Jets, Cardinals Could Have Similar Approach To Top Of Draft
Crowded together at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jets and Cardinals find themselves in a bittersweet situation. With the second and third overall picks in the first round, each franchise has a great opportunity to add an elite talent, but while both squads have a need at the sport’s most important position, this year’s draft is not lining up to reward them with one to select with their top draft picks.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is widely considered the consensus QB2 of the draft class behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to go No.1 overall to the Raiders. Unfortunately for Simpson and both teams, taking the Crimson Tide passer at Nos. 2 or 3 overall would be seen as a huge reach, so if either team were interested in landing the second-best quarterback prospect, it might require some maneuvering for another slot in the first round.
The Jets currently hold pick Nos. 2, 16, 33, and according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, there’s belief New York will exit the second round of the draft with a pass rusher and a quarterback, but that could happen in several different ways. Per Rapoport, the Jets are widely expected to select a pass rusher with the second overall pick. Versatile Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese has been a popular projection for New York there, but Texas Tech’s David Bailey also recently met with the team.
Rapoport also expects them to do their homework on all the possible options available at No. 2. They recently hosted Reese’s running mate in the Buckeyes’ linebacking corps, Sonny Styles, for a top 30 visit. Per Rapoport, Styles, also an expected top 10 pick, has plans to visit the Bengals, as well, though his trip to Cincinnati will be a considered a local visit, not a top 30.
To address the quarterback position, a lot rides on where exactly the Jets value Simpson. If they value him enough, they could chance him being around for their 16th overall pick in the first round. If things are trending in a direction that feels as if Simpson won’t make it that far, they could utilize their first overall pick of the second round to potentially try to trade up and land the quarterback. Alternatively, if using the 16th pick still feels like a stretch for Simpson, New York may explore increasing their collection of draft picks with a move further back in the first round.
As for the Cardinals, Rapoport claims it would surprise him if they drafted Simpson third overall, but at the same time, he acknowledges that we’ve seen the precedent for it in the past. He asserts that Arizona could simply fall in love with Simpson enough to select him that early. More likely, though, the Cardinals may look back just a year to an example set by the Giants. Following the approach New York used to add an elite pass rusher before trading back into the first round for a quarterback, the Cardinals may opt to do the same.
Where Simpson could fall in the first round (or later) has been a huge topic of debate. Early conjecture speculated that it might be prudent to move up past the Steelers at 21 to land Simpson, while further evaluation suggested trading into the back end of the first round, just ahead of the Dolphins at 30, would be the likely move. In recent weeks, Simpson’s chances of landing with either team in the first round have gone way down. In a mid-March episode of The McShay Show podcast, Todd McShay of The Ringer guaranteed that Simpson would “for a fact” not be the Steelers’ pick at No. 21, suggesting the team has more of a third-round value on the Crimson Tide quarterback.
Though Simpson recently visited Miami, ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald) did “not believe (the) Dolphins are in the mix for him.” Additionally, all four teams have done homework on other passers in the draft. Notably, since March 21, Miami quarterback Carson Beck has met with each team. Beck and the other projected mid-round quarterbacks offer secondary options for the teams that don’t land Simpson and may end up being preferred options if their draft slot more appropriately fits their value.
These represent just a few of several possibilities that could play out at the end of the month. There is no shortage of quarterback needs in the NFL, but seeing the Giants land their potential franchise passer later on in the first round a year ago has opened the door for a number of mind games to play out. We’ll see how well these draft day decision makers can play poker down the stretch as we await the final weekend in April.
Cardinals, Dolphins To Host Miami QB Carson Beck
The 2026 draft class is not considered strong at the quarterback position. Projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza leads the pack with Ty Simpson seen as the clear QB2 who could also break into the first round. Beyond that, this year’s slate of prospects lacks another starting-caliber talent.
But quarterback-needy teams will always be willing to take swings on the most important position in the sport, especially on the second and third days of the draft. That is where former Georgia and Miami quarterback Carson Beck is projected to be selected.
As for his destination? The Steelers and Jets have already demonstrated interest, and the Cardinals and Dolphins can now be added to that list. Beck is scheduled to visit Arizona and Miami before April’s draft, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, both teams that could stand to add a young quarterback.
