Rating the 18 Finest QB Prospects Forward of 2026 NFL Draft: Arch Manning Tumbles

Among the many many challenges in evaluating gamers for the NFL Draft is that their development isn’t a logical, constant development. It’s extra usually a winding highway with important bumps alongside the best way, particularly on the quarterback place. That’s why there are actually months between the conclusion of the school soccer season and the annual draft. 

We’ve dedicated to documenting the journey of the 2026 quarterback class all year long. There has already been important motion in our tiers, with a few of the highest-profile prospects struggling to this point to fulfill expectations. 

Others, nonetheless, are rising from the shadows, hoping to take pleasure in the identical meteoric rises that helped Joe Burrow (2020), Mac Jones (2021), Kenny Pickett (2022), Bo Nix (2024) and Cam Ward (2025) ascend from middle-round candidates in September to first-round picks by spring. Listed here are our newest QB prospect rankings.

RELATED: Rating the 15 Finest Draft-Eligible QBs Forward of ’25 Season: Arch Manning No. 1?

FIRST ROUND

1. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Garrett Nussmeier’s numbers have been modest thus far, however he is made profitable performs when LSU has wanted it most. (Photograph by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Photos)

At simply 6-foot-1 and 205 kilos, Nussmeier lacks a few of the eye-popping traits of the opposite quarterbacks on this record, and with simply three landing passes in as many video games, he actually isn’t turning critics into believers from a statistical perspective, both. Nonetheless, not like lots of the different quarterbacks on this record, Nussmeier has already been examined by high quality competitors this season, guiding LSU to spectacular wins over Clemson, Louisiana Tech and Florida to start out the 12 months. 

As one would possibly anticipate of an NFL offensive coordinator’s son, Nussmeier throws with spectacular rhythm and steadiness, exhibiting the power to make off-platform throws amid a collapsing pocket and finishing passes requiring each velocity and contact. Fairly merely, his recreation interprets very nicely to pro-style offenses. 

If the draft have been held at present, Nussmeier can be the clear-cut favourite to be the primary quarterback chosen – which is exactly the place I had him on this still-too-early mock draft.

2. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

Regardless of even fewer touchdowns thrown (and towards lesser competitors) than Nussmeier, Sellers is a well-liked first-round projection in early mock drafts and it is simple to see why. At a stout 6-foot-3 and 240 kilos, he already possesses the physique armor mandatory for the NFL and boasts arguably the strongest arm of this class. His flat-footed 75-yard toss towards Outdated Dominion a 12 months in the past nonetheless has scouts buzzing and that, notably, was an incompletion. Simply watch the trajectory and accuracy of this deep-ball landing in a season-opening win over Virginia Tech. 

Whereas scouts love quarterbacks who can problem the sector vertically, they’re much more intrigued by dual-threats who can combat off would-be tacklers and prolong the sport with their legs. Sellers’ potential on this regard can be seemingly unmatched on this class. 

TOP 50  

3. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

With a glowing 9:0 TD-to-INT ratio to start out the season, Mendoza is a reputation that draft lovers had higher begin turning into aware of. He turned heads the previous two seasons at California and has taken his recreation to a complete different degree working with Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers. Whereas the matchup this weekend towards Illinois gained’t generate the identical form of buzz of, say, LSU-Clemson or Texas-Ohio State from earlier this 12 months, it is a large recreation for Mendoza from a QB-evaluation perspective to point out that he belongs within the first-round dialog. I’ve him going twenty fifth general in my newest mock draft and, frankly, I believe that is perhaps underselling him.

Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza has quite a lot of the bodily traits scouts are searching for in a professional prospect. (Photograph by James Black/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)

Cignetti’s offense makes issues simpler on quarterbacks, limiting their reads and producing quite a lot of house for receivers to function. Scheme can not clarify away Mendoza’s prototypical 6-foot-5, 225-pound body and stay arm, nonetheless. Most taller quarterbacks with lengthy limbs like Mendoza battle with an elongated throwing movement, tipping defensive backs to the path of the ball. Due to this fact, even when the long-armed passer has a powerful arm, they’re functionally slower in delivering the cross. 

Mendoza, nonetheless, possesses a surprisingly fast launch and reveals each accuracy and velocity in whipping the ball to all areas of the sector. 

4. Carson Beck, Miami

NFL scouts love comeback tales as a lot as the remainder of us and Beck is an ideal instance of a quarterback who may need simply wanted a contemporary begin to resurrect his once-promising draft inventory. 

The previous Georgia star has confirmed each bit the worthy substitute for No. 1 general choose Cam Ward at Miami, guiding the Hurricanes to a 3-0 begin with massive wins over ranked opponents Notre Dame and South Florida. He is likely one of the few quarterbacks on this record to have fired a number of landing passes in each recreation this season, finishing a whopping 79.3% of his passes. In at present’s period of up-tempo, quick-passing assaults, Beck’s completion proportion won’t impress you — however let’s be clear, Beck isn’t being requested to dink and dunk. He’s attacking defenses deep, main his receivers to sunlight between defenders. 

