pick. This class has guys who can rise up or at least give great depth in the middle rounds.

Seniors to know

Mark Gronowski (Iowa) – The transfer from South Dakota St. had a chance to be in the 2025 class but is taking one last shot to show off at the Big Ten level. If he can make Iowa’s new passing offense start humming, he’ll move up the boards. He’s got the size of an NFL QB at 6’3 230 lbs. and he’s a good athlete.

Miller Moss (Louisville) – The transfer from USC should have a good year at Louisville under the tutelage of Jeff Brohm. He’s undersized and doesn’t have a great arm but he’s smart and he should be able to run the offense effectively. He doesn’t have Tyler Shough’s physical gifts but he’s a healthier guy than Shough.

Young guys who could breakout

Aidan Chiles (Michigan St.) – A 6’3 217 lbs. athlete that would have NFL teams falling all over themselves if he puts together a good season. He’s really raw as a QB and makes some really dumb decisions with the ball at times but he’s still young and has only started one year at Michigan St. He needs time to play and learn from his mistakes. It would likely take a huge year from him to get him into this draft.

Eli Holstein (Pitt) – He started at Pitt last year after transferring from Alabama and had a solid year. He doesn’t turn 21 until October so he’s still a very young prospect. He’s 6’4 225 lbs. with a howitzer for an arm but you can see him thinking on the field. He could be a beast if he figures it out and puts all his talent together.

Darian Mensah (Duke) – Started last year as a redshirt freshman at Tulane and was really good and now he’s moved on to Duke. He’s 6’3 200 lbs. so he needs to fill out his frame but he’s a good athlete who would be the type of modern QB NFL teams are looking for.

Dante Moore (Oregon) – Moore is stepping into the Oregon offense that has produced Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel the last two draft cycles. Moore has a higher ceiling than either of those guys due to his frame and athletic traits. At 6’3 210 lbs. as a redshirt sophomore NFL teams will have him all over their radar.

There are other names who could have big seasons and move up in this QB class. Luke Altmyer (Illinois), Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), Rocco Becht (Iowa St.), Taylen Green (Arkansas), Jackson Arnold (Auburn), Connor Weigman (Houston), and Avery Johnson (Kansas St.)

This class has massive potential and it will be better than the 2025. The questions are how good, how deep, and who’s in the class. The Steelers, Browns, and probably the Saints are all going to be looking to start over at QB next year. There are also a couple of other teams that may need new plans. Matthew Stafford isn’t getting any younger for the Rams, Tua could be out the door if the Dolphins’ season tanks and Mike McDaniel gets fired, and if Kyler Murray regresses is Arizona, they may need a contingency plan. The Jets have Justin Fields for two years but that’s not a big commitment, Geno Smith is 36 in Las Vegas, and if Sam Darnold flames out in Seattle would they really just go to Jalen Milroe? Quarterback is the most important position in all of sports and more teams could need one than you think.

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