The Cardinals moved on from Kyler Murray earlier this month as expected. Gardner Minshew then joined Jacoby Brissett in the team’s quarterback room, giving them two veteran options to start this fall. But new head coach Mike LaFleur is surely looking for a long-term option under center. Next year’s draft offers a far richer well to draw from, but it would not hurt to take a shot on a less-heralded prospect in April.
The Dolphins are in a slightly different situation. They have a clear starter after signing Malik Willis to a three-year deal in free agency. But 2026 will be his first time in charge of an offense, and his small sample size of excellent play may not continue at a larger volume. Miami would be wise to bring in a younger passer behind Willis – who himself developed as a backup in Green Bay – to form into a backup or even the team’s next starter if Willis does not work out.
Beck would be an option for both teams. He brings plenty of experience at the highest level of college football, but that competition also exposed his lack of elite tools and potential. Landing in Arizona or Miami would not force him to step into a bigger role than he is ready for, but the two teams – especially the Cardinals – could offer more opportunities in the next three years of his rookie deal.
Jets Meet With Miami QB Carson Beck, Will Attend Pro Day
As the Jets move on from Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor and still see dead money in 2026 for Fields and Aaron Rodgers, the team is looking to the draft to help improve their quarterbacks room for cheap. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Jets general manager Darren Mougey met with Miami (FL) quarterback Carson Beck tonight and will attend the Hurricanes Pro Day in Coral Gables tomorrow.
In a trade with the Raiders, New York recently reunited with Geno Smith, who should serve as a bridge option at quarterback. Since New York isn’t in a position to draft the only perceived difference maker at the position this year, it appears the team will look to take a flyer on a mid-round passer in the hopes they can strike gold on a young quarterback without dedicating a first-round pick in doing so.
Some have tied the team to the prospect widely seen as the consensus QB2 of the draft, Alabama’s Ty Simpson. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. even mocked the two together, a move Cimini was not a fan of. In support of his opinion, Cimini cited the litany of quarterbacks drafted high after fewer than 17 starts at the collegiate level. Aside from former MVP Cam Newton, the stories of small-sample passers like Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, Anthony Richardson, Mitchell Trubisky, Blaine Gabbert, and Dwayne Haskins have all been tales of caution.
Cimini isn’t alone in his cautious outlook. There were several evaluators who wanted to see Simpson go back to school, especially after injury affected his play in the last half of the 2025 season. The same was said of Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who did decide to return to school and stands a better chance at becoming the top pick in the draft because of it.
Using that logic, it makes sense to see New York researching the group of arms just below Simpson. Instead of dedicating their 16th overall pick on Simpson, they could use a third- or fourth-round pick to take a cheaper chance at developing a young passer. The Jets hosted Penn State’s Drew Allar recently and followed up with Beck today. Beck and Allar have been grouped with LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier as the next level of prospects available at the position after Fernando Mendoza and Simpson.
Beck, unlike Simpson, has plenty of experience at the collegiate level. A backup for his first three years of school, Beck watched Stetson Bennett win back-to-back championships at Georgia before taking over as a starter himself. Unable to take the Bulldogs back to the title game in two years as the starter, Beck transferred to Miami and led the Hurricanes to their first title game appearance in 23 years. He ended his college career with a starting record of 37-6, throwing 88 touchdowns (and rushing for seven) and 32 interceptions.
Mougey and Co. will watch Beck and several other Hurricanes projected to hear their names called next month — offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa and pass rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor have all been projected as first-rounders — before continuing on to Ohio State on Wednesday, where a number of defenders — linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese and safety Caleb Downs — have been rumored options for the Jets at No. 2 overall.
Steelers Host Carson Beck, Cole Payton
The Steelers hosted quarterback prospects Carson Beck and Cole Payton for pre-draft visits this week, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, signaling their interest in some of this class’ less-heralded passers.
At the moment, Pittsburgh does not have a clear starting quarterback for the 2026 season or beyond. 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard did not play a snap as a rookie, and the Mason Rudolph experiment is probably not worth another try. 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers is poised to reunite with his old head coach Mike McCarthy, but he is hardly a long-term proposition for a Steelers team that has lacked a true franchise quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger‘s retirement in 2022.
