made the right decision to return to school<\/a> and clean up the mechanical issues that plagued him last season. He has a tendency to hold onto the ball and be late triggering on tight-window throws, often drifting into creating off-schedule instead of playing on time. To solidify his status as the top quarterback prospect, he\u2019ll need to trust his pre-snap reads and consistently get the ball out on time rather than relying on his athleticism to bail him out.<\/p>\nPreseason Draft Projection:\u00a0Early Day 1<\/p>\n
2. Dante Moore\/Oregon (Fourth-year Junior)<\/p>\n
Analysis: Moore surprised many when he decided to return to Oregon. After the departure of his offensive coordinator, Will Stein, it seemed inevitable that Moore would enter the draft following a breakout season. Instead, he\u2019ll enter next year squarely in the conversation as one of the top quarterbacks in the class.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s one of the more naturally gifted passers in college football. His delivery is effortless, allowing him to generate instant velocity without a windup. The quickness of his release makes him lethal in the RPO game that has overtaken both college football and the NFL. On top of that, his accuracy is impressive when he\u2019s operating in rhythm, and he can attack all three levels of the field with ease.<\/p>\n
However, the biggest concern with his game stems from his frame. Listed at under 210 pounds, he lacks ideal mass. While this hasn\u2019t yet led to durability issues, he reacts more than ideally when the interior of his line is compromised. Under pressure, both his decision-making and mechanics regress. He\u2019ll force throws into tight windows in an effort to create a highlight rather than taking the smarter option and finding his outlet.<\/p>\n
Arguably, Moore is the most aesthetically pleasing passer in the class. If he can clean up his decision-making, particularly under pressure, it wouldn\u2019t be surprising to see him push for the top spot in the rankings.<\/p>\n
Preseason Draft Projection:\u00a0Early Day 1<\/p>\n
3. Julian Sayin\/Ohio State (Third-year Sophomore)<\/p>\n
Analysis: The successor to Will Howard, Sayin broke out last season and quickly became one of the most productive passers in college football. While Ohio State\u2019s year didn\u2019t culminate in a national championship like the previous season, the Buckeyes were the most dominant team for long stretches. Sayin was a major driver of that success, thanks to his ball security and distribution skills.<\/p>\n
His defining traits are his processing speed and pre-snap acumen. He isn\u2019t a remarkable athlete who consistently creates out of structure, but with his anticipation and understanding of situational football, he doesn\u2019t need to be. For a young quarterback in his first year as a starter, he showed an advanced ability to diagnose coverages and manipulate safeties with his eyes.<\/p>\n
The biggest concern with his profile has less to do with Sayin himself and more to do with the environment around him. He\u2019s surrounded by an embarrassment of riches at Ohio State, which makes it difficult to fully isolate his evaluation. When his primary read is routinely creating massive separation, his job is inherently easier.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s also a bit undersized at 6\u20191\u201d and 203 pounds. That frame, combined with the lack of true difference-making athleticism, lowers his ceiling in a modern NFL that increasingly favors passers who can create out of structure. It\u2019s entirely plausible he returns to school for another season, but his anticipation and distribution traits will be highly coveted by NFL teams.<\/p>\n
Preseason Draft Projection:\u00a0Day 1<\/p>\n
4. LaNorris Sellers\/South Carolina (Fourth-year Junior)<\/p>\n
Analysis: If Sayin is the technician of next year\u2019s class, Sellers is the physical anomaly. He\u2019s another player many expected to enter this year\u2019s draft before ultimately deciding to return to school. Playing on a roster largely devoid of offensive talent, Sellers failed to take the leap many anticipated after his first season as a starter.<\/p>\n
The highlight of his profile is his unquestioned athleticism. There\u2019s no debate that Sellers boasts the best combination of size, speed, and arm strength in next year\u2019s class. His out-of-structure play is outstanding, and his ability to shrug off defenders in the pocket is reminiscent of former Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger. Once he breaks the pocket, he\u2019s a devastating threat as both a runner and a playmaker in scramble drills.<\/p>\n
As a passer, he has a legitimate cannon, capable of driving the ball deep from unstable platforms with ease. There isn\u2019t a blade of grass on the field his arm can\u2019t reach.<\/p>\n
However, there\u2019s still a noticeable rawness to his game despite multiple seasons as a starter. He continues to struggle with decision-making and field vision. There\u2019s a slight delay in his processing when working through full-field progressions, and he has a tendency to lock onto his primary read.<\/p>\n
