- Texas’ Arch Manning lacks expertise however oozes potential: His fundamentals and mobility give him glorious constructing blocks, regardless of his restricted school snaps.
- What to make of LaNorris Sellers: While many evaluators are excessive on the South Carolina signal-caller, he struggled to learn coverages final 12 months. He nonetheless has a excessive ceiling, although.
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Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Summertime means summer time scouting, and as all the time, we begin with the place folks care about probably the most: quarterbacks.
Here are my preliminary high 10 quarterbacks for the 2026 NFL Draft cycle heading into the school soccer season.
1. ARCH MANNING, TEXAS
Manning has not performed a lot school soccer. I’m conscious of that. But this rating is thru an NFL draft lens, and if you watch even his small pattern measurement, his projection is the perfect of the bunch.
The nephew of Peyton and Eli, Arch is a former five-star recruit who was the No. 1 participant within the 2023 recruiting class and the Twenty eighth-highest-rated prospect in 247 Sports’ historical past. His 6-foot-3, 220-pound body doesn’t soar out, with each measurables rating across the fiftieth percentile for the place. He has tried simply 99 passes in his school profession, so his stats aren’t worthy of a point out. Instead, we flip to the tape and his traits analysis.
Despite being a redshirt sophomore with such restricted expertise, Manning is basically sound and polished. He holds onto the ball strongly when scanning the sector in order to not get stripped from behind. He has incredible pure accuracy, together with deep down the sector. His total arm expertise will not be a query within the NFL.
Manning can be much more cell than his uncles have been, incomes an 81.1 PFF speeding grade in 2024. His footwork and actions could be a bit robotic on account of a scarcity of snaps, and he wants to enhance his eye manipulation of defenses and never stare down reads — even when they’re right. Manning could be very inexperienced in relation to expertise, but when I needed to take a quarterback proper now from the projected 2026 group, it could be him. The constructing blocks are too good to not imagine in.
2. DREW ALLAR, PENN STATE
There was speak of Allar being the second and even first quarterback off the board had he declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. Ultimately, I imagine he would have been chosen No. 2 total by the Cleveland Browns.
Allar is constructed like an NFL quarterback at 6-foot-5 and 240 kilos, each rating within the ninetieth percentile for the place. You‘ll by no means doubt whether or not he has the arm expertise for the league; he checks the gap and velocity arm energy packing containers. He is able to some spectacular contact throws, and he notably displayed that early within the 2024 season.
For now, Allar’s footwork is hurting him. His follow-through footwork opens his hips and creates inconsistent ball placement, evidenced by his 71.5% adjusted completion share in 2024. His 2.1% turnover-worthy play fee was strong, however a few of these turnover-worthy performs have been indefensible back-breakers.
Allar was a baseball pitcher rising up and stated he both struck batters out or walked them. That’s how he typically performs quarterback proper now. His pass-catching corps left loads to be desired in 2024, so hopefully that unit might be higher for him to construct a robust draft case in 2025.
His expertise just isn’t in query — simply his consistency.
3. GARRETT NUSSMEIER, LSU
Nussmeier made a late push to be a high quarterback prospect in final 12 months’s draft class, however he determined to remain yet one more 12 months after finishing his first 12 months as a starter. The son of New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, Garrett could be a smaller NFL quarterback (6-foot-2 and 205 kilos), however his arm is significantly better than anticipated, given these measureables.
He recorded a 4.7% big-time throw share after making 26 big-time throws in 2024. He is a really assured participant, which is rooted in his understanding of fundamentals and home windows towards zone defenses and his potential to place good zip on passes.
Nussmeier is a “dwell by the sword, die by the sword” kind of gunslinger proper now, and his 68.9% adjusted completion share final season is proof that he has to enhance his ball-placement consistency. But he isn’t afraid to make the robust throws wanted to win every week.
4. SAM LEAVITT, ARIZONA STATE
Leavitt was Oregon’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year in his senior highschool season in 2022, and he went 12-1 that 12 months whereas main his staff to win the Class 6A state championship.
At 6-foot-2 and 201 kilos, he confirmed authentic NFL potential in his first season as a starter in 2024. He posted one of many lowest turnover-worthy play charges within the nation (1.1%) with a 3.6% big-time throw share whereas exhibiting off pro-caliber arm expertise.
He does a few of his greatest work when scrambling and when performs break down. He must learn to throw the changeup and curveball with accuracy — not simply the fastball. His fundamentals and post-snap reads might be inconsistent, however all of that may get higher with time.
5. NICO IAMALEAVA, UCLA
It’s a disgrace that Iamaleava might be identified extra this season for off-field headlines than on-field potential, as a result of he has true NFL expertise. He has good peak at 6-foot-5, however a slender construct at simply 215 kilos (might result in sturdiness issues). He has lengthy arms and an extended wingspan, which creates a whipping throwing movement that actually cranks up how briskly his passes spin (like Michael Penix Jr.).
