Recent expectations that standout underclassmen quarterbacks Dante Moore (Oregon) and Ty Simpson (Alabama) will stay in college for at least another year have reduced the number of likely first-round quarterbacks in the class from three to one. With the value of quarterbacks tending to vary drastically in relation to the scarcity at the position and the demand in the league, new names are sure to rise. 
Dane Brugler of The Athletic released his updated prospect rankings about a month ago and gone from the top of the rankings were former projected prospects like Texas’ Arch Manning, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Penn State’s Drew Allar, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, and several others. Only Indiana Heisman-favorite Fernando Mendoza remained as a prospect widely considered to be a Day 1 pick.
Mendoza was joined by a new pair of names, though, as the two emerging new starters at the powerhouse programs mentioned in the first paragraph proved to be more productive than expected in their first seasons as starters. With Moore and Simpson no longer considered surefire 2026 prospects, Mendoza is the lone name atop the class with first-round considerations. Rarely does that stay the case as the pre-draft process goes on, though. Desperation for savior arms tends to elevate names considered worthy of later rounds to the early rounds based on scarcity alone.
We saw this two years ago, when Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels were considered the only two first-round worthy passers of the class early on in the pre-draft process. When it became clear that several teams were looking to draft a top quarterback in the first round, other names quickly started climbing the board. Drake Maye, considered a late-first-rounder at best early on, elevated all the way up to No. 3 overall. Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix were all considered Day 2 or 3 picks early on, but all three ended up in the top 12 picks of the draft.
Last year, Cam Ward was widely seen as the only first-round passer in the class, though Shedeur Sanders was seen as a possible late first-round possibility. Sanders’ wildly unprecedented slide aside, Jaxson Dart found his way into the first round after spending much of the pre-draft process as a likely Day 2 pick.
According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, a name to look for in that same vein is Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby. Sorsby started his collegiate career at Indiana, serving as the main starter as a redshirt freshman in 2023. When then-head coach Tom Allen was fired, Sorsby made the move to become a Bearcat. Sorsby has just finished his third year as a full-time starter and his second in Cinci.
Sorsby showed promise starting for the Hoosiers, throwing 15 touchdowns to just five interceptions, but his accuracy left a lot to be desired. In his first year with the Bearcats, he improved his completion percentage but got a bit undisciplined throwing 18 touchdowns to seven interceptions. This season, Sorsby put up his most efficient campaign with 27 touchdowns to just five interceptions. He also has impressive mobility averaging about 500 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns in each of his two seasons at Cincinnati.
It’s far too early to call Sorsby a first-round prospect, but he’ll have plenty of time to improve his stock if he decides to declare after his redshirt junior year concludes. Plus, several other names are sure to emerge as teams dust off every possibility hoping to find a diamond in the rough. As names continue to drop out of first-round consideration for 2026, history has told us that others are sure to rise in their place.
…And By April he will be a top 5 pick. Happens every year.
Looks like underclsssmen are gonna start staying in college with NIL
This is how it should be . I do wonder if Arch comes out in a suddenly thin 2026 class tho. He risks being in a crowded 2027 QB class
I still have a hard time seeing why Dante Moore wouldnt declare tho . Easily a top 5 pick
There is no way Arch Manning comes out this year.
Saints, if he did declare? They might not be in position if they keep winning.
Arch isnt going to get any better, so should come out during the weaker class
Funny isn’t it? I can also see 6 WRs going first round.
Tate
Tyson
Lemon
Bell
KC Concepcion
Germie Bernard
Denzel Boston
Antonio Williams
Loaded
He didnt live up to the hype as a 5 star recruit, but i still really like Cade Klubnik as a mobile game manager like Bo Nix.
Agreed on Sorsby being intruiging. Idk if hes starting NFL calibor tho. Seems more like a solid longterm backup. He is big tho.
Mendoza gonna take the whole league over if he ends up in the right org’s hands . Saints should punt on their mediocre QBs and take him. If he goes to Raiders he’s prob scrwed tho
Needless to say the Browns would ruin Mendoza too. O-line and receivers are trash.
Browns will prob take one of the OSU guys, Reese or Tate , or Jordyn Tyson out of AZ ST .
Id go Mauigoa OT outta Miami or one of the Utah OT’s
I get taking Mason Graham last year but i had them taking Mbembu and they probably shouldve
I think the Saints found something in Shough, actually.
Except he is 26yrs old, they beat a Bucs team that plays down and underperforms.
Shough is absolutely solid
But im not passing on a 99 overall Fernando Mendoza for it
carson beck will be taken in the first.
People are sleepin on Beck
turns out to be one of the most over-hyped qb draft class ever .. every single tv talking head and all the draft “experts” got it wrong
I feel like at least one of Simpson or Moore should go this year. With how bad the options are up top, one should go high, and maybe in that sweet spot in the mid 1st where you’re not gonna be a Jet or Brown.
Moore would go top 3 if he declared. He could possibly go number one even. He has all the tools and can make all the throws. Deep sideline routes he has arm strength and touch. As a Raiders fan, I actually would prefer Moore over Mendoza, but I would take either in a heartbeat. If the Raiders lose out, we will have the number 1 pick.
Maye was always considered a top 10 pick. I remember Daniel Jeremiah early in the year saying hes right up there with Caleb. Maye did have an up and down sophomore year, but he was always expected to be at the top.
Daniels was the one that had a huge soar throughout the year with his big play as a super senior.
Maye was never going late 1.
I said all that year he was getting a bad rap because UNC lost a lot on that team his second year starting. Offensive line was horrrible, and he lost all his position players. He’s been better though than even I imagined. I had them Daniels, Maye, Williams, Penix in that order. Did not like McCarthy and did not like Nix, who looks like I expected and is benefiting greatly from his situation over how he actually plays.
Drake maye was talked about being the #1 overall pick during the season as well as during the draft process. Stop rewriting history to fit your narrative
New name* emerging…