{"id":298982,"date":"2025-08-18T21:39:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T21:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/298982\/"},"modified":"2025-08-18T21:39:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T21:39:11","slug":"first-glimpse-at-the-athletics-qb-rankings-shows-whats-on-the-line-for-taylen-green","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/298982\/","title":{"rendered":"First Glimpse at The Athletic\u2019s QB Rankings Shows What’s On The Line for Taylen Green"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Taylen<\/a>photo credit: Craven Whitlow<\/p>\n

When highly athletic yet unpolished quarterbacks head into the NFL, they\u2019re sometimes forced to switch positions to earn playing time.<\/p>\n

Over the last few decades, Arkansas has had two play-callers join those ranks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Matt Jones is perhaps the most famous among Razorback fans. He holds a special place in the hearts of many of the Arkansas faithful after four seasons as the Hogs quarterback. However, he agreed to enter the draft as a wide receiver for a better shot in the NFL. The switch paid off in the form of a five-year, $8.45 million deal<\/a> with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who drafted him No. 21 overall in 2005.<\/p>\n

More recently, Feleipe Franks entered the 2021 draft as a quarterback, but quickly switched to tight end after signing with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. If he hadn\u2019t digressed in the last two seasons of his career, KJ Jefferson almost certainly would have joined Franks and Jones in that club.<\/p>\n

Is current Arkansas QB1 Taylen Green fated to do the same? Whether he can convince NFL teams that he should remain behind center at the next level is a multi-million dollar question.<\/p>\n

Dane Brugler, The Athletic\u2019s top NFL draft expert, is one of the people best positioned to answer it.<\/p>\n

Exclusive with NFL Draft Expert<\/p>\n

In Taylen Green\u2019s first season at Arkansas, he showed flashes of greatness. His 6-foot-6 frame, paired with the sneaky-quick long strides and a powerful arm he displayed in 2024, makes him one of the more enticing prospects in his draft class. Being one of the fastest quarterbacks<\/a> in the FBS helps, too.<\/p>\n

For that reason, Dane Brugler slots Green as the No. 4 senior in The Athletic\u2019s yet-to-be-published quarterback rankings in his position-by-position look at the top prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

The new series is a precursor to Brugler\u2019s full-blown postseason NFL Draft preview known as \u201cThe Beast.\u201d His lists are shaped by his 2024 evaluations and intel from NFL scouts, as well as the expected optimism from Arkansas\u2019 coaching staff.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With that context, let\u2019s look at who could join Green on Brugler\u2019s list.<\/p>\n

Drew Allar \u2013 Penn State<\/p>\n

Cade Klubnik \u2013 Clemson<\/p>\n

Garrett Nussmeier \u2013 LSU<\/p>\n

Carson Beck \u2013 Miami (Fla.)<\/p>\n

Mark Gronowski \u2013 Iowa<\/p>\n

Haynes King \u2013 Georgia Tech<\/p>\n

Miller Moss \u2013 Louisville<\/p>\n

Sawyer Robertson \u2013 Baylor<\/p>\n

The first three in the list above are likely to be drafted in the first couple of rounds. Perhaps the biggest name against whom Green would be competing for a third- or fourth-round projection is senior Carson Beck.<\/p>\n

The former Georgia Bulldog transferred to Miami after initially declaring for the NFL draft, hoping to revive his career with the Hurricanes like this year\u2019s No. 1 draft pick, Cam Ward. Unfortunately, his time in the Sunshine State has been anything but therapeutic<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From breaking up with his popular social media star\/Hurricanes basketball player girlfriend, Hanna Cavinder, to having his Lamborghini stolen, Beck has faced nothing but distractions since arriving in Miami. That drama could give Green an edge.<\/p>\n

After Beck, most of Green\u2019s competition comes from underclassmen. That group includes Oklahoma\u2019s John Mateer, Arizona State\u2019s Sam Leavitt and Michigan State\u2019s Aidan Chiles, all of whom are projected in the same range.<\/p>\n

In an interview with Best of Arkansas Sports, Brugler said Gren \u201chas the upside to develop into a really solid backup who could push for starting snaps at the next level, but it\u2019s going to take time.\u201d<\/p>\n

To be clear, nobody is suggesting Green is on par with, say, Tyler Wilson, who entered his senior season at Arkansas projected as a potential top-10 overall pick in the following draft, at least according to one ESPN The Mag analyst. Green is still a legitimate NFL prospect, though.<\/p>\n

His escapability is a big reason why. Like in Arkansas\u2019 game against Auburn, when Green hit Isaiah Sategna for a 42-yard touchdown<\/a> on third-and-19, the former Boise State Bronco has an outstanding ability to hurt teams outside the pocket with his arm and legs.<\/p>\n

While Brugler admits it isn\u2019t an apples-to-apples comparison, he likens Green to former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. He isn\u2019t the only one who has made the comp, as fellow NFL draft expert Emory Hunt made the same one<\/a>, plus added Hall of Famer Randall Cunningham and college quarterback legend Vince Young.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about we start with the best pro prospect in the SEC? That’s Taylen Green out of Arkansas at the quarterback position.\u201d@FBallGameplan<\/a> explains why he\u2019s so high on the Razorbacks QB: pic.twitter.com\/zU1MB4DQ8f<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) July 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Throughout his college career, however, Green has yet to show the level of consistency it would take to break through as an elite college signal-caller and top draft prospect.<\/p>\n

Last season, the second-year quarterback struggled with quick reads, sound decision-making<\/a> and, of course, hanging onto the ball. While a second year under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino may not be the cure to his ball security woes, it may help with his reads and decision-making.<\/p>\n

Green\u2019s Growing Confidence<\/p>\n

Petrino recently said Green\u2019s understanding of defenses is sharper, his accuracy is more consistent and his knowledge of the offense is better, all of which helps deal with the incredibly tight windows of opportunity in the SEC.<\/p>\n

However, knowing the offense is only part of the equation; truly leading his team with that knowledge is another. There, Petrino says<\/a>, Green has made another stride this offseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of having to run down the field and tell the receiver this, I\u2019ll say to Taylen, \u2018Hey, you go tell him,\u2019\u201d Petrino said. \u201cThen sometimes I\u2019ll start heading that (way) and he\u2019ll be like, \u2018I got it.\u2019 It helps a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

That evolving command lightens Petrino\u2019s load, but it also points to real progress in Green\u2019s understanding of the offense. Such growth is \u201cwhy teams are kind of excited about him as maybe a fourth-round pick right now,\u201d Brugler added. \u201cWe\u2019ll see how the season goes, and maybe that can go up or down based off of this year\u2019s performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

If Green can smooth out his reads, make quicker decisions, and trust his instincts now that he\u2019s confident in Petrino\u2019s offense, he won\u2019t just be chasing the ghosts of athletic Arkansas quarterbacks past; he\u2019ll be carving out his own NFL path.<\/p>\n

#Arkansas<\/a> QB Taylen Green’s tape is a bit of a rollercoaster, but I’m excited for the ride in 2025<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc8 NFL Size \/ Athleticism
\ud83c\udfc8 Double-edged Sword; back-breaking plays that go either way
\ud83c\udfc8 Proven to improve through adversity in-season<\/p>\n

At his best: shades of Jordan Love pic.twitter.com\/OIVBctV87a<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Fran Duffy (@FDuffyNFL) June 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

For more from Bobby Petrino about Taylen Green after Tuesdays practice, listen here:<\/p>\n

\"YouTube<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

More coverage of Arkansas football and Taylen Green from BoAS\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n