DRAFT TRACKER 2026

Mendoza is a precision-based pocket passer whose game is built on rare accuracy and steady command in high-leverage moments. He lacks improvisational talent but proved to be a maestro playing the notes on the page with excellent rhythm and few mistakes as the season wore on. Mechanically sound and intensely accurate, Mendoza is fearless in attacking pre- and post-snap reads. He can feather throws into deep windows or between levels. He consistently hits moving targets in stride on digs, slants, outs and crossers. However, he needs plays to stay on schedule as his arm talent and velocity are fairly average. Third-and-long and red-zone execution stand out. Mendoza is big and tough but moves around the pocket with heavy shoes and limited escapability, which could invite excessive hits on Sundays. He can make life easier on his receivers and his play-caller, but above-average pass protection feels like a non-negotiable. He’s still young with football to learn and adversity to face, but his character, competitiveness and rapid ascension make it easier to project he will be a very good starter within his first three seasons.

Former five-star prospect who waited his turn at Alabama and raised his profile in a single season as the Tide’s starter. Simpson is mechanically sound from a footwork and release perspective, providing a favorable foundation to work from. He’s above average as a processor and decision-maker, but timing and anticipation remain works in progress. Arm talent and velocity are average, which limits his success. His repeatable process should help iron out ball placement inconsistencies the more he plays. Simpson is unfazed by shell coverages and is decisive when attacking intermediate zone pockets for chunk gains. He can break contain and move the sticks with his legs, too. Learning to cut bait and avoid sacks needs to be prioritized. One-year starters rarely “boom” so he’ll need a patient staff and a clear developmental roadmap to fill in the missing pieces.

Three-year starter who has weathered his share of ups and downs. Beck has NFL-caliber size and a lot of experience playing in high-leverage games. He recovered from 2024 UCL surgery on his throwing elbow, but he appeared to lose some drive velocity on deep balls and move throws. He works through progressions at a good pace and can throw with anticipation, but he loses track of safeties, throwing into hazardous spots. Beck’s decision-making showed more maturity in his final college season, but pressure can pull him back into old habits. He spins a catchable ball with a compact release, but spotty accuracy leads to pass breakups and a lower conversion rate on tight-window throws. Beck projects as a good backup with the potential to earn a starting job down the road, but he must continue developing game-managing instincts.

Undersized pocket passer with legitimate arm talent that has not been able to make up for some flaws in his game. Nussmeier is inconsistent diagnosing coverages and working through progressions, which limits his ability to counter what defenses show him. He plays with a gunslinger’s mindset and doesn’t consistently prioritize ball security. He has a compact release and can spin impressive throws from off-platform angles when needed. He will make a throw that makes you a believer in one series, but he often follows that up with a turnover that reignites the doubt. He has adequate mobility in the pocket and limits his sack count. Teams will need to balance Nussmeier’s mistakes and durability concerns against his potential to improve on his LSU output.

A long, rangy, dual-threat quarterback with upside, Green’s ability to generate explosive plays as a runner and passer helped keep his offense afloat. In-game consistency has been a sticking point, though. He has a long, unorthodox delivery and tends to baby too many throws. He can generate enough velocity and distance to stress defenses over the second and third levels. Green puts the ball in harm’s way at an alarming rate, which will translate to greater trouble against more talented defenders and more complicated coverage reads. His ability to win with his legs on called runs or pocket breaks pushes his value beyond his passing profile. Green’s upside will be tantalizing but his ceiling will only track with his growth as a passer.

Allar looks the part with prototypical size and an effortless arm that can make any NFL throw. However, inconsistent touch and ball placement are a major hindrance. In big moments and big games, he hasn’t proven he can rise to the occasion or sustain efficiency. The stats looked good in a conservative offense as a sophomore, but his play became more erratic once the playbook was opened up and more responsibility was put on his plate. He can be slow to process and get to his best option. He also struggles to adjust his pre-snap plan to fit the coverage. It’s worth noting Allar’s receivers struggled to win man-coverage matchups for him. Against zone, he makes anticipatory throws and beats coverage at an adequate clip. Mechanical fixes are possible, but confidence, poise and recognition must be the foundation of any rebound. Allar projects as an average backup with high-end traits.

Much was expected of Klubnik after a strong showing in 2024, but his play and production declined in 2025. He’s undersized but athletic and shows an ability to attack zone windows with adequate velocity over the first two levels. He can make some timing throws with anticipation when in rhythm. However, when the first read isn’t there, his field vision is average and he’s not good enough off-platform/out of structure to succeed at a high enough rate. The accuracy numbers to most areas of the field fall below the mark, but tape study shows a high drop count by his receivers. While his designed run production fell off in 2025, he remains pocket-mobile, avoiding sacks and exploiting rushing lanes. Maintaining poise and mechanics are essential, so finding a short passing attack with a competent run game feels like a must for Klubnik.