But the 2026 draft class is weak at the position, for the third time in five years. The Steelers’ perennial winning seasons under Mike Tomlin always kept them out of range of a top prospect, and this year will be no different. Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to be taken by the Raiders with the first overall pick; the consensus QB2, Ty Simpson, should be available to the Steelers at No. 21, but is not seen as a surefire NFL starter after just one year leading Alabama’s offense.
Pittsburgh may instead look to add another developmental arm to their quarterback room in April. Beck, 23, started for two seasons at Georgia with SEC-highs in attempts, completions, and yards in 2024. He doubled his interception total from six to 12 the following year, leading the conference, causing him to transfer to Miami to rebuild his draft stock. Beck led the ACC with a 72.4% completion percentage, but threw another 12 interceptions including a game-ender in January’s national championship loss to Indiana.
Payton earned North Dakota State’s starting job in 2025 and led the Bison to an undefeated 12-0 season, though they fell to Illinois State in the second round of the FCS playoffs. The 23-year-old only averaged 209 passing yards per game with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions, but he was the highest-graded quarterback in college football by Pro Football Focus. Payton also put up an excellent testing performance at the Combine, ranking among the top three quarterbacks in every drill.
Pryor also notes that the Steelers hosted Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez for a visit. He led the Big 12 in solo tackles in each of the last two seasons with an FBS-high seven forced fumbles in 2025. The Nagurski and Bednarik winner did not post elite numbers in Indianapolis, but still had a solid all-around day with the fastest three-cone and short shuttle numbers at his position. With questions about his athleticism answer, Rodriguez has risen to No. 45 on NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s rankings and could very well hear his name called on Day 2 of April’s draft.
QB-Needy Teams Have Options Through Draft, Free Agency
It’s really not a surprise at this point in time, but reports indicate that Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza getting drafted No. 1 overall by the Raiders is all but a sure thing. Mendoza cemented himself as the likely first overall pick even before the Hoosiers’ championship run through the College Football Playoff secured his Heisman win, and as soon as Las Vegas secured the top pick in the draft, Mendoza’s move to Nevada became a near certainty. 
Nothing is ever 100% sure, though, and there is always a possibility that the Raiders look at next year’s wide crop of quarterback prospects and an historic trade offer for the No. 1 overall pick and choose that route.
Overwhelmingly, though, pundits across the media spectrum believe that Vegas will retain their top overall pick and make things official with Mendoza. During an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer dropped a number of quotes, saying, “I would be stunned if (Mendoza) didn’t go No. 1, right? I think it’s highly unlikely he goes anywhere but Vegas.”
Over at ESPN, a crew of reporters polled several NFL executives on the topic at the Senior Bowl, Shrine Bowl, and Super Bowl, and eight executives believed the Raiders would keep the pick, while no votes were tallied against that possibility. Separately, ESPN’s Rich Cimini asked Jets general manager Darren Mougey about the possibility of reaching out to Vegas to inquire about moving up, and he stated pretty plainly, “I don’t think that’s happening.” Courtney Cronin, another ESPN contributor, added to the crowd yesterday with a piece on Mendoza’s meeting with the Raiders and his excitement at the prospect of potentially being mentored by minority team owner Tom Brady.
Now, for teams with a need at quarterback not located in Sin City, the other obvious solutions are to go after one of the top free agent quarterbacks available — namely, Green Bay’s Malik Willis or Indianapolis’ Daniel Jones — or attempt to trade for San Francisco’s Mac Jones. After impressive 2025 contributions, both Joneses are expected to stay home, though, and only one team will get to claim Willis as a solution, but there is still a solvable equation for the teams that remain.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the teams that are still looking to acquire a passer after the above dust settles will be able to look toward either the litany of veteran quarterbacks with starting experience available for cheap or the numerous rookie passers who may be worth taking a flyer on or some combination of both.
Rapoport points to several veteran former starters who are thought to be release candidates and who may, in the same vein as Russell Wilson, be able to play for the veteran minimum, thanks to the added security of guaranteed money from the teams who may let them go. This situation would apply to players like Kirk Cousins, Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Fields, and Geno Smith.
