The 2024 NFL draft saw a record-breaking six quarterbacks selected within the first 12 selections of the event. Things were much different last year with Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart the only passers to hear their names called.
Ahead of the current season, many felt a rebound would be coming at the position. Based on how things have played out so far, however, that stance has shifted around the league. As Jeff Howe of The Athletic writes (subscription required), there are “serious concerns” about the 2026 class and its potential.
“I don’t love any of [the quarterbacks] right now,” one NFL executive said. “We’re trying to grasp onto somebody because there isn’t anybody, and it’s such a flavor of the week. Good luck right now.”
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza has been among the most impressive signal-callers of the college season so far. He is viewed by many as the top prospect set to declare for the 2026 draft as a result, although opinions are split on his ceiling at the NFL level. Ty Simpson has enjoyed a strong first season as Alabama’s starter, but in addition to a lack of experience he has generated concerns related to his physical traits.
Other highly-touted prospects like Oregon’s Dante Moore, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, and Texas’ Arch Manning are not guaranteed to turn pro in 2026. Moore and Sellers are still 20 years old and could benefit from another year of development at the college level. Manning, currently a redshirt sophomore, has long been expected to stay in school through at least the 2026 season.
That would strengthen a 2027 class that already includes Florida’s DJ Lagway and Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola, which will impact roster-building strategies over the next year-and-a-half. Few things are more important to an NFL team than finding a franchise quarterback, and time and time again, the draft has proven to be the best way of doing that.
Teams’ approaches will vary based on their timeline, draft capital, and need. The Jets and the Browns could certainly use an upgrade under center and have amassed a number of first-round picks that could allow them to acquire their desired prospect next spring. The Raiders, Rams, Steelers, and Cardinals could all be seeking new signal-callers in the next two years, but may stick with their veterans in 2026 with an eye on the 2027 draft.
There are also a number of familiar names in the 2026 draft like Penn State’s Drew Allar, Miami’s Carson Beck, and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik – all multi-year starters who never put it all together in college. And of course, quarterback prospects still have plenty of time to rise and fall in the rankings, especially those in the 2027 class.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.
2026 weak QB class
I doubt more than two of the QBs listed here are any good in the NFL, if even that. I mean, DJ Lagway? Seriously?
Do you watch college football? I agree listing Lagway, and Raiola too, in this article as top 2027 guys is nonsense as neither had proven to be worth it so far. But, if you get another year of coaching and improvement for guys like Sellers, Moore, Manning, then throw in guys like Carr with Notre Dame and some others and 2027 is a nice class.
And my Browns are eying one of these guys??? Give me Shedeur Sanders and run with it!
LOL your homerism is wild, Tracenv, my goodness
I have no heroism towards Shedeur in any shape or form. My point is…go with the QB you drafted and develop him vs adding yet another project QB….Cleveland’s track record for developing QB’S isn’t very good. Develop Shedeur and draft some weapons on offense, which we need more then another rookie QB
The issue is the QB you’re describing isn’t Sanders it’s Gabriel. He is the QB the FO actually liked and wanted to develop. Sanders was an ownership decision. The reason guys like Hurts and Love worked out is the FO was on board. People need to accept that name recognition =/= talent.
Think only Mendoza will declare early. Could see a run on QBs on day 2 of the draft.. I could see Nussmeier, Klubnik, Allar, Beck going there.
I mean the whole draft approach is backwards anyway so what does it matter?
Every season you’re going to have a few GMs thinking “Well, our OL is garbage and are WRs are mediocre at best…but I’m going to draft a QB and that will solve all the problems”. Three losing seasons later they try again…lol.
Agreed! You have to build the line and receiving crew before you get that QB.
This was why Dart was my favorite QB prospect last year and why I was happy for him he was not a top first round pick. I think there are a number of these QBs who would or will succeed drafted by the right team and given time to develop first. Not every QB should be considered either a day 1 starter or not a future franchise guy at all.
Amen Amen Amen Amen…thank you for not buying into the short-sighted thinking that quarterbacks and receivers make your offense. Without a decent offensive line, your offense will do NOTHING, as has been proven over and over and over and over again.
Exactly! 50% of 1st round QB’S are considered failures…..as a Browns fan, I’d rather draft weapons on offense and fix our OL , develop Sanders and Gabriel, then draft yet another QB and in Stefanski’s offense no stud 1st round QB is fixing that …
Very weak class! Arch is middling at best. Mendoza screams bust but he does have to size of a qb teams want. The rest are backups/pactice squad at best!
QBs needing development will always fail when drafted by incompetent organizations
Most teams draft these guys, then rush to start them because they are the new toy for the offense, never develop them, ruin their careers then re draft yet another QB a few years later….Anthony Richardson and Zach Wilson are the latest casualties