If he can show real growth in his post-snap processing, his blend of athleticism and arm strength will make him an intriguing contender for the top spot in the quarterback rankings.<\/p>\n
Preseason Draft Projection:\u00a0Day 1<\/p>\n
5. CJ Carr\/Notre Dame (Third-year Sophomore)<\/p>\n
Analysis: Carr\u2019s former teammate Jeremiyah Love rightfully received praise as Notre Dame\u2019s offensive catalyst, but many overlook just how potent the Fighting Irish passing attack was. Carr piloted one of the program\u2019s best offenses of the decade and likely would have been a dangerous threat in the playoff picture if not for a few costly defensive lapses early in the season.<\/p>\n
Despite his limited experience as a starter, he displayed impressive poise and intelligence. He plays with an advanced sense of timing and anticipation that resembles a much more seasoned quarterback. Carr is also an exceptional deep-ball thrower who consistently layers the ball between the second and third levels. While he primarily operates from the pocket, he has enough mobility to navigate pressure, extend plays, and keep his eyes downfield to exploit broken coverages.<\/p>\n
What drops him slightly in the initial rankings is his modest arm strength. Though he shows outstanding touch on his deep ball, he relies more on finesse than pure velocity to win on deeper-developing routes. When he struggles to process complex post-snap rotations against top defenses, he doesn\u2019t have elite arm talent to bail him out.<\/p>\n
Even with that concern, Carr is yet another passer who could force his way into the early part of the draft if he chooses to declare after this season.<\/p>\n
Preseason Draft Projection: Day 1<\/p>\n
6.\u00a0Drew Mestemaker\/Oklahoma State (Third-year Sophomore)<\/p>\n
Analysis: After putting up astronomical numbers at North Texas, Mestemaker put his name on the draft radar despite having just one season as a full-time starter. Following his head coach, Eric Morris, to Oklahoma State will give him the chance to replicate that production on a bigger stage. His traits are eye-popping and worthy of first-round buzz, even coming from the Group of Five ranks.<\/p>\n
Mestemaker\u2019s most translatable strengths are his spatial awareness and composure under pressure. Despite facing 114 pressures last season, he was sacked only seven times. He navigates the pocket with subtle, efficient movements and consistently keeps plays alive without drifting into unnecessary negative yardage. On top of that, he boasts undeniable arm talent that can access every area of the field.<\/p>\n
For a quarterback with limited starting experience, he also shows advanced pre-snap processing, routinely identifying optimal plays at the line of scrimmage with veteran-like savvy.<\/p>\n
His season at Oklahoma State will serve as a proving ground for his profile. Mestemaker must show that his production wasn\u2019t simply a byproduct of a system overwhelming lesser competition. Mechanically, he\u2019ll need to more consistently sync his lower body with his throws. He can be overly reliant on his arm talent to bail him out of bad situations, which leads to some ugly interceptions.<\/p>\n
Mestemaker is a player I believe is likely to return to school unless he delivers another historically productive season. If he does declare, though, he has the tools to be one of the biggest risers in the quarterback class.<\/p>\n
Preseason Draft Projection:\u00a0Day 1<\/p>\n
7. Darian Mensah\/Miami (Fourth-year Junior)<\/p>\n
Analysis: Unlike the quarterbacks ranked ahead of him, Mensah has already proven he can master multiple offensive systems. During his transition to Miami, he posted strong numbers at both Tulane and Duke, and now steps onto the biggest stage of his career. He has a real chance to catapult his draft stock in a fashion similar to Cam Ward from a few seasons ago.<\/p>\n
His greatest asset is his cognitive resilience. He\u2019s shown the ability to quickly absorb new terminology and establish command in multiple locker rooms. Mensah operates with the poise and mental acuity of a multi-year NFL veteran despite his age. He remains calm under pressure, navigating muddy pockets while keeping his eyes trained downfield. His accuracy is consistently high, and he routinely makes the right decision when the pocket closes in.<\/p>\n
Mensah\u2019s ceiling is naturally capped by his physical tools. Much like CJ Carr, his arm strength leaves something to be desired, even though he has solid size for the position. He wins with touch and anticipation more than pure velocity, and his best work comes when he\u2019s operating on schedule within the confines of timing and rhythm.<\/p>\n
At Miami, every throw he makes will be under the microscope. If he shines in his new environment, he has a clear path to climbing into the upper tier of the quarterback rankings.<\/p>\n
Preseason Draft Projection:\u00a0Early Day 2<\/p>\n
8. DJ Lagway\/Baylor (Third-year Junior)<\/p>\n
Analysis: Once touted as the next breakout star after a promising freshman season, Lagway regressed significantly in his second year. His time at Florida featured flashes of brilliance but also maddening inconsistency. After transferring to Baylor, he\u2019ll look to get his draft stock trending upward again. From a talent standpoint, he may possess the highest ceiling of any prospect in next year\u2019s class.<\/p>\n
