2026 NFL Draft QB Exercise

[Sean Mooney 2,086]

Lots of talk in the Shedeur Sanders thread about "experts" and "scouts" and whatnot and how players draft stock change over time. So let's chart this over the next year with the upcoming potential QB class using the NFL DraftBuzz rankings.

I'll give you the current top 10 with, potential draft spots, and their overall grade.

1.) Arch Manning, Texas, Top 5 pick, 93.5 score

2.) Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Top 10 pick, 89.6

3.) Drew Allar, Penn State, Top 10 pick, 89.0

4.) Nico Iamaleava, UCLA, Mid 1st round, 88.0

5.) Garrett Nussmeier, LSU, Mid 1st round, 87.7

6.) LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, Mid 1st round, 86.5

7.) Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, Late 1st round, 84.6

8.) John Mateer, Oklahoma, Mid 2nd round, 83.6

9.) Miller Moss, Louisville, Late 2nd round, 83.6

10.) Carson Beck, Miami,  Late 2nd, 83.3

 

So that lays the starting point for this exercise/project. I would say at first glance they seem to be pretty ambitious that 7 QBs could go in the 1st round as I just don't see that many teams needing QBs going into the 2026-2027 season...but we will be able to follow now how the projections and rankings change as we get a new season of college stats and development under the belts. Some people will opt to stay in college, someone outside the top 10 will pop up, and there is always the case that Manning completely sh!ts the bed as a QB. 

[WhiteWonder 3,042]

What’s the exercise? When I saw the thread title I assumed it was going to be posters making projections and updating them as the draft approaches but it’s just going to be you updating us on draftbuzz? 
 

As for number of first round QBs, the teams that immediately jump to mind include Indy, Pittsburgh, Cleveland if Shadeur doesn’t prove to be above average, Vegas and Seattle who are both rolling with middling veterans / guys with 1 good season and LA Rams will need an heir to Stafford.  That’s 6 potentially. 
 

I would love to add the Jets to that list but I fear they will trick themselves into believing Fields is a franchise guy. The Giants could be interesting if they have a bad season and top 5 pick again. Unless Dart looks the part, a new regime may opt for their own franchise guy. 

[jerryskids 7,248]

Sam Leavitt is with Arizona State, not Iowa State.  You darn near gave me a coronary.   

[Sean Mooney 2,086]

1 hour ago, WhiteWonder said:

What’s the exercise? When I saw the thread title I assumed it was going to be posters making projections and updating them as the draft approaches but it’s just going to be you updating us on draftbuzz? 
 

As for number of first round QBs, the teams that immediately jump to mind include Indy, Pittsburgh, Cleveland if Shadeur doesn’t prove to be above average, Vegas and Seattle who are both rolling with middling veterans / guys with 1 good season and LA Rams will need an heir to Stafford.  That’s 6 potentially. 
 

I would love to add the Jets to that list but I fear they will trick themselves into believing Fields is a franchise guy. The Giants could be interesting if they have a bad season and top 5 pick again. Unless Dart looks the part, a new regime may opt for their own franchise guy. 

No- posters can make projections. I'm all for it. 

The genesis of the thread comes from some dopes in the Sanders thread bashing scouting places and projections for QB's and everything. So I thought it would be interesting to monitor how the incoming top 10 shifts over the next year. Individual posters ideas may shift over that time as well. 

1 hour ago, jerryskids said:

Sam Leavitt is with Arizona State, not Iowa State.  You darn near gave me a coronary.   

Good catch. I'll fix it

[Maximum Overkill 2,711]

3 hours ago, Sean Mooney said:

Lots of talk in the Shedeur Sanders thread about "experts" and "scouts" and whatnot and how players draft stock change over time. So let's chart this over the next year with the upcoming potential QB class using the NFL DraftBuzz rankings.

I'll give you the current top 10 with, potential draft spots, and their overall grade.

1.) Arch Manning, Texas, Top 5 pick, 93.5 score

2.) Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Top 10 pick, 89.6

3.) Drew Allar, Penn State, Top 10 pick, 89.0

4.) Nico Iamaleava, UCLA, Mid 1st round, 88.0

5.) Garrett Nussmeier, LSU, Mid 1st round, 87.7

6.) LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, Mid 1st round, 86.5

7.) Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, Late 1st round, 84.6

8.) John Mateer, Oklahoma, Mid 2nd round, 83.6

9.) Miller Moss, Louisville, Late 2nd round, 83.6

10.) Carson Beck, Miami,  Late 2nd, 83.3

 

So that lays the starting point for this exercise/project. I would say at first glance they seem to be pretty ambitious that 7 QBs could go in the 1st round as I just don't see that many teams needing QBs going into the 2026-2027 season...but we will be able to follow now how the projections and rankings change as we get a new season of college stats and development under the belts. Some people will opt to stay in college, someone outside the top 10 will pop up, and there is always the case that Manning completely sh!ts the bed as a QB. 