Beck owns a few of the most spectacular throws I’ve seen on tape thus far this season. 

5. Drew Allar, Penn State

With simply 4 touchdowns thrown in three video games thus far this season, Allar isn’t precisely taking the school soccer world by storm. Nonetheless, Penn State has but to be challenged this season, cruising to early blowout wins over Nevada (46-11), Florida Worldwide (34-0) and Villanova (52-6). Together with his prototypical mix of dimension and arm power, scouts are going to be giving Allar the advantage of the doubt by the early schedule, ready for showdowns towards Oregon (Sept. 27) and particularly towards the reigning nationwide champion Buckeyes in Columbus on Nov. 1. 

The boldness, velocity and accuracy to finish throws just like the one beneath have scouts eagerly anticipating these matchups. 

6. Taylen Inexperienced, Arkansas

Inexperienced has all types of numbers powering his ascent up draft boards — together with his verified 6-5 5/8, 235-pound body, and the truth that he at present leads the FBS in complete yards (1,173), touchdowns liable for (13) and passing touchdowns (11). He actually took benefit of some leaky protection in early-season blowouts towards Alabama A&M and Arkansas State, however even in Saturday’s highway loss to Ole Miss, he confirmed the particular traits scouts want to develop. The flashes of accuracy on the transfer are lightning brilliant. Simply watch the ball placement on this landing, for instance. The opponent doesn’t matter when the ball is thrown this precisely.  

To be clear, the Boise State switch stays uncooked as a passer, throwing the ball into protection extra usually than a quarterback with 38 profession begins ought to. Nonetheless, his traits are simple and a group in search of a real dual-threat on the place will little doubt be intrigued. 

MIDDLE ROUNDS

7. Cade Klubnik, Clemson

Whereas a sure quarterback in Texas has infamously dominated the headlines for his early-season struggles, Klubnik isn’t far behind when it comes to failing to fulfill expectations. He has thrown for as many interceptions (three) as touchdowns to start out the season with Clemson — a preseason playoff favourite — dropping two of their first three video games, together with a 24-21 stunner final week to Georgia Tech wherein their star quarterback accomplished simply 57.7% of his passes with an unpleasant choose within the pink zone. 

Whereas the season to this point has not gone as Klubnik and Clemson had hoped, scouts stay intrigued by his mobility and short-to-intermediate-range accuracy. There are, nonetheless, important pink flags along with his recreation. To achieve the NFL, quarterbacks must be prepared to step into the pocket — somewhat than step again to keep away from it — and Klubnik tends to float backward. Nonetheless, he reveals spectacular loft on the ball when doing so, inviting defenders to pursue him whereas lofting deep balls with an simply trackable trajectory for his receivers to run down. He’s additionally fairly nimble, as he makes a few of his greatest throws whereas scrambling. At his greatest, there are Bo Nix-like vibes to his recreation. 

8. Arch Manning, Texas

NFL scouts who attended Manning’s highway debut towards Ohio State two weeks in the past cautioned that we ought to be pumping the brakes on the 21-year-old’s projection to the NFL. Alas, much more proof of his immaturity as a prospect was on show this previous weekend, with Manning finishing simply 11 of 25 passes for 114 yards in a 27-10 dwelling win towards UTEP. Manning’s lineage and traits stay extremely intriguing, however the pinpoint accuracy related along with his final title have but to translate into on-field success for him and the Longhorns in 2025. 

Texas QB Arch Manning has but to carry out like a future high choose within the NFL Draft, nevertheless it serves as a reminder that he is made simply 5 begins in his faculty profession. (Photograph by David Buono/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)

At this level, he seems to be very very like a quarterback with simply 5 profession begins on the faculty degree. Too a lot of his throws are coming with unsettled toes and a whip of an arm movement, resulting in the ball spraying inaccurately. 

He doesn’t seem like a quarterback who ought to be contemplating making an early NFL leap, although if he have been to take action, nobody ought to be stunned if an NFL group gambled a middle-round choice on his perceived upside. 

LATE ROUNDS

9. Jayden Maiava, USC10. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State11. John Mateer, Oklahoma12. Rocco Becht, Iowa State13. Behren Morton, Texas Tech

USC QB Jayden Maiava has been one of many greatest risers amongst draft prospects early within the faculty soccer season. (Photograph by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)

14. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt15. Luke Altmyer, Illinois16. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor17. Josh Hoover, TCU18. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA

Rob Rang is an NFL Draft analyst for FOX Sports activities. He has been protecting the NFL Draft for greater than 25 years, with work at FOX, Sports activities Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA Right this moment, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, amongst others. He additionally works as a scout with the BC Lions of the Canadian Soccer League. Observe him on X @RobRang.

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