Teams can sign one of these quarterbacks to audition for a Jones-like comeback opportunity then pair them with a young, rookie option that may be available later on in the 2026 NFL Draft. After Mendoza, Alabama’s Ty Simpson has drawn some first-round interest, but there is a perceived drop off in the arms that follow. The next names on the list — LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Miami’s Carson Beck, Penn State’s Drew Allar, etc. — could fall anywhere in the draft.
Some see 2026 much like the 2022 NFL Draft, in which Kenny Pickett was the only Day 1 quarterback, and the next passer was taken in the third round. Others believe 2026 could be more like 2018 or 2024, when two passers were widely viewed as first-round talents but several others drifted into the first round based on the number of teams looking for answers at the position.
With many already looking forward to the quarterback prospects of the 2027 NFL Draft, we may see multiple teams opt to employ the services of a veteran starter alone or combined with a promising rookie. These decisions will play out over the next few weeks as the veterans hit free agency after release and draft grades are determined for rookies, but there are several options available to teams looking for quarterback help for 2026.
NFL Evaluators Down On 2026 QB Draft Class
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.
An Early Look At 2026 NFL Draft QB Options
2025 was a proclaimed down year for quarterback prospects in the draft. New Titans quarterback Cam Ward was certainly deserving of his first-round status, but no other passers really commanded a first-round grade. Jaxson Dart ended up slipping into the back end of the first thanks to a trade up by the Giants, but Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, and Shedeur Sanders all slipped down to later rounds in Green Bay. 
While the lack of elite talent behind Ward certainly contributed to lessened interest in reaching for passers in the first round, the potential quality of the 2026 NFL Draft class may have played a part, as well. This is especially apparent with teams like the Browns and Rams, who didn’t acquire first-round passers this year but did acquire 2026 first-round picks. Those two picks in 2026 will come in handy as Jeff Howe of The Athletic tells us that “personnel departments have been optimistic for months about the group” of passers that could declare for the next draft.
One of the main factors that could contribute to a strong quarterback class in 2026 is the status of Texas passer Arch Manning. Grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch’s tenure as the Longhorns’ starter has been highly anticipated as new Dolphins passer Quinn Ewers closed out his career.
Manning has shown plenty of promise in limited time. In 12 games (two starts), Manning has completed 66 percent of his passes for 939 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions, adding four more scores on the ground. It will be interesting to see if the youth comes out of school after only three years. Though the grandfather, Archie, came out of Ole Miss after only three seasons to go second overall in the 1971 NFL Draft, he highly encouraged Peyton and Eli to stay four years apiece at their respective alma maters. Enough hype off of a strong season may be enough to lure Arch out of Austin next year, but there’s always a chance he returns to campus and diminishes the 2026 class a bit.
Even without Manning, though, there’s still plenty of talent in next year’s class. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Penn State’s Drew Allar have consistently been billed as the next big NFL arms in college football, projecting consistently as future first-round picks. Unfortunately, the 2024 season did little to support either’s claim for a top draft spot.
After an impressive performance (395 passing yards, three touchdowns) in the Tigers’ bowl game victory over Wisconsin in 2023 (his first start), Nussmeier returned to Baton Rouge to start all 13 games in his redshirt junior season with plenty of hype. In some respects, he absolutely delivered. His 4,052 passing yards were second in the SEC this year behind only Dart (4,279), second in school history behind only Joe Burrow (5,671), and 10th in SEC history. Dart accomplished his number with 127 fewer pass attempts, though, while Burrow threw for 1,619 more yards on just two more attempts. Nussmeier also tied with Ewers and Carson Beck for the most interceptions (12) in the SEC last year. If Nussmeier can develop a more efficient passing game with more looks downfield while limiting turnovers, he may be able to retain his first-round stock next year. It would also benefit him to develop a bit more mobility; he currently has -96 career rushing yards (sacks count as negative rushing attempts in college).
At one point a five-star recruit and the top quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class, according to 247Sports, Allar has, so far, failed to live up to the hype in Happy Valley. After appearing in 10 games as a true freshman, Allar became the Nittany Lions’ full-time starter as a sophomore in 2023. He only completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,631 yards that season, but he became the second quarterback in FBS history to throw for 25 or more touchdowns and two or fewer interceptions after Hendon Hooker did so with 27 and two, respectively, in 2022. Allar improved his completion percentage (66.5) and passing yardage (3,327) in 16 games in 2024 (only a slight rise in yards per game), but his 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions indicated a step back. He does boast some rushing ability, though, with 560 yards and 11 touchdowns in three years. Penn State hasn’t been known for big passing numbers as they’ve transitioned from Trace McSorley to Sean Clifford to Allar, but one would expect Allar’s five-star talent to elevate the passing attack a bit more than it has. If he continues to put up lackluster numbers, he’ll still likely hear his name called in the draft, it just may not be in the first round.
