Way Too Early 2026 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings

Way Too Early 2026 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings

The grind never stops. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re early, you’re on time. The college football season is the information process, and the Way Too Early 2026 NFL Draft Quarterback rankings are your watch list. Step right up to the plate and come get them. Arguments… drop them in the comments.

30: Gio Lopez (North Carolina)

Incoming transfer from South Alabama. We’ll see sort of thing. Just 6-foot, but put up some decent numbers at South Alabama as a freshman and can move. It’s Belichick’s first quarterback at UNC. It’s worth watching for that alone to see what he may envision as a style of play for his program.

29: Katin Houser (East Carolina)

Former Michigan State guy. Won the job at ECU over Jake Garcia, who’s since departed. 6-foot-3 and ended last year’s sophomore season with an 18-11 TD to INT ratio. Not saying he’s a world beater, but he might not be nothing either. Probably stays in school another two years and maybe the off chance he’s actually a sneaky 2028 NFL Draft QB…

28: Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt)

Taysom Hill. Do I need to keep going? Fun as hell to watch, especially considering the track record for Vandy football compared to the SEC.

27: Ty Simpson (Alabama)

Former five-star who finally gets his chance. Look, the guy doesn’t appear to be untalented. There are some tools to work with. 6-foot-2 and never took the easy way out, transferring elsewhere. I imagine we’ll find out on this one pretty soon. Does the Kelly Bryant loses his job to Trevor Lawrence moment happen or is Simpson legit enough? He’s 22 now, which means it’s now or never (at least at Alabama).

26: Gunnar Stockton (Georgia)

I don’t want to take a dump on the guy. The way his teammates rallied around him in the SEC Title game was awesome. It just feels like we’re talking another Stetson Bennett. Stockton was a higher recruit but has that sort of same playing style without having big tool or size, but sneaky run around stuff. Again, I imagine we found out this one pretty early. They have big incoming recruits coming in, along with Ryan Puglisi, also on the roster.

25: Miller Moss (Louisville)

Failed at USC, but I don’t think he totally sucks either. Doesn’t throw a bad ball. 6-foot-2 and 23 already. Jeff Brohm has gotten guys to rebuild their stock in the past. 18-9 in the TD to INT department as a first year starter. Maybe he can work his way up to being a middle round guy. That’s a maybe, but we’re here for it if it does.

24: Steve Angeli (Syracuse)

Angeli is looking to do what Kyle McCord just did. He left Notre Dame to join the Orange and will start this year. Let’s be real… I know this is one series, but he 100% looked better than Riley Leonard in that Penn State game. Not going to be a crazy run around guy, but Syracuse might not have a huge drop off either. We’ll find out a lot based on what McCord did with the same coaching staff.

23: Taylen Green (Arkansas)

I think the guy sucks but he at least has tools that make you think that maybe there’s another level to climb here. Instict wise there’s no shot he’s ever a franchise guy, but maybe someone who could play the role of a future Lamar Jackson backup type. Ask Boise State and Arkansas fans. They will tell you it’s rollercoaster city, but you can do far worse.

22: Conner Weigman (Houston)

Former five star. Last year was ugly but had some moments as a true freshman pre-injury. He gets to go back home and show he can overcome adversity. Not telling you to get your hopes up. Telling you that maybe some Case Keenum, how did he do that at Houston numbers maybe can be possible if he has a true revenge tour. I’m not counting on it. Let’s make him prove he still deserves to be monitored.

21: Sam Leavitt (Arizona State)

I’m going to guess I’m way lower on Leavitt than everyone else. That’s okay. When Cam Skattebo throws for more touchdowns than the actual quarterback in the Bowl game against Texas, maybe I have a right to feel the way I do. By the way, lost the Michigan State job to Aidan Chiles (who we’ll get to later) also, TBD if that was actually the right decision by Sparty.

24-6 in the TD to INT ratio as a redshirt freshman isn’t terrible. Accuracy needs work, but has some swag. He can stay in school for two more years after this one, and I really hope he doesn’t come out early. Dear idiot draft analysts. Please don’t advise him to do that.

