Dane Brugler's 2026 NFL Draft summer positional rankings: Quarterbacks

New York Times

a day ago

Editor's note: This is the 11th (and final) installment of Dane Brugler's 2026 NFL Draft Summer Scouting series. Previous rankings: Edge rushers | Running backs | Defensive tackles | Tight ends | Linebackers | Interior offensive linemen | Cornerbacks | Offensive tackles | Safeties | Wide receivers
The last two quarterback draft classes have been stark opposites. After six quarterbacks were selected in the top 12 of the 2024 NFL Draft, the 2025 class saw a significant drop-off in overall quality.
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The fourth QB taken in 2024 was at No. 8; the fourth QB taken in 2025 came in at No. 92. Aside from the ascension of Cam Ward, it was a struggle both last summer and throughout the process to find quarterbacks who projected as clear NFL starters (or were worth getting excited about in general).
The 2026 quarterback class might not be on the level of what we saw in 2024, but it looks much more promising than last year. It will be interesting to see if that narrative holds throughout the season and leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, especially with Arch Manning unlikely to declare early.
Given his last name, it should come as no surprise that Manning looks very natural playing quarterback. From the setup and reads to the execution, his operation is rhythmic and straight out of the how-to-play-quarterback manual. Regardless of the action required, Manning keeps his feet, base and eyes on the same page and without panic, which allows him to stay on time and anticipate.
This second-and-8 play against Mississippi State has numerous Steve Sarkisian staples (play action from a condensed formation with pre-snap motion). Manning does a great job of feeling the frontside blitz and gracefully dips and jabs while keeping his eyes downfield to avoid the pressure, as the running back does just enough to shield the pocket.
It looks like Manning peeks at the post route initially before working to the crosser and lofting a perfect ball. Yes, the receiver is open — this would still be a first down if the placement was slightly off — but the accuracy gives him a chance to turn and tack on 15 more yards after the catch.
The subtle pocket movement and delivery are impressively in rhythm and composed, especially for a player with so few college reps.
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Manning has two starts to his name and just 95 career pass attempts at the college level. If his last name were 'Smith' and he were a three-star recruit instead of a five-star blue-chipper, would he still appear this high in early draft rankings? Who knows. However, what he has put on film so far has been very impressive.
Now, scouts need to see it consistently each week, especially against the top opponents on Texas' schedule.
There is plenty of belief that Manning won't make the NFL jump until 2027 — both of his uncles (Peyton and Eli) played four seasons in college. His grandfather Archie Manning went so far as to say 'he'll be at Texas' beyond this season.
If his hometown New Orleans Saints earn the No. 1 pick, though, could that change Arch Manning's decision-making process? Maybe. If Texas wins the national championship, would he feel compelled to make the jump? Possibly. There will be a lot of factors that go into his decision.
Regardless of when Manning enters the NFL, the early teases of his talent suggest he is headed for big things. With one of the top play callers in the sport and a ton of talent around him in Austin, Manning is set up for a 2025 season in which he can match the lofty hype.
Sellers isn't a one-dimensional quarterback — he exhibits both touch and velocity as a passer. However, his superpower is the way he creates conflict for defenses with the ball in his hands.
Sellers consistently makes the first (and often the second and third) man miss, and he does it in different ways. He is unbelievably strong and consistently shrugs off contact with his strong base, but he's also quick and agile to elude tacklers. His explosiveness as a ball carrier allows the South Carolina offense to run a variety of quarterback-designed runs (speed option, outside pin-pulls).
Let's set the stage for this play: The Gamecocks are down four (14-10) to archrival Clemson with just under a minute left in the game and facing third-and-15 (following a false start) from the Clemson 20.
It looks like Sellers wants the shallow tight end crosser, with the three routes to the left of the formation essentially clearing out that side of the field. However, the defender closes enough space that Sellers doesn't like it. Instead, he steps up in the pocket, sees a lot of available grass and shows off his explosiveness to run away from pursuit.
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Clemson even keeps a spy defender home to prevent this type of play, but it doesn't matter. South Carolina wins.
Sellers, the SEC Freshman of the Year, had an outstanding first season as a starter. However, it was often apparent that it was his first season, both in his play and in the offense's demands on him.
Despite playing behind poor pass protection, Sellers has been a patient passer from the pocket — although, sometimes too patient with his decision-making. He needs to be more decisive, trusting what he sees and throwing with anticipation.
The clip above shows a game-winning play and should be celebrated. However, at the next level, you'll want to see him keep his eyes elevated when stepping up in the pocket to continue working through reads. Were he able to reset his base and vision in that clip above, Sellers would have found the slot corner route coming open in the end zone.
I try to focus strictly on draft-eligible college players. Still, it was impossible not to be impressed last season with Sellers' dynamic skills while studying other prospects on the Gamecocks' offense. And I came away even more optimistic after putting his play under a microscope this summer.
He is still figuring out several areas as a passer. However, Sellers (who just turned 20 this summer) is composed and smart, with striking physical gifts. There are numerous highlights from the 2024 season when he looks like vintage Cam Newton with his Houdini-like acts to escape trouble.