One passer who may have passed both Nussmeier and Allar with his 2024 performance was Clemson’s Cade Klubnik. Another five-star recruit, and the second-ranked quarterback under Allar in the 2022 recruiting class, Klubnik was incredibly underwhelming in his first two years with the Tigers. Last year, though, Klubnik passed for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns, and only six interceptions while rushing for 463 yards and seven more scores. His performance led Clemson to an ACC Championship and a College Football Playoff berth. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded Klubnik as the eighth-best passer last season in the NCAA, over both Nussmeier (23rd) and Allar (32nd). 
Another name drawing plenty of first-round interest is South Carolina dual-threat quarterback LaNorris Sellers. Like Manning, and unlike Nussmeier, Allar, and Klubnik, Sellers will only be a redshirt sophomore next season, but he showed flashes of serious star potential in 2024 that has scouts licking their chops. Barely registering any time as a true freshman, Sellers entered this past fall as the Gamecocks’ starter. Missing a game and a half with injury, Sellers put up a 65.6 percent completion rate, 2,534 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while rushing for 674 yards and seven more scores. He got off to a slow start, but starting with the team’s seventh matchup of the year, Sellers blew up, averaging 249 passing yards per game and 65 rushing yards per game while scoring 18 touchdowns (14 passing, four rushing) and throwing only three picks. The team ended the regular season on a six-game winning streak before losing its bowl game.
Two other names that scouts are dog-earring early are Nico Iamaleava and Fernando Mendoza, who have both transferred to new schools for 2025. Iamaleava is heading to UCLA after two seasons in Tennessee. Becoming a full-time starter for the Volunteers as a redshirt freshman, Iamaleava helped Tennessee win 10 games. His passing numbers (2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns, five interceptions) and rushing numbers (358 yards, three touchdowns) were only small contributions, though, for a team that was carried by a strong run game and defense. Still, Iamaleava’s ball security should be valued on a Bruins team that saw Ethan Garbers throw 11 interceptions in a disappointing senior campaign last year.
Mendoza is heading to Indiana after nearly two full years as the starter at Cal. Mendoza took over as the Golden Bears’ starter in the sixth game of the team’s 2023 campaign and started every game for the rest of the year. He started 11 games for Cal in 2024, averaging 273.1 yards per game for 16 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He also displays some decent mobility out of the pocket. Mendoza and former Indiana passer Kurtis Rourke will essentially switch cities with Rourke landing with the 49ers in the draft. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, Mendoza could have a breakout year with the Hoosiers.
And these are just the preseason names marked with first-round potential. At this time last year, Ward was considered a likely Day 3 option. Howe notes options like Ward’s successor at Miami, Beck, Dart’s successor at Ole Miss, Austin Simmons, Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, Baylor’s Sawyer Robinson, and Kansas State’s Avery Johnson all as names that could skyrocket up the board with strong 2025 campaigns. Another one of Ward’s successors, John Mateer, who followed Ward as the starter at Washington State last year, is primed to be a contender, as well, in 2025 after transferring to Oklahoma.
For now, this is a ton of speculation. With the nature of the draft and transfer portal, so many of these quarterbacks’ teams will look extremely different in 2025, and it could really affect their performances as a result, potentially making 2026’s quarterback crop as thin as 2025’s. Small school or FCS passers could force their way into the conversation, as well. Or any number of these players could defer to the 2027 NFL Draft and make that year’s class even stronger. Regardless, teams like the Browns and Rams, with extra first-round picks next year, are feeling much more optimistic about the quarterback depth of the 2026 NFL Draft.
QB Carson Beck Withdraws Draft Declaration, Will Transfer To Miami
The NFL draft stock of former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has been a rollercoaster ride in the last few years. From initially projecting as a first-round pick to falling out of the first round, Beck’s downwards trajectory didn’t prevent him from declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft. Beck would then make headlines after making a decision to try and change that trajectory. 