I think we'll get 4 first round QBs out of that class with Manning being 1.01 if he decides to come out. He hasn't even been the starter yet 

[Sean Mooney 2,086]

Lots of changes in this from April as we are through a few weeks of college football:

1.) Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, Top 10 pick, 89.2 score

2.) LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, Top 10 pick, 88.1 score

3.) John Mateer, Oklahoma, Mid 1st round, 87.3

4.) Garrett Nussmeier, LSU, Mid 1st round, 87.1

5.) Arch Manning, Texas, Mid 1st round, 87

6.) Dante Moore, Oregon, Late 1st round, 86.6

7.) Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, Late 1st round, 86.5

8.) Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Mid 2nd round pick, 86

9.) Carson Beck, Miami, Late 2nd round pick, 85.1

10.) Drew Allar, Penn State,  3rd round, 85

[Maximum Overkill 2,711]

Manning probably won't come out till 2027. He'll make more NIL money than he will on a rookie deal 

[Hardcore troubadour 16,190]

What happened with Beck? I remember him projecting to be in the first round last year and a possible heisman winner. 

[cmh6476 1,174]

I see a mendoza line

[edjr 7,097]

On 4/30/2025 at 2:43 PM, Sean Mooney said:

 

1.) Arch Manning, Texas, Top 5 pick, 93.5 score

 

 

[Sean Mooney 2,086]

2 minutes ago, edjr said:

 

Yeah I plan on updating where we are right now today....Needless to say- Manning is no longer the #1 guy in the QB room.

[edjr 7,097]

5 minutes ago, Sean Mooney said:

Yeah I plan on updating where we are right now today....Needless to say- Manning is no longer the #1 guy in the QB room.

It is really sad how desperate teams, people are for someone with the name Manning to be great. Pay him 10 million because his name is Manning.

[WhiteWonder 3,042]

1	Dante Moore	QB		206lbs	6-3	4.90	2	11.9	89.6	Put the tape on and here's the deal: Moore is probably the best pure passer in this draft class, and that distinction carries significant...
2	Fernando Mendoza	QB		225lbs	6-5	4.85	1	8.1	89.5	Mendoza's tape screams West Coast quarterback who'll thrive in a timing-based passing game that values precision over power. His ability to...
3	Ty Simpson	QB		208lbs	6-2	4.80	3	21.8	89.0	Simpson stands as one of the most fascinating quarterback prospects in recent memory - a first-year starter who displayed elite command...
4	Garrett Nussmeier	QB		205lbs	6-1	4.82	6	59.2	85.8	Nussmeier enters 2025 as a prospect whose NFL future hangs on two critical questions: can his 200-pound frame withstand the punishment of a...
5	John Mateer	QB		224lbs	6-1	4.65	8	74.4	84.9	Mateer projects as a potential high-value quarterback prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft if his development continues on its current...
6	Carson Beck	QB		220lbs	6-4	4.84	10	94.1	84.8	Here's what you need to understand about Carson Beck - the physical tools have never been the question. Stand him next to any quarterback...
7	Cade Klubnik	QB		210lbs	6-2	4.65	9	86.8	84.6	Klubnik profiles as a modern NFL quarterback whose dual-threat capabilities and improving pocket presence will appeal to offensive...
8	Diego Pavia	QB		207lbs	6-0	4.59	19	191.3	84.6	Evaluating Pavia requires accepting the contradictions that define his game. His 6'0" frame and 200-pound build create immediate red...
9	Drew Allar	QB		235lbs	6-5	4.90	12	117.6	82.4	Looking ahead to his NFL projection, Allar profiles as a blue-chip prospect who could thrive in a vertical passing system that maximizes...
10	Gunner Stockton	QB		215lbs	6-1	4.65	39	378.5	82.0	Stockton's toolkit screams upside, but his lack of significant college snaps is a glaring red flag. The young signal-caller flashes...

