If some New Orleans Saints fans were banking on the 2026 NFL draft class to give them an answer at quarterback, they’ll have to wait another week to see it. They might be waiting all year. With the college football season kicking off in earnest over the long holiday weekend, we checked in on each of the six quarterbacks most commonly being projected as top-10 draft picks: Arch Manning, LaNorris Sellers, Garrett Nussmeier, Cade Klubnik, Drew Allar, and Fernando Mendoza.
Now, let’s keep it real. It’s the first week of a long season. The road stretching out to draft day is even longer. But now that the first week is in the books, it’s worth taking a look at who some Saints fans are already hoping could be their team’s savior:
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Arch Manning, Texas
Aug 30, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the first half at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns – Imagn Images
This wasn’t the coming-out party many hoped to see. Manning completed 17 of his 30 pass attempts for just 170 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, and while he did make four big-time throws he did put the ball in harm’s way on a couple of turnover-worthy plays. He also took a sack and was hit as he threw while dealing with a lot of pressure from the Ohio State defensive front. To his credit, Manning scrambled a couple of times and wasn’t afraid to test the Buckeyes downfield (averaging 3.28 seconds to throw and 9.8 yards per target). He also didn’t have any dropped passes. He just looked overwhelmed by one of the best defenses in the country. He’ll see a lot more like them while competing in the SEC this fall.
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
Aug 31, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) is tackled for a safety by Virginia Tech Hokies defensive lineman Kelvin Gilliam Jr. (22) during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Spencer Rattler’s former backup, Sellers fell back to earth a bit after his breakout 2024 campaign. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown, with PFF crediting him on a single big-time throw and a turnover-worthy play. Two of his passes were dropped. What’s concerning is that he was sacked four times on just 26 total dropbacks. He did show some of the mobility that has NFL scouts excited, scrambling three times and buying time for an average of 3.25 seconds to throw and 7.9 yards’ depth of target, but he’s got to be better under pressure. He didn’t complete a single pass on 8 dropbacks when defenders got to him, taking four sacks, scrambling twice, and throwing two incomplete passes.
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Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Aug 30, 2025; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) gestures after a play against the Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Nussmeier had to throw 38 times (connecting 28 times), but he picked up just 230 yards and a touchdown, averaging a meager depth of 4.4 yards per target. Like Sellers he was graded with a single big-time throw and turnover-worthy play, but he wasn’t intercepted. He was only pressured on 9 pass attempts and sacked once but got the ball out in a hurry at 2.22 seconds. None of his throws were dropped. You’d like to see him push the ball downfield and take advantage of a clean pocket.
Cade Klubnik, Clemson
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 30: Quarterback Cade Klubnik #2 of the Clemson Tigers takes control of ball as linebacker Whit Weeks #40 of the LSU Tigers defends during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Katie Januck/Getty Images)
This was a rough outing for Klubnik. He had to throw 43 times to give Clemson a chance against LSU, but he only completed 19 of his 38 passes while taking a couple of sacks and throwing an interception. He did try to go over the top (with an average depth of target at 9.4 yards) but without much success. He had a big-time throw and a turnover-worthy play, three drops, and two passes batted down at the line. Klubnik did what he could to extend plays and hang in there, averaging 2.75 seconds to throw, but he was under pressure on 18 of his dropbacks. This isn’t the start everyone talking him up as a potential first overall pick wanted to see.
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Drew Allar, Penn State
Aug 30, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin talks with quarterback Drew Allar (15) during the first quarter against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Allar was solid but not spectacular against Nevada; he dropped back to throw 31 times and largely took what the defense gave him, completing 22 of 26 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t turn the ball over or put it in harm’s way. He also wasn’t very aggressive pushing it downfield. He had a throwaway and two drops, scrambled four times and averaged a decent 2.78 seconds to throw at an average of 7.1 yards’ depth of target, but took a sack on just six dropbacks under pressure. This was a “win with” performance not a “win because of” game from the big QB, and that doesn’t describe a top-10 quarterback prospect.
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (15) during the Indiana versus Old Dominion football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.
A dark horse in the first-round conversation, Mendoza was solid against Old Dominion, and he showed some things his supporters have to be happy about. Let’s start with the positive. He didn’t throw any interceptions, he navigated pressure well, and he did a good job getting the ball out on time (averaging 2.76 seconds to throw) and attacking the defense vertically (with an average depth of target at 12.1 yards). Now the negatives. He only completed 18 of his 33 attempts, gaining 193 yards with a drop and a throwaway, and he was sacked once while being hit as he threw on another play. Mendoza wasn’t intercepted but not for lack of trying with a turnover-worthy play on his ledger. He also had just one big-time throw. It’s a decent starting point, but maybe not as flashy as those hyping him up would have liked.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Arch Manning, LaNorris Sellers stall out in CFB Week 1