Beck made news yesterday when he announced that he would withdraw his draft declaration and enter the transfer portal. The rumor mill was abuzz with links to Coral Gables, where Beck’s girlfriend and social media influencer, Hanna Cavinder, plays basketball for the Hurricanes. Those short-lived rumors turned into reality when Beck tweeted out his commitment to transfer to Miami today.
Beck won two national championship rings in Athens while backing up Stetson Bennett. In 2023, Beck took over as the starter for the Bulldogs and led the SEC with 3,941 passing yards, good for third in the nation, while throwing 24 touchdowns to only six interceptions. We’ve heard recent rumors that, should Beck have declared after that first season, he would’ve been among the six other quarterbacks drafted in the first round last year.
Instead, Beck returned to Athens, where he once again racked up strong passing yardage (3,485) and threw for 28 touchdowns but doubled his interception total from his previous year as a starter. Beck also suffered a UCL injury in the team’s SEC Championship victory over Texas that required surgery and would keep him from participating in most, if not all, pre-draft activities. Still, on December 28, Beck declared for the draft, forgoing the additional year of eligibility granted to him because of COVID-19.
A disappointing redshirt senior season combined with the season-ending elbow injury caused Beck to reconsider his intentions to go to the NFL, causing him to rescind his name from consideration for the draft. Beck immediately became the No. 2 player in ESPN’s transfer rankings, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Max Olson, before coming off the board and announcing his commitment to Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes.
While this does make him a non-factor in the 2025 NFL Draft, it certainly makes things interesting for the 2026 NFL Draft. With Beck committing to transfer to Miami after declaring for the draft, his path to the pros is currently mirroring that of 2025’s projected QB1, Cam Ward, who similarly transferred to Miami from Washington State after initially declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. Ward went 10-3 with the Canes finishing second in the nation in passing yards and leading the nation in passing touchdowns while only throwing seven interceptions this past year.
Beck will hope to garner a similar career boost by following Ward’s route through Coral Gables to the NFL. While three of Miami’s top four receivers (Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George, and Sam Brown) and their top tight end (Elijah Arroyo) have all declared for the draft and the fourth top receiver (Isaiah Horton) is transferring to Alabama, Beck’s commitment is expected to draw interest from transfer portal receivers. The Hurricanes are planning to reload their offense from the transfer portal with the intent of putting out two first-round quarterbacks into the NFL in a row, should Beck be up to the challenge.
2025 QB Class Generating More Skepticism
As the NFL regular season comes to a close and college prospects are making their final amateur appearances, focus for many NFL teams is shifting to the 2025 NFL Draft. While many sources seem to have narrowed the field of potential first-round quarterbacks to two players, there are reportedly some scouts who believe taking any quarterback on Day 1 “would be a mistake,” per Dane Brugler of The Athletic. 
According to a post from Brugler, an AFC scout commented on the matter, saying, “Man, I feel bad for the teams trying to find one (quarterback) in this group.”
There are two obvious options for teams currently looking at a first-round quarterback: Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. After Ward and Sanders, there’s a big perceived dropoff in quarterback talent in this year’s draft class with other prospects like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart all being projected as Day 2 or 3 picks. Georgia passer Carson Beck, who recently declared for the draft, forgoing one final year of eligibility (granted because of COVID-19), was at one point viewed as a first-round option, but after a disappointing redshirt season and UCL surgery, his draft stock took a considerable hit.
As for Ward and Sanders, it’s hard to imagine a world in which neither prospect hears their name called on the first night of the draft. The Giants sent general manager Joe Schoen and director of player personnel Tim McDonnell to the Pop-Tarts Bowl to watch Ward play in the first half this past weekend. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Raiders assistant general manager Champ Kelly was in attendance, as well. Schoen, along with scouts from his Giants and the Falcons, was also in attendance to watch Sanders take on the Utes about a month and a half ago.
The Giants (currently set to pick fourth overall) are one of six teams inside the projected top-10 picks of the draft with an interest in adding a quarterback. The Titans (No. 2), Browns (No. 3), Panthers (No. 6), Jets (No. 7), and Raiders (No. 8) have all been viewed as possibilities to go after a first-round passer, as well.
