The Raiders fell to 1-2 following a loss to the Commanders, while the season is far from over and the NFL Draft is still about 7 months away (it will be a quick 7 months), teams are already looking to the draft
strengths and fans should do the same. Through the next few weeks I will be breaking down each position to get fans accustomed to a few names and players to keep an eye on through the rest of the college football season.
The 2026 quarterback class was raved about and while the class is still good it’s largely due to players taking a step up to combat the one’s taking a step back. Oklahoma’s John Mateer is on the smaller side but has legit NFL arm talent and phenomenal traits as a runner. In terms of his mental aspects, Mateer is slowly learning but has shown flashes of being a potential franchise QB. Mateer is likely sitting third to a tie between Oregon’s Dante Moore and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. Moore has carved up defenses through the Ducks first four games, though he’s yet to play an elite defense which will change this week against Penn State. Moore has logged a 74.7% completion rate, 11 TD, 1 INT and another 96 rushing yards. Moore has shown elite arm talent, a high IQ and ability to read defenses while also working well in the pocket. Moore displays an NFL ability to layer passes and complete throws into tight windows while also realizing when he needs to take the check down.
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza has looked lights out with the Hoosiers, showcasing his same elite arm talent from his time at Cal but also expanding on his mental aspects. Mendoza reads defenses well, is able to throw a perfect deep pass and also layers passes into tight windows down the seam at an elite level. Mendoza’s biggest question came with his talent vs lower level defenses having only palyed ODU, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State but against Illinois, who feature likely 3 defensive picks in the top 100 Mendoza went 21/23 for 267 yards, and 5 TD. The 6’5/225 junior has a 77% completion rate, 14 touchdowns, ZERO interceptions, and another 101 yards and 2 TD on the ground in four games. South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers is likely the best overall quarterback prospect in the class showcasing elite arm talent, good running skills, and has displayed the IQ of an NFL QB often. Despite this, Sellers is extremely raw and is going to likely need to return to South Carolina in 2026 to really build upon his draft stock and showcase he can consistently develop and refine his traits. The class also features LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier who is a raw QB prospect but has displayed the ability to make NFL caliber throws, read defenses at a good level, and also moves well in the pocket to be quick. Nussmeier will need development in the NFL but the 6’1/205 senior has logged a 68% completion rate, 962 yards, 6 TD, and 2 INT this season including 232 yards and a TD against a Clemson defense loaded with NFL talent.
Other names to watch include:
- Carson Beck, Miami: Beck was thought to be in consideration for the 1st overall pick in 2024 before a rough season. Beck struggled with accuracy but the move to Miami has put him back. Beck is completing a ton of high success throws, while also showing NFL arm talent and an ability to consistently work the sidelines and seams at a high level. Beck has logged a 73% completion rate, 7 TD, 3 INT, and 972 yards against notable talent in Notre Dame, Florida, and USF (two interceptions).
- Drew Allar, Penn State: Allar features a large frame and was likely a top five pick in 2024. He returned to Penn State but there’s been limited development between seasons. Allar has an excellent arm, he completes a ton of NFL caliber passes but he struggles with his accuracy and can miss throws at a good level low. Allar needs to continue to develop to be a consistent prospect. He’s extremely raw but flashes at times. Allar possess a 65% completion rate, just 4 touchdowns, one interception, and 626 yards vs poor competition in Nevada, FIU, and Villanova. Week five’s game vs Oregon will be a big test.
- Taylen Green, Arkansas: 6’6/235 and extremely mobile is a fun look. Possessing an NFL caliber arm, Green makes throws into tight windows and is able to throw opposite hash to sideline which demonstrates a strong NFL caliber arm. Green works well in the pocket, but his consistency is a massive question mark. There’s a ton of questionable throws and not showing the mental traits of an NFL QB just yet along with a very poor track record in terms of accuracy. He’s a similar prospect to Anthony Richardson, and likely will need 2-3 years to develop into a possible NFL starter. Green has a 64% completion rate, 12 TD, 4 INT, and 1191 yards in four games against Ole Miss and Memphis (53% and 2 INT). He’s added another 360 yards and 2 TD on the ground.
- Cade Klubnik, Clemson: Inconsistent is the key word to describe Klubnik. He’s shown NFL caliber throws, and has also struggled to make the simple plays. Klubnik has a good arm, has shown the ability to fit the ball into tight windows and does throw an excellent 25+ yard pass. The issues come with fundamentals, footwork, and overall processing for Klubnik. He holds a 60% completion rate, 6 TD, 4 INT, and just 996 yards against weaker competition outside of LSU.
- Jayden Maiava, USC: Maiava is a fun prospect, there’s issues just like the other’s in his consistency and the footwork will have to improve at the NFL level. Despite these, Maiava displays a good arm but he’s also prone to issues on reading defenses and being confused by certain coverages. Maiava possess the ability to work on the ground as well, though his track record with forcing throws is going to be remain a question. There’s a strong chance he returns to USC in 2026, but Lincoln Riley produces NFL caliber quarterbacks and Maiava has taken steps to eliminate issues in 2025. He currently holds a 69% completion rate, 989 yards, and 6 TD. He’ll need to show out vs top defenses.
- Josh Hoover, TCU: Hoover has an above average arm and is mobile. He works a pocket well, and performed vs UNC who deploys an NFL similar defense. Hoover isn’t consistent and his arm talent likely isn’t starting caliber in the NFL. He holds a 68% completion rate, 1000 yards, 11 TD, and 2 INT.
- Sawyer Robertson, Baylor: A rising candidate, Robertson has an NFL caliber arm and does show the traits to complete tight window throws along with passing well beyond 25 yards. Mentally, Robertson is going to need to clean up the mistakes and also start to adapt to not looking down receivers. There’s a lot of raw traits and the 22 year old, 6’5/220 QB could be a fascinating pre draft performer. He holds 13 TD, 3 INT, 1320 yards, and a 63% completion rate vs talented defenses such as Auburn and Arizona State though he struggled vs Samford with 2 INT and just 211 yards.
- Joey Aguilar, Tennessee: Aguilar has a strong arm, he makes good throws but also is extremely inconsistent. He’s able to throw an excellent pass downfield and misses on simple concepts. Aguilar will need to refine his mental aspects as a passer and learn to adapt to coverages. Tennessee puts him in a strong system to develop those traits but the offense will not put him towards NFL success with a very non NFL ready offensive system. Aguilar has good traits, is raw, but does possess the ability to be an NFL backup. After a breakout 2023 at Appalachian State, he led the nation in interceptions in 2024, but has bounced back with 1124 yards, 12 TD, 3 INT, and a 67% completion rate this year vs tough Syracuse and Georgia (2 INT) defenses.
- I’d expect for Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, Texas’s Arch Manning, Michigan State’s Aidan Chiles, and UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava to return to college in 2026.
Overall the 2026 draft does deploy some top quarterback talent with Moore, Mendoza, and Mateer leading the way. There’s flaws with all of them and no one appears to be by far and away the top guy with Moore and Mendoza likely the two best and battling for the top spot. However, there’s true potential for the class to produce more than five starting quarterbacks in the NFL, though three or more will require at least a year of development. For teams searching for a plug and play starter the choices are likely slim, but if teams are looking to find future franchise caliber quarterbacks there’s a strong class. The class does also feature depth down the board and there should be north of 10 quarterbacks selected come the 2025 draft. As of now, Mendoza is my personal top quarterback option with Mateer and Moore right behind him.