Though understandably raw, Sellers has put examples on film of him winning in structure and from the pocket. Hopefully, another year of maturation and better pass protection will increase the frequency of those moments. If Sellers takes another step in his development as a passer, plenty of teams will be buyers in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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I don't think Nussmeier boasts any truly 'elite' physical traits, but his command of the offense expands the ways he can be effective. Before the snap, he makes checks at the line and communicates pressures with his offensive line. Post-snap, Nussmeier comfortably operates around the noise and eliminates things efficiently to get through his third and fourth reads before finding the backside-in or check-down option.
His passing anticipation and pocket presence are both outstanding. Nussmeier is a good-enough athlete when he is flushed to extend plays, work off platform and pick up yards with his legs.
On this third-and-7 play versus Oklahoma, Nussmeier reads the entire field and rips a pinpoint strike to tight end Mason Taylor for the first down. Watching his eyes, he starts to his right with the whip route, followed by the receiver on the shallow cross, then the motion receiver on the inside route. Taylor is his fourth read, on the deep crosser, and Nussmeier fires a strike along the sideline.
This play doesn't happen without pass protection — LSU has six to block four. However, Nussmeier shows outstanding command with the balance in his footwork while working his progressions and making an accurate throw to the sideline. The ball pops off his hand.
Though I love his command of the offense, Nussmeier has a few decisions each game that are head-scratchers — and you hope they aren't backbreakers (see the second half against Texas A&M). I love his competitiveness, but it can be a double-edged sword because he can throw you in or out of games.
At times, Nussmeier doesn't appear to see all 11 defenders and forces throws into heavy coverage. Other times, he considers the risk but is too willing to put the ball in a dangerous spot. After posting 12 interceptions and five fumbles last season, Nussmeier needs to do a better job protecting the football.
I took a ton of heat last October for tabbing Nussmeier as my 'early' QB1 for the 2025 NFL Draft. However, in a lackluster class, the Louisiana native showcased the most translatable traits among the draft-eligible quarterbacks, even if the results weren't always perfect.
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Instead of taking the NFL off-ramp, the 'Nuss Bus' returned to school — but he would have finished as my No. 2 quarterback in the 2025 class (behind Ward). Based on how NFL teams feel about him, I think he would have been the second passer drafted.
If you blended the skill sets of Tony Romo and Baker Mayfield, the result would look something like Nussmeier. Aside from the physical talent and mannerisms, his toughness, energy and command of how to play the position are reasons to be optimistic about his projection. With a former quarterback and current NFL offensive coordinator for a father (Doug Nussmeier), there isn't much mystery about how he developed his feel for the position and football IQ.
I debated which direction to go for 'best trait,' which is a compliment, because Mendoza does a lot of things well. Physically, he looks the part and moves with adequate feet, both in the pocket and when picking up yards with his legs. He has a fluid, quick stroke with the strong arm to rip strikes down the field. Mentally, his alert processing, eye discipline and ability to read the entire field should translate well to the pro game.
However, I was most impressed with Mendoza's feel for layering the ball and touching up his passes. He knows where his one-on-one matchups are and can put the ball in a spot for his receivers to make plays.
He plays with poise and doesn't lose his cool in late-game moments, but Mendoza will rush from time to time and force decisions with negative results. He was one of just four FBS quarterbacks sacked at least 40 times last season (and subpar pass blocking at Cal heavily influenced those excitable tendencies).
Every quarterback gets frazzled on occasion, but scouts want to see better control and execution from Mendoza in those situations.
Mendoza is a super-interesting prospect, both on and off the field. A native of Miami with a deep Cuban heritage (his grandparents immigrated to the U.S.), he is the son of former college athletes and grew up wanting to play quarterback for the Hurricanes. However, his hometown team didn't recruit him, so he initially committed to Yale before Cal entered the mix.
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Mendoza worked his way up the depth chart in 2023 and impressed scouts last season as a redshirt sophomore, despite an inconsistent supporting cast in Cal's quick-game offense.
Now under the tutelage of Curt Cignetti at Indiana, Mendoza is primed to take another jump in his development. He is a very well-rounded quarterback and checks boxes — both physically and mentally — that have evaluators excited for his NFL future. Though he starts the season as my QB4, he isn't far behind the players in front of him. He gives off Jared Goff vibes, and the first round is a realistic goal.
With his size, arm talent and functional mobility, Allar has physical traits that immediately grab your attention. Despite having 35 1/2-inch arms (a rare arm length for a quarterback; only one QB with 35-plus-inch arms has been drafted the past two decades), Allar gets the ball out quickly with a fluid release and unforced velocity. While routinely reading the entire field, he cleanly works to backside progressions and can fit the ball into tight windows because of how the ball shoots off his hand.
Against West Virginia, Allar shows velocity and anticipation on this scissors concept against zone. He starts his eyes in the middle of the field to not tip off the linebacker and then drives a pinpoint pass to the post before the coverage can react.
On the second clip versus USC, the receiver doesn't sell the vertical and drifts into his inside break at 15 yards without any explosion, making it easy for the cornerback to stay connected. Despite that, Allar zips a strike with timing so the defender is unable to affect the catch point.