The need to fill such a crucial role as quarterback has a tendency to inflate some prospects’ draft stocks. In the 2024 NFL Draft, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and according to some sources, Drake Maye were all viewed as the likely first-round passers for most of the draft process. As the draft drew nearer and it became more obvious that some teams would need additional help at quarterback, prospects like Michael Penix, J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix all found their draft stock being bumped from Day 2 or 3 to Day 1.
Because this phenomenon is likely to take effect once again this year, even if Ward and Sanders were not considered first-round options — which, to be clear, many scouts do view them to be — they would still likely find themselves on stage at Lambeau Field on April 24. In order to simulate this effect, some have claimed that this year’s versions of Ward and Sanders would’ve ranked as QB4 and QB5, in any order, in last year’s quarterback crop, placing them firmly in the top ten draft picks for that class, as well. In fact, the often-desperate need for young quarterback talent may even bring players like Beck, Milroe, or Dart back into first-round consideration with Ward and Sanders.
There’s still plenty of time until we arrive at Day 1 of the draft. Between now and then, we will see College Football Playoff performances, the NFL Scouting Combine, and pro days around the country. Many quarterbacks and other prospects will see their draft stock rise and fall throughout the next few months. At this point, though, Ward and Sanders seem to have cemented themselves as top five picks, regardless of what some scouts believe their value to be.
NFL Injury Updates: Fashanu, Dolphins, Beck
The Jets will be without rookie swing tackle Olu Fashanu for the remainder of the season, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The 2024 first-round pick suffered a foot injury in Sunday’s loss to the Rams and was taken on a cart directly to the locker room, forgoing the blue medical tent. According to Ryan Dunleavy of New York Post Sports, Fashanu was seen on crutches after the game as his camp declined interviews.
Fashanu was taken with the Jets’ first overall pick last year, following a trade one spot back so that Minnesota could take Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. He was the third offensive tackle taken in the draft, behind Notre Dame’s Joe Alt and Alabama’s JC Latham, both of whom have been full-time starters for the Chargers and Titans, respectively, as rookies.
Fashanu was drafted to be an offensive tackle for the future in New York after the team signed two 33-year-old veteran tackles in free agency. It didn’t take long for the future to come as injuries to the Jets’ aging bookends opened the door to playing time for Fashanu. A knee injury to Morgan Moses in Weeks 4 and 5 allowed Fashanu to make his first two starts at right tackle after playing mostly special teams in his first three games. Then, in Week 11, left tackle Tyron Smith was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury, and Fashanu has started on the blindside ever since.
The 22-year-old still has some developing to do, he ranked 61st of 79 graded offensive tackles this season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), but the starting experience was good for him to get. New York doesn’t have a third left tackle listed on their depth chart, but depth right tackle Max Mitchell, a fourth-round pick from two years ago, filled in for Fashanu after the injury. Mitchell had 12 starts in 20 appearances over his first two years and will likely earn his first start of this season next week.
Here are a few other injury updates from the NFL world:
- The Dolphins have had to get creative at long snapper this season, employing Zach Triner, Matt Overton, and Jake McQuaide at different points of the season in the absence of Blake Ferguson. Ferguson, the team’s primary long snapper since 2020, played in the first five games of the season before being placed on the reserve/non-football injury list in October. The team has released no information on what’s going on with Ferguson, and special teams coordinator Danny Crossman claimed it would be “illegal” to reveal what he’s going through, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Whatever it is, Crossman says he hopes it will put Ferguson’s mind at rest that he will not be snapping for the remainder of the season. McQuaide, signed to the practice squad eight days ago and the active roster a day later, will be filling in for the remainder of the year.
- Additionally in Miami, head coach Mike McDaniel said that wide receiver Grant DuBose is “in good spirits” following the head injury that hospitalized him in the team’s Week 15 trip to Houston, per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. DuBose was placed on IR two days later, but McDaniel confirmed that he would not be playing again this year.
- This isn’t quite yet injury news for the NFL, though it will affect the subject’s stock in the 2025 NFL Draft. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck underwent successful surgery on his UCL yesterday. According to Field Yates at ESPN, he is expected to begin throwing again in the spring, which makes it sound as if he’ll miss most, if not all, pre-draft activities.