20: Eli Holstein (Pitt)

Decent first year with Pitt after leaving Alabama. 6-foot-4 who can really sling it when hot. 17-7 TD to INT ratio as a freshman isn’t nothing. It was a lot of up and down but there is actual potential here.

19: Kevin Jennings (SMU)

I know people are going to dump on Jennings after the Penn State game, but that’s not fair to him. He can actually play. It’s a fault of the idiots running the playoff for ever thinking SMU belonged there. Jennings has some athletic traits and carried an okay SMU team to a runner up finish in the ACC. He’s not a zero and has two more years to prove it too.

18: Aidan Chiles (Michigan State)

6-foot-3, athletic, but super sloppy. Just all over the place. Showed real promise at Oregon State as a hybrid subpackage guy for DJ U when he was there. Still only 19, so he has time to develop. The strides just need to start happening now.

17: Maalik Murphy (Oregon State)

Used to be at Texas and has real size at 6-foot-5. Duke booted him for Darian Mensah. Still 26-12 TD to INT ratio as a first year starter isn’t bad. At Oregon State, now with two more years to prove he can be a thing. He just might be a thing.

16: Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)

Indiana might have done it again with a similar type of player. They had great success with Kurtis Rourke. They now bring in another tall pocket guy who can air it out with Mendoza. The numbers last year with Cal aren’t crazy, but he has real passing chops. With what Cignetti is building, don’t be surprised if Mendoza actually does the damn thing.

15: Darian Mensah (Duke)

Duke paid up big time here. Put up big numbers for Tulane as a redshirt freshman. 6-foot-3 and can move. I’m just not positive they actually upgraded. We’ll see.

14: Jackson Arnold (Auburn)

We’re going to find out a lot here. Brent Venables deserves a lot of the blame for last year. Now it’s Arnold’s turn to prove that’s the case. Hugh Freeze got Malik Willis drafted. It’s your turn, buddy. Just worried there’s not enough of a physical presence here. Won the Elite 11 but just 6-foot-1 and not a crazy rocket arm.

13: Drew Allar (Penn State)

Just so over it. Wake me up when he hits. It’s like Josh Allen got zapped by the monsters. Instinctively slow on everything. Eye level goes down, and he’s not enough of a QB draw queen to make it look like he actually knows what he’s doing. Needs support from the run game. Not going to pretend that he doesn’t have traits and his wide receivers last year sucked. I’m just over the idea that we’re ever getting something elite here. This upcoming year is about proving he’s starter worthy at the NFL worthy.

12: Marcel Reed (Texas A&M)

Speed stuff is insane. He’s going to out-athlete people. I imagine he stays in school a while, but if he actually takes steps up as a passer, he could be viewed as a say Jalen Milroe type flier who is maybe even a smarter bet. Time to let this bake, though.

11: John Mateer (Oklahoma)

Confusing one. Wildcard territory. Transferring to Oklahoma is insane. Put up real numbers at Washington State. He’s not Cam Ward, but he doesn’t suck either. Has some real arm qualities. Now gets to play against big boys in the SEC. This is one that you’re forced to track for a lot of different reasons.

10: Rocco Becht (Iowa State)

Been saying it during the whole draft process. Iowa State had great quarterback play last year. 25-9 TD to INT ratio as a sophomore last year. Don’t care what anybody says. He got Jaylin Noel drafted two rounds higher than he should have been. Two more years to prove he can be the next Brock Purdy sort of thing… and he realistically might be. Iowa State was in the Big 12 title game last year and had no business being in that spot. That’s what Purdy was doing with the Cyclones. Did you watch the Bowl game? He can keep pace with some of these shootouts.

9: Carson Beck (Miami)

Can’t wait. What else do you say? Cam Ward did a lot at Miami. Can Beck actually come close to doing some of that? My guess is no, and a lot of it stems from the sour puss stuff. Why does it always look like he’s going to cry? UCL stuff scares me a bit. Carried Georgia at times. You have to give him that. They had bad receiver play. Didn’t play well enough last year, even putting that aside. We have all the information we need to get this one right when it plays out.

8: Avery Johnson (Kansas State)

If he was an ace thrower, I might rank him first. He’s that special of an athlete. When he has momentum on some of the rushing stuff, it’s scary. Completion percentage is still not at 60%. Needs to happen. Point blank, end of story. That’s all there really is to it.

