John Mateer is already being projected to go extremely high in the 2026 NFL Draft and he hasn’t played a snap in the SEC yet
John Mateer will have a chance to show so many why he should be drafted high in the 2026 NFL Draft.
2025 is going to be a pivotal season for the Oklahoma Sooners, which is why they acquired John Mateer, their newest star quarterback, in the transfer portal. Oklahoma has another chance to send a quarterback to the NFL, as Mateer could be a high pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
They made a ton of moves this offseason, especially when it comes to the portal, but none was bigger than what some were calling the best player available. CBS Sports has John Mateer getting drafted within the top-15 of the 2026 NFL draft in their latest mock.
John Mateer could be best quarterback in 2026 NFL Draft
If you’re a sicko when it comes to the NFL Draft, then you’ve probably already looked into a bit of what’s to come in April when the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off. The Sooners will have a few guys that could get drafted, but the two biggest are none other than QB John Mateer and edge rusher R Mason Thomas.
Some outlets out there are already putting out mock drafts, like CBS Sports, which has Mateer going No. 13 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who currently have Aaron Rodgers, the former Green Bay Packers and New York Jets QB who will eventually be a Hall of Famer. Mike Renner, of CBS Sports, thinks Mateer has the best arm talent in this upcoming draft of any quarterback, and he’s probably right.
Going to the Steelers, a team that doesn’t lose much and is an organization that has had some success with quarterbacks, would be great, and it makes sense for both sides.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be in the quarterback market yet again in 2026. Whether Aaron Rodgers stays or retires, it’s time for Pittsburgh to take another swing at QB in the draft. Last time, they went a little out of character with Kenny Pickett, drafting an ACC quarterback who didn’t have the best traits. They can go polar opposite with John Mateer. A quarterback who hits all the thresholds for size, arm talent, and mobility, forget the fact that he will play in the best conference in college football this year, his tangibles alone will pique Pittsburgh’s interest. If he can have the season that my colleague Justin and many around OU believe he can, there is no doubt he would be in R1 consideration for the Steelers. – Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Pittsburgh
The Sooners are known for sending quarterbacks to the draft, especially over the last decade or so. This has oftentimes, but not always, happened after that quarterback wins a Heisman trophy. Guys like Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield and Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray are prime examples of that, and those guys were No. 1 picks. But that doesn’t mean you have to do that to be successful in the NFL.
Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles QB, was not a Heisman winner, even after a very impressive season at Oklahoma, and he certainly wasn’t a No. 1 overall pick. Hurts was taken in the second round, and yet, he’s one of the more successful guys at his position, as he just won a Super Bowl last February, and did so by beating the dynasty that is the Kansas City Chiefs.
So even if Mateer is not a No. 1 overall pick, or even a No. 13 overall pick, and doesn’t win the Heisman, he can still prove he belongs in the NFL. And, there’s a good chance he will. But he has to prove it in the SEC first.
