Way too early look at the 2026 QB class

Chad Powers or bust!

 

I mean, the missed tackles are concerning, but he does get around the ball a ton (some of the missed tackles are certainly due to being near a play that lesser players wouldn't be near). We can have a discussion around what we should pay Queen after next season when he is a FA (or just extend him at a lesser number than what he's at now). But I don't think this defense gets a ton better by shipping Queen off an drafting Styles. Even if Styles is a PB/AP caliber player, there's still a gap beside him that can be exploited. I think a perfect world sees a lesser cap hit on Queen and the two play together.

In this scenario, we'd have to be in range to take Styles (which I guess is possible, even if we have to trade up a few spots). I wouldn't be entirely shocked if the Steelers really likes Styles.

 

Sellers NIL deal is estimated at just under $4m a season. He turned down $8 million from another school (supposedly) to transfer from S. Carolina. Every single 1st round pick will make more tha $4 million a year over their 4 year deal in the league. The top 13 picks make more that $6 million a season, and the top 7 picks will make more than $8 million.

Kids will have to weigh their NIL deal against where they think they should get picked in the draft nowadays. I think Sellers would've been a first round pick this year (especially since there is a possibility that 2 of the top 3 QB's who would be ahead of him could return to college in Moore and Simpson). I don't think it was a bad decision, as a big year could move him further up the board... but it is risky since there are good options coming out next year.

Manning and Sayin will start the year ahead of him (and righfully so), with guys like Simpson and Moore still yet to declare for 26 who also would start the year ahead of him (I'd assume Moore leaves, as he's my QB1 in the class by a mile. I assume Simpson stays unless he balls out in a deep run). There's Lagway and Raiola in the portal. There's Maiava, Leavitt, Iamaleava, Mateer, Sorsby, CJ Carr, Marcel Reed all with an opportunity to strengthen their case to be at the high end of the class. There's obviously time for this to change (this year's class looked good pre-season and now doesn't look so hot), but I think overall it should be a high caliber class.

 

Thanks for the correction
I wasn’t quite sure how much

 

Arch Manning just put on a clinic against the Wolverines. He had a rough start to the season but now looks like the best QB in college football. Arch is going back to Texas for another year though but he will almost certainly be the #1 pick in 2027.

 

I get that this is a QB Specific Thread but I am warming up more and more with the prospect of drafting Vega Ioane from Penn State. Some might say that the IOL room is complete. I disagree.


Spencer Anderson is good but not of starting NFL capability at IOL. Vega is and can be a very good contributor year one. Vega would be worth the first pick for certain.

 

I'd rather invest 6-8 million in the FA market than invest our first round pick. I think the bang for the buck is better if we go and get a solid starting LG and draft a WR or a DL in the first and second round. We can still draft IOL in the 3rd if we wanted (with any of our 3 picks) and see if we get a good player. Ioane is a good prospect, but I think that we have more pressing needs.

 

Draft another from

OHIO STATE

Just Sayin'

 

I think looking at the second tier of QB's in the draft is interesting. To me, Dante Moore is the draft's best QB (and it isn't close) and it appears that Mendoza will be seen as a high end prospect as well. Either could be the top QB off the board and they will be QB1 and QB2 in whatever order, as a third QB wont be in the mix

1. Ty Simpson - He has a good ceiling, but he's been too hit or miss this year. Big ups and downs and really needs to get more consistent if he wants to be seen as a high end QB prospect. He has what it takes, he just needs a bit of time. There's a chance he still comes out and gets drafted in the first round (I could see him going anywhere from the top 10 if there is a QB run and a team gets desperate, to end of the first round with someone like the Rams or an early second round team who didn't get their QB moving up into the first much like NYG did with Dart last season). There's also a chance he goes back to school. Wait and see, but I have him as the QB3 in the class if he comes out. Maybe a Tony Romo or Sam Darnold comparison.

2. Trinidad Chambliss - He was appealing for more eligibility, but the rumors are that he won't win his case. If he comes out, he is a tantalizing prospect, as he is a dual threat with a big arm. He's smaller in stature, but has really risen up the draft board with how the season has ended. If he continues to show out in the CFP, he could work his way into a late first round or early second round pick. There's enough about him that concerns you (size, runs enough to take a beating), but there's a lot there that makes you think he could develop into a Jayden Daniels type QB. He's somewhere between a Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray stylistically and any team that drafts him will need to understand that RPO's and rollouts will be a big part of the gameplan. However, that shouldn't limit his ability to be a big time player. He's interesting and might be worth a more deep dive.