Lagway\u2019s arm talent is among the most explosive in the country. Like Sellers and Mestemaker, he can drive any route with velocity, forcing safeties to play deeper. He\u2019s not just a strong-armed passer\u2014he\u2019s tough in the pocket and absorbs pressure well.<\/p>\n
His vertical passing is his strength, but he lacks consistency in short and intermediate throws. That stems primarily from erratic footwork. Lagway often throws off a heavy front foot, burying his momentum into the turf instead of transferring his weight cleanly.<\/p>\n
In a pass-heavy offense, Lagway aims to rebuild his confidence and mechanics while restoring his draft stock.<\/p>\n
Preseason Draft Projection:\u00a0Early Day Two<\/p>\n
9. Sam Leavitt\/LSU (Fourth-year Junior)<\/p>\n
Analysis: Another quarterback who was once more highly regarded, Leavitt saw his stock dip in his second season at Arizona State, largely due to medical concerns. After leading Arizona State to the College Football Playoff, he looked poised for first-round draft status. His transfer to a Lane Kiffin-led LSU offense should give him every opportunity to maximize his aggressive, improvisational style.<\/p>\n
Simply put, Leavitt thrives in chaos. His best tape comes when the structure of the play breaks down. He\u2019s an excellent freelancer who uses his plus athleticism and elastic arm to create throwing windows that shouldn\u2019t exist. His pocket manipulation makes him a constant threat to generate explosive plays on the move.<\/p>\n
His medical history, including a Lisfranc injury that ended his season, will be a key storyline for LSU. Because his game relies on platform manipulation, he must prove the foot injury hasn\u2019t reduced his effectiveness.<\/p>\n
Beyond the medical questions, his gunslinger mentality is the chief on-field concern. Leavitt\u2019s aggressiveness is a double-edged sword. He\u2019ll frequently put the ball in harm\u2019s way trying to play hero ball rather than taking the check-down.<\/p>\n
When he\u2019s healthy, his tape is electric. If he stays healthy, LSU\u2019s offense should be among the most entertaining in the country this season.<\/p>\n
Preseason Draft Projection:\u00a0Early Day Two<\/p>\n
10. Trinidad Chambliss\/Ole Miss (Sixth-year Senior)<\/p>\n
Analysis: Chambliss fought tooth and nail to return to Ole Miss<\/a> after a red-hot finish to last season. As it stands, he\u2019ll be the most pronounced mechanical outlier in the class. Early at Ferris State, he was a raw runner before developing into a dynamic passing threat.<\/p>\nWhen rolling out of the pocket, Chambliss is arguably the most dangerous quarterback in the nation. He\u2019s an elite creator on the move, maintaining precise ball placement even as his momentum carries him toward the sideline. His deep ball is also effective, though his throws tend to be more driven than lofted. Most importantly, he throws with immense conviction, showing little hesitation to attack the middle of the field.<\/p>\n
The concerns start with his physical profile. Under six feet tall, he throws from a low arm slot that produced numerous batted passes last season. His lower-body mechanics are unorthodox, often stepping into throws with his trail leg rather than establishing a firm base.<\/p>\n
Most concerning is his inability to consistently add touch. He fires at maximum velocity on nearly every snap, too often leading receivers into heavy contact at the catch point.<\/p>\n
Chambliss made a questionable decision returning to school when his draft stock peaked. If he doesn\u2019t build on his late-season surge, NFL teams may share those concerns.<\/p>\n
Preseason Draft Projection:\u00a0Early Day Two<\/p>\n
Honorable Mentions:\u00a0CJ Bailey\/NC State, Jayden Maiava\/USC, Nico Iamaleavva\/UCLA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With the 2026 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, it\u2019s time to look ahead to next year\u2019s class.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":896105,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[11148,615,25688,6446,2036,18684,67726,7,2226,9734,6,15,6776,691,65456],"class_list":["post-896104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl-draft","tag-2027-nfl-draft","tag-arch-manning","tag-cj-carr","tag-dante-moore","tag-darian-mensah","tag-dj-lagway","tag-drew-mestemaker","tag-football","tag-julian-sayin","tag-lanorris-sellers","tag-nfl","tag-nfl-draft","tag-sam-leavitt","tag-trending","tag-trinidad-chambliss"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116605240208298802","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=896104"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896104\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/896105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=896104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=896104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=896104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}