[MDC 8,220]

1 minute ago, WhiteWonder said:

1	Dante Moore	QB		206lbs	6-3	4.90	2	11.9	89.6	Put the tape on and here's the deal: Moore is probably the best pure passer in this draft class, and that distinction carries significant...
2	Fernando Mendoza	QB		225lbs	6-5	4.85	1	8.1	89.5	Mendoza's tape screams West Coast quarterback who'll thrive in a timing-based passing game that values precision over power. His ability to...
3	Ty Simpson	QB		208lbs	6-2	4.80	3	21.8	89.0	Simpson stands as one of the most fascinating quarterback prospects in recent memory - a first-year starter who displayed elite command...
4	Garrett Nussmeier	QB		205lbs	6-1	4.82	6	59.2	85.8	Nussmeier enters 2025 as a prospect whose NFL future hangs on two critical questions: can his 200-pound frame withstand the punishment of a...
5	John Mateer	QB		224lbs	6-1	4.65	8	74.4	84.9	Mateer projects as a potential high-value quarterback prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft if his development continues on its current...
6	Carson Beck	QB		220lbs	6-4	4.84	10	94.1	84.8	Here's what you need to understand about Carson Beck - the physical tools have never been the question. Stand him next to any quarterback...
7	Cade Klubnik	QB		210lbs	6-2	4.65	9	86.8	84.6	Klubnik profiles as a modern NFL quarterback whose dual-threat capabilities and improving pocket presence will appeal to offensive...
8	Diego Pavia	QB		207lbs	6-0	4.59	19	191.3	84.6	Evaluating Pavia requires accepting the contradictions that define his game. His 6'0" frame and 200-pound build create immediate red...
9	Drew Allar	QB		235lbs	6-5	4.90	12	117.6	82.4	Looking ahead to his NFL projection, Allar profiles as a blue-chip prospect who could thrive in a vertical passing system that maximizes...
10	Gunner Stockton	QB		215lbs	6-1	4.65	39	378.5	82.0	Stockton's toolkit screams upside, but his lack of significant college snaps is a glaring red flag. The young signal-caller flashes...

 

[WhiteWonder 3,042]

I do sort of feel like Carson Beck may be a steal in this draft.  And as far as where he will likely be drafted, Drew Allar is intriguing to me as well. I think he would be worth drafting late for a team with an aging vet in place. 

[TBayXXXVII 2,683]

1 hour ago, WhiteWonder said:

I do sort of feel like Carson Beck may be a steal in this draft.  And as far as where he will likely be drafted, Drew Allar is intriguing to me as well. I think he would be worth drafting late for a team with an aging vet in place. 

Last night I was at my brother's and he was watching that Miami game last night.  After it was done, I looked at my brother and asked, "Is he really not a top prospect"?  He said, "Nah, probably a late round flyer, career backup type".  I don't get it.  The kid seems to win and produce.  He told me that Beck was like in his 6th year though, like he's 24 or something.  I don't know.  

[TBayXXXVII 2,683]

Based off of the OP's list:

1.) Arch Manning, Texas, Top 5 pick, 93.5 score <--- Still a top 10 pick?  Or staying another year?

2.) Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Top 10 pick, 89.6 <--- On a Bucs message board, I'm hearing people like this guy in the 4th.

3.) Drew Allar, Penn State, Top 10 pick, 89.0 <--- Got hurt in game 1 (2?), this year.  Did he red-shirt?  Is he entering the draft?

4.) Nico Iamaleava, UCLA, Mid 1st round, 88.0 <--- Never heard of him.

5.) Garrett Nussmeier, LSU, Mid 1st round, 87.7 <--- Hearing this guys a 3rd round pick.

6.) LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, Mid 1st round, 86.5 <--- Never heard of him.

7.) Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, Late 1st round, 84.6 <--- Never heard of him.

8.) John Mateer, Oklahoma, Mid 2nd round, 83.6 <--- Never heard of him.

9.) Miller Moss, Louisville, Late 2nd round, 83.6 <--- Never heard of him.

10.) Carson Beck, Miami,  Late 2nd, 83.3 <--- Hearing he's a Day 3 pick.

[cmh6476 1,174]

If you're the Chiefs, would you trade Mahomes for the right to draft mendoza?

[HellToupee 2,364]

18 minutes ago, cmh6476 said:

If you're the Chiefs, would you trade Mahomes for the right to draft mendoza?

No . Mahomes is only 30