7 Austin Simmons (Ole Miss)

Don’t care what anybody says. He’s better than Jaxson Dart. Am I basing that opinion basing on one drive against Georgia? Also, maybe. Three more years of eligibility. I’m sure this isn’t even a conversation for next year… but it might be because he might be that good.

6: Nico Iamaleava (UCLA)

The transfer stuff is a nightmare to sort through. Morally, just would have a hard time asking for more money based on performance last season. Talent wise is insane. Former five star with a volleyball background. Needs to take strides as a passer. No idea how that happens at UCLA with Deshaun Foster. Good luck figuring all this out. We need the information process for that.

5: Cade Klubnik (Clemson)

Is it just me or does he look like Trevor Lawrence’s little cousin? The hair isn’t as long, neither is the height, and neither are the traits, but some of the run around athletic stuff is there. 36-6 in the TD to INT department isn’t bad. What happens next year and his WR room at Clemson is going to be as good as it’s been in a long time. Has a real chance to pop.

4: Dante Moore (Oregon)

I’m quite sure I’m higher than most here. No hair, don’t care. I don’t think Oregon skips a beat. Moore showed incredible self awareness. Not eager to go out and play. Wanted to learn. Was okay not playing. Wanted culture.

Still 19 and can wait to come out. Mark my words. He’s on the Heisman finalist list. Has real talent and size.

3: Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)

Cut down on the turnovers, and you have Brett Favre. There’s nothing else for me to say. I realize that when I said that, that Favre also had turnovers. I mean it in the sense that he’s gotta do more to even be considered that, and LSU has everything around him to make that happen.

2: Arch Manning (Texas)

This is not a normal nepo baby. Arch didn’t cry and pout because he didn’t start. Never wined and left. Has real talent and took real coaching. Mobility is far beyond past Manning generations. I think he’s really good. How elite are we talking? This is the time to find out.

1: LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)

I apologize for nothing. 17 broken tackles against Texas A&M. 18 broken tackles against Clemson. Tackling is the name of the game, and you can’t bring this guy down. There’s something about him. He oozes unicorn. He takes the leap as a passer, and it’s over. He’s out here doing special teams practice reps for culture builders. He’s got that it and the arm power is very real. 6-foot-3, 240, a total load, and can really run. This is what the future looks like.

East Carolina Should Be Begging To Send Me Merch

🟥 = Avoid (Not on your watchlist unless you’re obsessed)

30. Gio Lopez (North Carolina) 🟥
29. Katin Houser (East Carolina) 🟥
28. Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) 🟥
27. Ty Simpson (Alabama) 🟥
26. Gunnar Stockton (Georgia) 🟥
25. Miller Moss (Louisville) 🟥

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🟧 = Caution (Traits may be present, but skepticism high)

24. Steve Angeli (Syracuse) 🟧
23. Taylen Green (Arkansas) 🟧
22. Conner Weigman (Houston) 🟧
21. Sam Leavitt (Arizona State) 🟧
20. Eli Holstein (Pitt) 🟧
19. Kevin Jennings (SMU) 🟧

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🟨 = Monitor (Could pop — worth some tracking)

18. Aidan Chiles (Michigan State) 🟨
17. Maalik Murphy (Oregon State) 🟨
16. Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) 🟨
15. Darian Mensah (Duke) 🟨
14. Jackson Arnold (Auburn) 🟨
13. Drew Allar (Penn State) 🟨
12. Marcel Reed (Texas A&M) 🟨

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🟩 = Target (Scouting spotlight — you need to be watching)

11. John Mateer (Oklahoma) 🟩
10. Rocco Becht (Iowa State) 🟩
9. Carson Beck (Miami) 🟩
8. Avery Johnson (Kansas State) 🟩
7. Austin Simmons (Ole Miss) 🟩
6. Nico Iamaleava (UCLA) 🟩

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🟩 = Elite Tier (Legit NFL potential, future star track)

5. Cade Klubnik (Clemson) 🟩
4. Dante Moore (Oregon) 🟩
3. Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) 🟩
2. Arch Manning (Texas) 🟩
1. LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina) 🟩💥

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