3. Carson Beck - He has a bit of Will Levis to him (when things go bad, they tend to snowball), but he also has really good tape. Has the size, arm, and athletic ability to be a NFL starter... but being turnover prone really hurts you in the NFL. Teams won't tolerate that for long. I like him well enough, but I don't think he's a first round talent. I have him as a day 2 pick and could potentially develop into a solid NFL starter. Feels a lot like a Ryan Tannehill type that could end up being similar to Jared Goff if things turn out.

4. Drew Allar - He has better talent than he has instincts for the position. Huge arm and size, and seems to extend plays past his athletic ability. However, he will be a bigger project that some thought before the season started. His arm is special. His ability to make "wow" plays is there and he tends to not turn it over as much as you would think for a guy that struggles at times with accuracy. However, he seems to be a more "throwback" player at the position and will likely be more of a drop back statue than dual threat type of QB. He's a lot like Flacco in that regard. He has some decision-making deficiencies to overcome and needs to tighten up his consistency on the shorter throws (he has some inexplicable easy throw misses that litter his tape). However, he seems like the type of prospect that will be over drafted due to his "uncoachables" and I could see him as early as early round 2, even coming off a disappointing year and injury.

5. John Mateer - I would imagine he comes back to school, but he's the last prospect at QB I have a day 2 or better grade on. He has some weird throwing mechanics (lots of sidearm work, which doesn't bode well for a guy that stands at 6'1'') and a propensity to play "Johnny Manziel ball" when the play breaks down... but he has quite a good arm and is a very good runner. He's a similar build to Jalen Hurts and will likely need to go through a similar career trajectory if he wants to make it in the NFL. It will take a couple years and there will still be some limitations to what he can do as a thrower, but his legs and ability off schedule can develop into a good playmaker if he's surrounded by talent. I'd like to see him go back to OU and develop more to see if he cant sneak into a better draft selection with a big year (one that he hopefully stays healthy for).

Then there's just a list of Nussmeier, Klubnik, Pavia, etc. who are all day 3 prospects IMO.

 

Simpson could've used another year of school he faded badly at the end of the season.

 

I'm with you, I mentioned in another thread before that I'd like to see him as a 2nd rd target. First rd seems a bit high, his mobility is a little limited but the guy is a house.

 

Tyler Shough managed to win some games with the Saints while Rattler struggled .

 

Well looks like a pretty sweet game tomorrow. Lots of the better QB's still in the mix in the CFP... My rankings as of now. I'm really starting to think this Chambliss kid might just keep ascending. That ball comes out beautifully and he is a great athlete. There's some obvious development, but if you're willing to get a little more "modern NFL" with your offense and roll the kid out and couple him with a strong run game... he might be really good. Like prime Russ Wilson good. Side note, I think the first 4 are the only ones even worth a shot in round 1, Beck and Allar both seem destined to be back ups imo and I don't really like either of them that much. Beck struggles with turnovers (something that will kill you in the NFL where the defenses are way better). He seems to have a solid arm and decent mobility... I just don't trust that a guy that turns it over in bunches in college will turn it around in the NFL. Allar just isn't good at football. Great tools on Allar, but the football sense and IQ of a potato.

I'm sure I'll catch some grief for Simpson over Mendoza, but its just a ceiling thing for me (even if he is ahead of Simpson at this exact moment). Simpson could develop into a guy with massive control of the offense and if he gains consistency, could be really dangerous. Kinda like a poor man's Philip Rivers. Mendoza is still someone I would draft at our pick (wherever it is) but wouldn't trade up for. Too much of a system fit only and really seems like his ceiling is an average-ish starter if you surround him with weapons and protect him (think Kirk Cousins if the stars align, Mason Rudolph if they don't). If he starts on a bad team (which he likely will), he's going to get cooked out there. A bad OL could derail his entire career.

1. Moore - I'd draft him first overall
2. Simpson - Top 15 shot
3. Mendoza - late first flier
4. Chambliss - late first/early second flier
5. Beck - Late round 2/early round 3
6. Allar - Round 3 flier

 

I would like him a lot more if he was three inches taller.

 

Shough went 5-4 in his 9 starts with the Saints.

 

Dante Moore having a very rough outing tonight.