Iamaleava’s footwork could be very spectacular — mild and fast — to create a secure throwing platform or escape strain immediately. When he misses (71.0% adjusted completion share), he misses excessive, which is proof of studying a play late and making an attempt to hurry a throw.
There’s a number of discuss Iamaleava, and he definitely must get extra constant, however he has pro-level potential as a passer.
6. CARSON BECK, MIAMI (FL)
Beck was one of many high school soccer quarterbacks a 12 months in the past. He has a good body for NFL requirements at 6-foot-4 and 220 kilos, in addition to an sufficient arm for each distance and velocity. He earned an 80.2 PFF passing grade final season, which was wonderful however felt like a disappointment on account of potential QB1 expectations.
Instead of declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft, Beck transferred to Miami for his ultimate season of eligibility. His play was OK in 2024, however he actually struggled underneath strain on his method to a 30.6 PFF passing grade in such conditions. That should enhance for him to get again to a first-round projection.
7. CADE KLUBNIK, CLEMSON
There is loads to love about Klubnik, who completed 2024 with the best PFF passing grade amongst this group (87.7). The former five-star quarterback from powerhouse Westlake High School in Texas gained three straight state championships from 2019-2021.
He is an efficient athlete who brings some dual-threat/RPO potential to the place and may proceed to take action within the NFL. He has clear fundamentals and may layer throws within the intermediate ranges of the sector towards zone defenses. However, he’s small for the place. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 205 kilos, Klubnik would rank within the thirty second and seventh percentiles for the place within the league.
Due to these measurables, he typically has to throw on his toes to get the ball over the offensive line, which negatively impacts energy and ball placement. He additionally typically has to place his complete physique into throws for essential zip, which, once more, can affect accuracy.
If you’re not the type of analyst to let a quarterback’s measurement closely cloud your evaluation, you’ll love Klubnik, perhaps at the same time as excessive as QB1. But in case you are cautious of these bodily limitations, they’re arduous to miss.
8. LaNORRIS SELLERS, SOUTH CAROLINA
Some appear to be getting somewhat forward of themselves on LaNorris Sellers. It’s comprehensible why folks wish to be all in on him. He is 6-foot-3 and 240 kilos, earned a 73.8 PFF speeding grade in 2024 and boasts a rocket of an arm. All the expertise is there. But his 3.30-second common time to throw reveals he’s nonetheless studying the best way to learn defenses pre- and post-snap.
Sellers presents an extremely excessive ceiling as a prospect, however he struggled to learn coverages final 12 months with a 4.7% turnover-worthy play share (second highest amongst these quarterbacks). That might be anticipated from a redshirt sophomore in his first season as a full-time starter. But simply because it will probably all come collectively doesn’t imply it should. Let’s see it from Sellers — and if we do, he’ll shoot up this record.
9. JOHN MATEER, OKLAHOMA
If Mateer takes the subsequent step as a prospect in 2025, now at Oklahoma, he’s going to be a must-watch participant each Saturday.
At 6-foot-1 and 220 kilos, he’s not constructed like a man with a excessive NFL projection. But the redshirt senior has a really assured play model as a passer and runner (86.2 PFF speeding grade final season). He has a handy guide a rough ball launch, which places good tempo on his passes. He is assured in avoiding strain and really climbing a pocket as a substitute of simply retreating. He additionally is aware of the best way to undergo progressions with good timing and understanding.
But like just a few different quarterbacks on this record, Mateer’s measurement is a pure unfavorable, as he typically has to place a number of physique into his throws. He is somewhat too boom-or-bust proper now, with 18 big-time throws and 16 turnover-worthy performs in 2024. There’s a number of Baker Mayfield in his recreation, but it surely seems like we are saying that with somebody yearly. And the very fact of the matter is that not many quarterbacks who’re constructed like Mayfield make it.
10. CONNER WEIGMAN, HOUSTON
A handful of different quarterbacks might have claimed this final spot. Weigman was my QB1 heading into final 12 months’s school soccer season after a small pattern measurement in 2023 confirmed a quarterback who might play effectively in construction and underneath strain.
He was a very completely different participant — in a nasty manner — in 2024, incomes a 55.3 PFF passing grade. His multi-sport background (baseball) and skill to hit throws in any respect types of arm angles and throwing platforms hold me intrigued, however his footwork was a large number final season, and he appeared to make strain performs worse with a rushed throwing movement. Weigman merely was not a very good choice maker in 2024, with a 5.4% turnover-worthy play fee. Now at Houston, he’ll must completely reset underneath lowered expectations.