STOCK UP: Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
Leavitt is a prospect who has strong connections to the Steelers. Not only have they scouted him at his games and practices, former Steelers receiver Hines Ward is on the ASU coaching staff. There’s something about comfort with prospects and he could be someone Pittsburgh is comfortable with come April.
This week, after returning from injury, Leavitt and the Sundevils hosted seventh-ranked Texas Tech. TTU opened as 10.5-point favorites on the road. Though he wasn’t perfect, he made plays to keep ASU in it. Then, he had his finest moment after the Red Raiders scored off a big punt return.
Leavitt orchestrated a 10-play, 75-yard game winning drive. In a season where the team hasn’t capitalized on their 2024 run, the sophomore quarterback earned a second consecutive victory over a ranked opponent. Not only that, he has now led three consecutive game winning drives in his last three starts.
NFL MDDB Rank: No. 165, QB 17
Season Stats: 127-of-204 (62.3% comp. rate), 1358 yards (6.7 yards/attempt), 9 TD, 3 INT
STOCK DOWN: Carson Beck, Miami (FL)
Going into week eight, Beck was one of my favorite prospects to watch this season. However, Friday night wasn’t a night to remember for the transfer passer. It was unequivocally his worst game of the season.
Miami was a 10.5-point favorite in what was considered their offense’s toughest matchup to date. Louisville’s defense showed why Mario Cristobal declared this defense as such. They made the Hurricane offense look anything but prolific.
Despite Beck’s early struggles, he still had a chance to win the game. Instead, he threw a game-ending interception that was his fourth of the game. Concerns our analyst Derrick Bell shared on the Steelers Night Shift showed throughout the game.
Beck could still absolutely rebound and make this game a distant memory. However, it appears there will be more questions than answers until next week.
NFL MDDB Rank: No. 87, QB11
Season Stats: 127-of-174 (73% comp. rate), 1484 yards (8.5 yards/attempt), 11 TD, 7 INT
STOCK UP: Garrett Nussmeier, Louisiana State
2025 hasn’t been great for Nussmeier, but it certainly hasn’t been horrible. The fifth-year signal caller has made plays throughout the year despite showing the erratic concerns from his first four seasons.
However, after two stagnant weeks, he took a step in the right direction. The Vanderbilt defense was owning the LSU offensive line all day. Nussmeier still willed his team through the game to keep them in it.
He flashed his strong upside and made plays to keep things within reach until Vandy’s offense closed it out in the four-minute drill.. LSU’s defense didn’t help the cause, but Nussmeier kept things alive. His arm talent and grit was well on display. Could it be what the Steelers need in the future?
NFL MDDB Rank: No. 13, QB4
Season Stats: 154-of-232 (66.4% comp. rate), 1638 yards (7.1 yards/attempt), 11 TD, 5 INT
STOCK DOWN: LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
2025 has been overall underwhelming for Sellers. While he routinely has shown the lightning strike ability to make plays, it hasn’t translated into a consistent offense. There’s no doubt his play making ability is there, he just might need more time.
On Saturday, Sellers wasn’t particularly great or bad. He simply didn’t make enough plays. Some factors aren’t all on him. His offensive line is very shaky and has even cost him game time due to injuries.
Could Sellers be on the same track as Arch Manning? Teams will absolutely be in love with his play making ability, measureables, and competitiveness. However, at only 20-years-old, another year in college could help him gain more experience and improve his game for 2027.
NFL MDDB Rank: No. 4, QB3
Season Stats: 90-of-139 (64.8% comp. rate), 1134 yards (8.2 yards/attempt), 5 TD, 2 INT
STOCK UP: Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
No, he’s not in the first-round quarterback conversation. However, like Haynes King (Georgia Tech) and Tommy Castellanos (FSU), Pavia has made plays for his team each week. None of those three may see their name called until day three.
This week, though, he helped his stock to have an opportunity to get on a 2026 training camp roster at minimum. He helped his team pull off the upset over LSU and advance to 6-1 for the first time since 1950.
Last season, he pulled off an upset over number one ranked Alabama. He’s also helped take other ranked teams down to the wire the past two seasons. The Cinderella story may not last long. What if it’s a good enough story to see him on a training camp roster next summer?
NFL MDDB Rank: N/A
Season Stats: 129-of-183 (70.5% comp. rate), 1569 yards (8.6 yards/attempt), 15 TD, 4 INT
STOCK UP: Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
The talk of the week was the fact that Chambliss had never played a true road game. In DII play, he played in front of 70K total fans over the course of his career. This week, he walked into Sanford Stadium to play in front of 93K.
Despite the loss, Chambliss answered the bell and nearly pulled off the victory. His second half performance was not as strong as the first half. The transfer quarterback took a powerhouse program down to the wire.
In the loss, he threw a touchdown and scored two more on the ground. His playmaking ability and arm talent are undeniable. However, his game needs development in making more routine throws. He may declare for the 2026 draft, but he may need another year. Don’t be surprised, though, if his trajectory takes him into first-round talks come February.
NFL MDDB Rank: No. 117, QB13
Season Stats: 104-of-166 (62.7% comp.rate), 1549 yards (9.3 yards/attempt), 8 TD, INT
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: 2026 NFL Draft QB Stock Report Week 8: Leavitt Returns to Climb, Beck Takes Hard Stock Hit