The 2025 college football season is just around the corner, and the 2026 NFL Draft has some quarterbacks worth keeping an eye on. Whether they’re already lighting up college football or they have the tools that scouts are looking for, here are the top quarterbacks for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Important note: Arch Manning is omitted due to reports that he is likely to return to Texas and declare in 2027. 

Best Quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft
5. Cade Klubnik, Clemson Tigers

Klubnik is experienced and polished, and he is heading into his senior season with some exciting wide receivers at Clemson. He’s a fantastic college quarterback. But listed at 6’2″ and 210 pounds with a lackluster arm, Klubnik profiles more as an NFL backup than a franchise option. He’s due for a big season in 2025, but his physical shortcomings may limit his draft stock.

Best Fantasy Football Relevant Players in the 2026 NFL Draft

4. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State Sun Devils

Leavitt has some similar size concerns as Klubnik. But Leavitt has a bazooka attached to his frame. There are times when he’s throwing the ball on a frozen rope, and times when his mechanics are all over the place. With Cam Skattebo in the NFL, Arizona State is going to rely more on their passing game in 2025. There’s some projection here, but Leavitt’s arm talent is up there with the best in college football.

3. Drew Allar, Penn State Nittany Lions

Size. Arm strength. Physicality. Success at the college level. Allar has a lot of things that you want to see when evaluating quarterbacks for the 2026 NFL Draft, but he needs to put it all together. For a quarterback with as much experience as Allar has, he needs to handle pressure and avoid negative plays a little bit better. His pressure-to-sack ratio went up from his sophomore to his junior season as he tried to play Superman a little more. He keeps the ball safe and has all the physical tools a team could ask for, if he takes another step forward in 2025 he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

2. Garrett Nussmeier, Louisiana State University Tigers

Nussmeier is another one in this class with a smaller stature, but he is absolutely fearless. “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles” -Sun Tzu, and Nussmeier knows himself. He knows the throws he can make, and knows his own drawbacks as a runner and extender. There are times when he forces throws he shouldn’t try, but when he gets all his cleats in the ground and rips it, he can get away with some things.

1. Lanorris Sellers, South Carolina Gamecocks

Sellers is powerful, fast, and makes some throws that make you question the difference between an NFL prospect and the average college quarterback. He’s also slightly inexperienced and needs some more time in the slow cooker. He turned down bigger NIL contracts to stay with his college program, which will help with his development as he gets another year in the same system. If both he and Manning return for the 2027 NFL Draft, the 2026 class loses a lot of its luster. But if Sellers declares, he can be a fantasy football cheat code and is the most exciting quarterback prospect in the class.

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