It's never too early to look ahead to the next NFL Draft, and with the dust settling from this year's event in Green Bay, the gaze of prospect evaluation is now turning to the 2026 class.
This year's quarterback class didn't move the needle much, but next year's crop of top passers is loaded with sky-high potential, even if much of it has still yet to be realized.
Here are the most promising quarterback prospects eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft:
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
This is the guy I'm most excited about in this group. Sellers has all the physical traits of the prototypical modern NFL quarterback, with a big frame and an ideal combination of arm talent and athleticism. He's got the rare, unteachable knack for making big plays happen when things break down around him and he's forced to create, along with flashes of layering throws to every level of the field and beating defenses over the top with the deep ball.
Turning those flashes into consistency will be the key for Sellers in 2025, as it will be for most of the guys on this list. If he's able to develop his accuracy, decision-making and anticipation to be the standard of his play, Sellers could absolutely put himself in the conversation to be the No. 1 overall pick in 2026.
Drew Allar, Penn State
A big pocket passer with an even bigger arm, Allar can make every throw from a strength standpoint, but he's still figuring out how to effectively translate than elite trait into consistent success as a precision passer. There was some upward movement in his development last season, including marked improvement in the accuracy department, which is a hopeful sign.
If he can take another big step forward in that development this season, and show NFL scouts he can be trusted to make sound decisions with the ball, Allar could also vault himself into consideration as the top quarterback prospect in the 2026 class.
Arch Manning, Texas
Obviously the biggest name in this group, Manning is also the biggest wild-card, for multiple reasons. As a player, Manning hasn't had much of an opportunity to show off the full breadth of his skill set and potential, getting little action in relief of Quinn Ewers up to this point. That said, there have been a few flashes that have lived up to the hype.
There's a ton of projection involved here, but Manning clearly has the physical tools to be an elite quarterback at the highest level. Whether or not he chooses to declare for next year's draft is still a big question mark, regardless of his on-field performance, and that will obviously be a factor. But as a quarterback, here's hoping he meets the high expectations now that he's a full-time starter.
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Nussmeier is the guy I'm the least sold on who seems to be getting the most buzz an a potential No. 1 overall pick in 2026. He doesn't have the high-end arm talent or athleticism of the previous names on this list, but while while his 2024 film was inconsistent, there were plenty of moments that could convince an NFL team that he can be a franchise passer at the next level.
The variance in his play needs to be less stark in 2025, and he lacks the ceiling that comes along with elite physical traits. That said, teams who value toughness and the ability to win from the pocket and navigate through traffic in those tight spaces could be a fan of his potential, banking on what he does well over what he doesn't bring to the table.
Cade Klubnik, Clemson
A highly touted recruit coming out of high school, Klubnik struggled out of the gate for the Tigers, but made huge strides last season that prove he's still got tons of potential as an NFL prospect. For just about every valuable trait you want in a potential franchise passer, Klubnik provided evidence last season that he can check those boxes.
The task for Klubnik now becomes proving last year wasn't a fluke, but a true leap in his development that will be reflected in him picking up where he left off and building on that improvement in 2025. If that happens, it won't be surprising if he ends up being a first-round lock in the 2026 draft.
Rocco Becht, Iowa State
The most underrated player in this group, Becht should be getting more attention as a potential first-round prospect in next year's draft class. Listed at 6-1, 210 pounds, Becht is somewhat undersized for an NFL quarterback prospect, but those measurements don't translate to limitations that show up on film in a tangible way.
Instead, you see a passer with enough arm strength to push the ball to every level of the field, who wins with anticipation, accuracy, and sound decision-making, and has the poise to navigate muddy pockets and make clutch throws in big moments. The physical tools may not be off the charts here, but Becht checks every box when it comes to the most important aspects of playing the position at a high level, and that should translate to his draft value next year.
Best of the Rest
Taylen Green, Arkansas
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
Aidan Chiles, Michigan State
John Mateer, Oklahoma