Is your workforce in want of a quarterback?
With that in thoughts, let’s check out my way-too-early top-five 2026 NFL quarterback prospects proper now.
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
Regardless of his begin to the season, Sellers stays my high quarterback who’s eligible to declare for the 2026 draft. He has thrown for 886 yards, 4 touchdowns, and one interception via 5 video games for South Carolina.
Sellers has every part you need in a quarterback at 6-3, 240 kilos and he suits what trendy common managers search for on the place. He possesses a exceptional quantity of athletic skill, complemented by a powerful body. Sellers additionally has a rocket for an arm and the ball explodes out of his hand.
Final 12 months, Sellers led the Gamecocks to a 9-4 file after throwing for two,534 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. He additionally rushed for 674 yards and 7 touchdowns.
One of many greatest considerations is that the Vendor doesn’t run a pro-style offense. He additionally has a behavior of being a one-read quarterback and rapidly taking off to run exterior the pocket when that receiver shouldn’t be open. Sellers’ ball placement and general pocket consciousness may additionally enhance.
Nonetheless, there’s quite a bit to love about Sellers, and he has the very best ceiling of any quarterback eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft. His play is paying homage to that of former Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper, earlier than he started affected by knee accidents later in his profession.
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
The son of Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, there’s quite a bit to love about Garrett. He is sort of a level guard who can completely distribute and orchestrate the LSU offense. He led LSU to 9 victories in 2024 after throwing for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
One of many knocks on Nussmeier getting into this 12 months was his lack of accuracy and his alarming turnovers in crucial moments. It’s apparent that Nussmeier trusts his arm a little bit an excessive amount of at occasions and that may get him in bother when he tries to throw in tight home windows in protection. He may maintain onto the ball too lengthy, which might translate into defensive sacks.
By 5 video games this season, Nussmeier has improved his accuracy after finishing 67.3% of his passes and throwing solely three interceptions. His 6-1, 205-pound body and lack of an enormous arm might scare some groups. Nonetheless, Nussmeier possesses sufficient expertise and arm energy to be a profitable beginning quarterback within the league for over a decade.
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Mendoza is rocketing up draft boards, particularly after his efficiency in the course of the 63-10 victory over Illinois in Week 4. In that sport, Mendoza accomplished 21-of-23 passes for 267 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Many anticipated large numbers from Mendoza after he transferred from California to Indiana, however he’s turning right into a dark-horse Heisman Trophy candidate. He has additionally turned Indiana right into a contender for the Massive Ten Championship. In 4 video games, Mendoza has 16 touchdowns and one interception.
Mendoza is a throwback quarterback in an period the place most groups worth athleticism and mobility on the place. At 6-5 and 225 kilos, Mendoza is mainly a pocket quarterback who has a super body, and he could make NFL-caliber throws. Nonetheless, Mendoza can use his ft to roll out of the pocket and make throws on the transfer.
Don’t be stunned if Mendoza is a high 10 decide in subsequent April’s draft.
Carson Beck, Miami
A change of surroundings has completed Beck some good this season.
He has helped lead the Hurricanes to a 4-0 file and the No. 2 rating within the nation. Earlier than the beginning of the 2024 season, whereas at Georgia, Beck was pegged because the No. 1 quarterback prospect on most draft analyst boards. Nonetheless, struggled final season earlier than struggling a season-ending elbow damage final December in the course of the SEC Championship sport in opposition to Texas. Beck then opted to switch to Miami this previous offseason relatively than getting into the NFL Draft.
Beck has had a bounce-back season with the Hurricanes. He ranks eighth within the nation with a 73.2 completion share and has thrown for 972 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions in 4 video games for Miami.
At 6-4, 225 kilos, Beck is a proficient pocket-passer who has sufficient mobility to maneuver out of the pocket. When he has the time to throw with timing and rhythm, Beck can decide defenses aside together with his excessive soccer IQ.
If he continues to play at a excessive stage and probably leads Miami to a nationwide championship, Beck may as soon as once more be one of many first quarterbacks chosen in subsequent 12 months’s draft.
Dante Moore, Oregon
Drew Allar initially was on my high 5 record. Nonetheless, Moore has been a breakout star for the Geese, particularly after Oregon’s 30-24 double additional time victory in opposition to Penn State on Saturday evening.
Moore threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for 35 yards in opposition to the Nittany Lions in a difficult setting at Beaver Stadium. After an inconsistent freshman season at UCLA and sitting behind Dillon Gabriel after transferring to Oregon, Moore is a prospect who may discover his approach into the primary spherical in April’s draft. He has thrown for 1,210 yards with 14 touchdowns, whereas solely throwing one decide in 5 video games.
Moore possesses unbelievable arm expertise and athleticism that scouts and common managers are in search of in right now’s quarterback. He additionally has the accuracy to get the ball in any respect three ranges of the sphere.
Moore wants to enhance his mechanics when defenders are pressuring him. However together with his fast launch, excessive soccer IQ, and general soccer skill, don’t be stunned if Moore continues to climb up draft boards.
Different quarterbacks to look at
Texas’s Arch Manning and Penn State’s Drew Allar are two different quarterbacks who’ve been talked about as attainable excessive draft picks in 2026. Arch, the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, had an uneven efficiency within the season opener in opposition to Ohio State, finishing 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards with one landing and one interception.
The 6-4, 216-pound Manning had his finest sport in opposition to Sam Houston, which has one of many worst defenses in FBS. He accomplished 86% of his passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns, in addition to two dashing touchdowns, with out a turnover.
Manning wants to enhance his pocket consciousness and keep away from interceptions and errors at inopportune occasions. However may doubtlessly return to 2026 for his redshirt junior season.
Very similar to Manning, Allar additionally tends to throw interceptions at crucial occasions. He handed for 137 yards on 14-of-25 passing with two touchdowns and had the expensive double additional time interception that gave Oregon the 30-24 victory.
Allar will arguably be essentially the most polarizing prospect in subsequent 12 months’s draft. He has every part scouts need in a quarterback. Allar is 6-5, 235 kilos, has an elite arm, and has sufficient mobility to bop out of hazard when defenders are bearing down on him.
Nonetheless, if Allar goes to solidify his standing as a first-round decide, his decision-making in the course of the last eight video games for Penn State wants to enhance.
