Top 10 College Football Quarterbacks eligible for 2026 NFL Draft: Arch Manning may not declare, and shouldn't be QB1 anyway
The 2025 college football season is less than 100 days away now and it's never too early to break down the best returning quarterbacks who are eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft.Some have elite production profiles already. Others are still huge projections based on their traits and upside. It's still early, but as of today […]
The 2025 college football season is less than 100 days away now and it's never too early to break down the best returning quarterbacks who are eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Some have elite production profiles already. Others are still huge projections based on their traits and upside. It's still early, but as of today these are the Top 10 returning college football quarterbacks in position to dominate this fall and ultimately be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
2026 NFL Draft Top 10 Quarterbacks
1. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Cade Klubnik has everything that NFL teams love to see in a quarterback profile already. Five star pedigree with above average physical traits to translate to the pros. Solid pocket awareness and processing ability. And thanks to his surge down the stretch last season he has one of the more proven production profiles in the 2026 NFL Draft class despite struggling earlier in his career.
Cade Klubnik tossed 36 touchdowns last year, accounted for nearly 20% of Clemson's rushing attack as a quarterback, and improved his efficiency all year long. If he can take one final pivotal step forward on his downfield throws like we saw with Jaxson Dart this past season Klubnik should be a consensus first round pick and may end up with the best profile in the class.
2. Arch Manning, Texas
Many college football fans assume Arch Manning will be entering the 2026 NFL Draft and that he essentially hasn't played at all. They're likely wrong on both counts.
Manning's camp has made it clear he isn't in a rush to get to the NFL, so unless something crazy happens (like a national championship, Heisman, and the Saints pick first overall) expect him to be back in Texas beyond 2026.
However, the truth is that Arch Manning did play a lot more last season than people remember. Manning played nearly 250 snaps for Texas (at least 25 snaps in five different games), including near perfection against Mississippi State. If he plays more like that it may be clear that he's ready for the NFL earlier than expected.
Still, ranking Arch Manning number one overall among returning quarterbacks is probably a little aggressive given how much he struggled against pressure last season (over 26% pressure to sack rate) and how little he's played. Despite the last name, he still needs to earn it over a larger sample.
3. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
LaNorris Sellers is probably the highest upside play among all quarterbacks returning to college football this season. His ability to extend plays, the arm talent, the mobility, and improving pass efficiency all suggest he might be something special.
Sellers needs to improve on his down to down consistency as a passer (similar to what we saw with Jalen Milroe this past year), but he's going to test like a perfect athletic prospect when NFL Combine season comes around. If he can get his wide receiver weapons Nyck Harbor and Mazeo Bennett to step up with him this season he could be a Top 10 pick.
4. Drew Allar, Penn State
Drew Allar now has two seasons of decent production for Penn State. He was far too conservative in 2023 and struggled connecting on deeper throws, but took a huge step forward in that regard last season as Penn State was just one drive away from making it to national championship game.
Allar has all the physical traits with his height, arm strength, and at least some level of mobility to succeed in the NFL. There's a chance he's the first QB off the board in 2026 just based on traits alone, but he needs to clean up decision-making in critical moments.
5. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
Sam Leavitt put together a wildly underrated 2024 college football season. Once Arizona State made the College Football Playoff, Leavitt started gaining a bit more notoriety, but not as much as he ultimately deserved.
Leavitt finished the year ranked Top 10 in passer rating, touchdown percentage, QBR, and total adjusted net yards per attempt in 2024 among all FBS quarterbacks. And it wasn't just due to easy, schemed up production either. He made some great throws all year long. If he syncs up with Jordyn Tyson for another strong season he could be a round one passer.
6. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Garrett Nussmeier is likely a bit overhyped due to some raw counting stats and the fact that he's an LSU quarterback. Nussmeier is great at avoiding pressure in the pocket. He can make a wide variety of difficult throws. His intelligence and quick processing will be a plus in the NFL Draft process. However, as it stands Nussmeier simply doesn't add anything with his legs yet. He needs to add that layer to his game and improve consistency of decision making so he doesn't throw 11 more interceptions again this year.
7. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
Baylor foolishly opened the 2024 season with a different QB at the helm, but once Sawyer Robertson took over and found his footing in early October he led the Bears on a six-game winning streak where he scored 18 total touchdowns. A to Z sources (among others) confirmed that Robertson had multiple schools try and pull him away this offseason, but he stuck around with Baylor to run it back for what could be a special season. He's not extremely mobile, but he grew into a deadly accurate, efficient passer last fall.
8. John Mateer, Oklahoma
John Mateer is a tough read. He absolutely annihilated a Mountain West schedule last year playing for Washington State in the post Pac-12 chaos, but how much weight should that carry? Over 4000 total yards. 44 total touchdowns. Nearly 10 adjusted yards per pass attempt. He has the single best quarterback efficiency profile returning to school in 2025. Mateer is extremely mobile, boasts above average arm talent, but he's just a bit undersized. He's going to get to prove himself against tough SEC competition this year, so we'll find out if this explosive dual threat's skill set is the truth or not.
9. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
Nico Iamaleava has gotten picked apart this offseason because of the holdout and transfer situation from Tennessee to UCLA. And yes, he unfortunately played his worst football of the season in three primetime games against Arkansas, Florida, and Ohio State. However, the truth of the matter is that Nico Iamaleava's 2024 season was the 10th best among returning power conference college football quarterbacks based on his composite QB efficiency profile (15+ production variables weighted together).
Yes, it's going to be difficult to learn a new system and find immediate success for a program not exactly built for it in UCLA, but if he does Iamaleava likely ranks higher than this in the 2026 NFL Draft. He has the skills. We just need to see him take another step forward in development within a real scheme that can better translate to the NFL.
10. Carson Beck, Miami (FL)
Carson Beck certainly has the easiest path to fall off this list, but if he can get his elbow recovered fully ahead of the 2025 college football season there's also a version of his story that culminates in an impressive explosion of success. He has two seasons of mostly good play with a terrible stretch of turnovers last season marring an otherwise decent profile. The offensive line should be strong in Miami. The skill talent will be a bit questionable. If he overcomes injury and completely new surroundings he'll be in the mix for late round 2026 NFL Draft capital.
QB Honorable Mentions
Darian Mensah, Duke
Darian Mensah was the best non-power conference quarterback last season with Tulane and it wasn't even close. This truth cannot be overstated. No hyperbole, Duke may just have found their best quarterback since Sonny Jurgenson (the 1950s) via the Transfer Portal. How is this possible? Mensah averaged 9.5 yards per pass attempt and 14.5 yards per completion in 2024. The only other quarterback who tossed more than 200 pass attempts that averaged more yards per completion was Jaxson Dart (first round pick and the most efficient profile in the nation last year).
Mensah is mobile enough to add value and elude pressure. He's a gunslinger with impressive accuracy. He is the ultimate "sleeper" who could rise swiftly up 2026 NFL Draft boards if he proves to be productive at the power conference level too.
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
This is a traits play. Fernando Mendoza is 6'5", nearly 230 pounds with some nice arm talent and underrated mobility. He's not the most efficient passer and often sees much of his positive results stem from single read schemed up plays–at least that was the case with California–but he should be in nice position to take a step forward with Indiana in 2025.
2026 Three-Round NFL Mock Draft: Arch Manning’s long shot, Cade Klubnik’s divisive talent, and edge rushers dominate early rounds
The paint on the 2025 NFL Draft might not quite be dry yet, but that doesn't mean we can't take a good look ahead to the future. Yes, it's already time for the first 2026 Three-Round NFL Mock Draft here at A to Z Sports. It might seem like a fool's errand to try and […]
We'll be back with more College Football coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
And if you want to see why despite the limited action last season Arch Manning could indeed live up to the hype just check out his highlights in the video below!