When he stays on time in his drops and can plant his back foot to drive the football with pace, Allar is an impressive passer. However, when mistimed reads or pressure affect his drop rhythm, his footwork suffers, resulting in sailed throws or erratic ball placement. Because NFL defenses will expose that lack of consistency, Allar needs to show better precision in his third year as a starter to sell himself as a first-round pick.
A five-star quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class, Allar became Penn State's starter as a sophomore and made noticeable strides last season as a junior. Had he declared early, he would've had a good chance to be the second quarterback taken in the 2025 draft class. Instead, he (wisely) returned for his final season in Happy Valley — although the offense will look different without TE Tyler Warren, the centerpiece of the 2024 offense.
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However, Allar has familiarity with his play caller, as offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki enters his second year in that role. And Penn State boasts the best offensive line it has had in years, along with upgraded talent at the wide receiver position and arguably the best running back duo in the country.
The opportunity is there for Penn State to finally break through under James Franklin and not only win the Big Ten but also a national championship. Can Allar handle that weight and take another jump in his development? The NFL will be watching closely.
Watching Klubnik in 2023 and over the first month of 2024 was underwhelming, given a quarterback of his pedigree. However, he showed substantial improvements over last season's final two months, which was a key reason Clemson won the ACC and got into the College Football Playoff.
Klubnik is a good-sized athlete (Clemson loves running QB draws), and his mobility allows him to extend and work off platform comfortably. He has the arm strength and anticipation to make drive throws on 12-yard speed outs, but he also displays natural touch on downfield throws to give his receivers a very catchable ball. I like his ability to adjust his arm angles without having his accuracy fall off a cliff.
This chunk play against Pitt stands out because of the way Klubnik repositions his base to give himself an extra half-second as the deep post develops. Knowing he has one-on-one coverage versus quarters coverage, Klubnik — as he takes a big hit — puts it right on the receiver, in stride, displaying toughness and touch.
Though his ability to maneuver and use his athleticism are valuable skills, Klubnik still has too many moments of panic, in and out of the pocket. Those unnecessary movements often lead to rash decisions or forced throws that put the ball in jeopardy. Klubnik has made significant strides with his decision-making and execution over his first three years at Clemson, and better consistency negotiating pressure will be the next step scouts want to see.
Dabo Swinney has consistently attracted top quarterbacks to Clemson, with several (such as Trevor Lawrence) becoming hits while others (see DJ Uiagalelei) have been whiffs. A five-star recruit out of Texas powerhouse Westlake, Klubnik was the prize quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class and has been closer to Lawrence than Uiagalelei for the Tigers.
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Like Nussmeier, Klubnik had a ton of promising video but made a wise move to return for his senior season. (Coincidentally, Nussmeier and Klubnik will face off on college football's opening weekend when LSU travels to Clemson.) Both QBs enter their final season with a chance to be the first senior quarterback selected in 2026.
1. Nussmeier
2. Allar
3. Klubnik
4. Taylen Green, Arkansas (6-5 5/8, 224)
5. Carson Beck, Miami (6-3 7/8, 233)
6. Behren Morton, Texas Tech (6-1 1/2, 205)
7. Miller Moss, Louisville (6-1 3/8, 213)
8. Mark Gronowski, Iowa (6-2, 236)
9. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor (6-3, 218)
10. Jaden Craig, Harvard (6-2 1/4, 229)
11. Grayson James, Boston College (6-2 1/2, 220)
12. Walker Eget, San Jose State (6-3 1/8, 227)
13. Luke Altmyer, Illinois (6-0 3/4, 214)
14. Haynes King, Georgia Tech (6-1 7/8, 209)
15. Maverick McIvor, Western Kentucky (6-1 3/4, 207)
16. Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech (6-1 3/4, 236)
17. Jack Strand, Minnesota State Moorhead (6-3 5/8, 238)
18. Blake Shapen, Mississippi State (6-0 1/4, 203)
19. Billy Edwards Jr., Wisconsin (6-2 3/4, 229)
20. Chase Mason, South Dakota State (6-3 1/4, 231)
21. Jalon Daniels, Kansas (6-0 3/8, 219)
22. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (5-9 3/4, 208)
23. Tyler Van Dyke, SMU (6-3 3/8, 235)
24. Kaidon Salter, Colorado (6-1, 190)
25. Zach Calzada, Kentucky (6-3 1/2, 234)
1. Manning
2. Sellers
3. Mendoza
4. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State (6-2, 210)
5. John Mateer, Oklahoma (6-1, 225)
6. Josh Hoover, TCU (6-2, 200)
7. Avery Johnson, Kansas State (6-3, 190)
8. Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati (6-3, 235)
9. Aidan Chiles, Michigan State (6-3, 215)
10. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA (6-6, 215)
11. Eli Holstein, Pittsburgh (6-4, 225)
12. Darian Mensah, Duke (6-3, 205)
13. Ty Simpson, Alabama (6-2, 210)
14. Byrum Brown, South Florida (6-3, 230)
15. Rocco Becht, Iowa State (6-1, 210)
(Top photo of Arch Manning: Tim Warner / Getty Images)
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