Pavia is a short, tough, productive quarterback who plays bigger than his measurables. He elevates those around him and was the main character in Vanderbilt’s shift from doormat to winning program. He’s improvisational, creating explosives that aren’t on the call sheet without playing reckless hero ball. He scans through progressions, throwing with intermediate accuracy, but impatience versus zone can lead to costly mistakes. He can stand and deliver or escape and win with his arm or legs when pressured. However, he lacks ideal mechanics and needs altered launch points for cleaner sight lines and release points. His deep ball is below average. He isn’t explosive or fast, but he’s a force multiplier for the run game, especially near the goal line. Efficiency and success rates check out across most situational filters, but he requires a more tailored scheme. Quarterbacks his size rarely make NFL rosters, but his competitiveness should be a plus as long as he’s willing to accept a role as a backup.

Compact, durable quarterback who has climbed levels twice and had success. Aguilar will be a 25-year-old rookie with three seasons of FBS experience. He played in a system heavy on play-action at Tennessee, but his touchdown production and overall consistency dipped after an explosive early stretch in 2025. He dissects zone defenses with adequate processing speed and decisiveness, but tight-window throws are a challenge. Whether on- or off-platform, he makes receivers work too hard for their catches with inconsistent placement and a lack of touch underneath. He’s tough in the pocket and proved he could make plays under pressure. Aguilar’s age shouldn’t work against him, but he must prove he can work through pro progressions and throw with better accuracy to earn a backup job.

Payton is a dual-threat, single-season FCS starter with good size. He’s a lefty with shoddy mechanics and subpar arm talent, but he still manages to deliver throws with touch to all three levels. He lacks drive velocity to dot throws into tight windows and might not have the timing needed to outfox pro zone defenders, though. He’s not shifty but excels when short yardage is needed and has build-up speed for explosive runs once he gets rolling. Payton projects as a QB3 and will require packaged plays to take advantage of his rushing ability until he proves himself a functional pocket passer.

Fifth-year senior with pro traits and arm talent. Robertson possesses a quick release and good velocity, but his subpar touch, timing and accuracy are notable on the first two levels. He’ll need better eye discipline to keep linebackers and safeties from jumping passing lanes. He’s composed in the face of pressure and can make off-platform throws when needed. He’s mobile but won’t beat many teams with extended plays. A shift away from spread-based reads to a more balanced attack featuring traditional tight ends could help, but Robertson’s struggles with accuracy and ball placement could be tough to overcome.

King will enter camp as a 25-year-old rookie after spending three years apiece at Texas A&M and Georgia Tech. He’s a long-legged, dual-threat quarterback who displayed admirable resilience in becoming a productive, winning player after suffering through unmet expectations at Texas A&M. He’s a grit-and-guts passer with subpar footwork and mechanics, but he finds ways to make plays when needed. He’s not nearly the passer he needs to be for the pro game, but his talent as a runner and mental toughness could give a boost to his chances.

Kaliakmanis displayed solid improvement in his play and production during his five college seasons, which he split between Minnesota and Rutgers. He’s a full-field progression reader who made his own protection calls. Kaliakmanis’ mechanics have improved but can still go awry when pressure mounts. He throws with adequate deep-ball touch but needs to become more consistent with his placement and timing over the first two levels. He’s not much of a threat to make plays with his legs. He has enough size, experience and football intelligence to eventually make a roster as a QB3.

Morton is a challenging evaluation given his injury history, but I studied his tape from 2024 and 2025 for my analysis here. He appears to lack the functional arm talent to push the ball into windows or beat safeties over the top into sideline buckets. He’s average with his anticipation and field-reading but is willing to get through progressions while trusting his pocket. He’s extremely tough and has the desired level of competitive spirit needed for the position. He can buy time for his receivers when needed and gets what he can when it’s time to run. Morton’s medicals will be critical, but it will likely be an uphill battle for him to make a roster.

Three-year starter with solid passing production relative to the lack of protection he saw in 2025. Altmyer has experience in pro passing concepts and shows decent eye discipline/patience to give the play a chance. He throws with adequate anticipation into zone windows but a slower operation time and lack of arm talent hurt his chances of beating tight man coverage. Edge pressure sneaks up on him and he hasn’t learned to avoid sacks often enough. Altmyer could have a tough time beating out pro backups for a roster spot.

Sixth-year senior who was unable to live up to the promise shown earlier in his career. Daniels hasn’t shown the ability to consistently dissect defenses and win with accuracy from the pocket. He has a decent arm but lacks consistent mechanics, timing and three-level ball placement. The vast majority of his interceptions were due to a lack of coverage recognition. Daniels’ running ability helps, but he appears ill-prepared for an NFL passing game.

Rare seventh-year senior with the size and production to warrant a deeper dive. Fagnano is a ball-distributing pocket passer with an average arm and inconsistent accuracy. He’s highly experienced, showing adequate command of his offense. He gets through his progressions with decent pace and can find his rhythm when working underneath. He’s not a chess master in terms of dissecting and attacking defenses but he has taken care of the football throughout his career. Fagnano is a little older and lacks above-average mobility, accuracy or arm talent to build around, so a practice squad might be his ceiling.