Top 10 2026 Nfl Draft Qb Rankings Cade Klubnik Fernando Mendoza Are

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 15, 2025, 4:21 AM

top 10 2026 nfl draft qb rankings cade klubnik fernando mendoza are

In 2025, only two quarterbacks were selected in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft — just a year after six passers went in the first round of the 2024 showcase. The 2026 NFL Draft’s QB class could look a lot similar to the group two years prior. The potential energy is there, but the onus is on the players to reach those aspirations. From high-upside tools to breakout production, and to oft-anticipated legacy prospects, there’s an abundance of storylines surrounding the 2026 NFL Draft QB class. Arch Manning is the headliner, but even he might not have as good a case for No. 1 as Cade Klubnik, LaNorris Sellers, or Fernando Mendoza.

How do they rank right now? Let’s dive in. Some way-too-early 2025 NFL Draft boards had Carson Beck ranked ahead of Cam Ward. Now, Ward is the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, and Beck has transferred to Miami to try to rebuild his stock — hoping to follow Ward’s blueprint. After a highly efficient 2023 season, Beck was viewed as a potential early-round QB with size, a strong arm, and quality accuracy.

But a rocky 2024 exposed his athletic and creative limitations and brought regression in both decision-making and ball placement. The physical prototype is still intact, but Beck is primarily a pocket passer who still needs to refine his mental game. Without dynamic creation ability to fall back on, Round 1 is a long shot for now — but a rebound in 2025 could put him back on the Day 2 radar. We may be in the thick of the 2025 college football season. But it's never too early to start looking ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft. It's nearly six months away, and NFL franchises are already looking at draft picks who can have immediate impacts.

Last year, we saw just two quarterbacks selected in the first round, as 2025 was considered a down year for signal-callers. As the college football season progresses, the class is starting to take shape. Let's take a look at draft stocks for college football quarterbacks who could be high draft picks in 2026. MORE: SN's latest 2026 mock draft after NFL trade deadline Carson Beck was expected to go to Miami and help lead the Hurricanes to a College Football Playoff bid and help boost his draft stock in the process. But he hasn't done much of either in 2025 so far.

Copyright 2008-2026 Drafttek.com. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy Neither Drafttek.com or www.drafttek.com are affiliated in any manner with the National Football League. Nor any National Football League Team, or any NFLPA player. Week 7 of the college football season took a chaotic turn.

A handful of top-25 teams lost games that could have season-long repercussions. Arguably the biggest surprise from the weekend was Indiana's road win over Oregon in a game that featured our top two quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft: Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore. Those two dueled in a Big Ten battle that could decide one spot in the conference championship game and, in turn, who makes the College Football Playoff (CFP) this season. Indiana's historic 30-20 victory elevates them to sure-fire CFP contender behind Mendoza and a disciplined defense. Further down the rankings, South Carolina-LSU featured another pair of top-five passers in our rankings with LaNorris Sellers and Garrett Nussmeier. That game was ultimately decided by strong defenses as the Tigers beat the Gamecocks 20-10.

Penn State's loss and a season-ending injury to quarterback Drew Allar adds another wrinkle to a jumbled-up ranking. Here's how we sorted through the chaos to get our rankings for Week 8: The 2025 quarterback class didn't inspire much excitement, with only Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart landing in the first round. However, the 2026 quarterback class features several promising playmakers — three quarterbacks appeared in the top 10 of my early mock draft. If you're already looking ahead to next year for your team's future franchise quarterback, here are 10 passers to watch this upcoming college football season. All stats from Sports Info Solutions referencing the 2024 season versus FBS opponents, unless otherwise noted.

Don't Miss Out on the Best Betting Recommendations Available 2026 NFL Draft QB Rankings Update: Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza has emerged as the new QB1, while Dante Moore, LaNorris Sellers, Carson Beck, and Garrett Nussmeier battle for position in a deep, evolving quarterback class. The 2026 NFL Draft quarterback race is heating up, and as we reach the midpoint of the 2025 college football season, the top of the board looks very different from what it did in... What started as a battle between Arch Manning and Garrett Nussmeier during the early scouting cycle has shifted dramatically. Fast-forward to mid-October, and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza has emerged as the new front-runner — while Dante Moore, LaNorris Sellers, Carson Beck, and Nussmeier are all fighting for positioning just behind him. The 2026 QB class looks deeper and more balanced than the 2025 crop, but without a consensus star like we saw in 2024.

There’s a mix of polish, projection, and potential, and the next two months will decide who rises into solid first-round territory — and who fades into Day 2. This week’s Football Scout 365 Scouting Notebook builds off our updated Big Board Rankings, focusing on how each of these quarterbacks has evolved since the summer. The back half of the season will ultimately determine who cements their place at the top — but the early tape points to one of the most balanced and intriguing QB classes in recent... After a rocky start to his college career, Klubnik has really come to form in recent years, especially in 2024. He is accurate, athletic, and comes with a lot of experience. He has some flaws however, he is relatively smaller and does not have elite arm talent.

However, he is fundamentally sound and always makes the right play. He is a high floor QB talent that should be able to succeed early in the correct system. Mendoza is a name to remember for the upcoming season. With Cal, he showcased NFL-caliber processing, rhythm, and poise in the pocket. He has a very solid arm and plays with a chip on his shoulder. He is a bit too conservative at times, as well as does not have elite size nor arm strength.

He reminds many of a Jared Goff or Kirk Cousins type QB, unlikely to be a superstar, but can be a steady starter for many years. He plays with clean mechanics, has a strong build, and is not afraid to make tight window throws. He does play like a gunslinger, which can be both a pro and a con. Sometimes he will throw a boneheaded pass or make a few plays that have you scratching your head. If he irons that out and and takes strides as a consistent processor and playmaker, then he might find himself in round one conversations. Allar is a bit of a polarizing prospect.

However, Allar has all the tools to succeed at the next level. He is well built, strong, athletic, and will have lots of in game experience. Allar is haunted with poor performances in big moments, especially against top tier programs. Allar in 2025 has no excuses. With a stellar roster, it is time for Allar to win some big games. If he answers those questions, with his talent, he might find himself as QB1 in the 2026 class.

The most famous last name in football comes with very high expectations. And although Arch Manning has only played a handful of games, so far, he has lived up to that name. He is fundamentally sound, athletic, and a great processor of the field. His few knocks is his lack of experience, and sometimes being a bit too aggressive downfiled. This year, Manning takes the reins as a full-time starter, and if he shines like expected, he could take the leap to become QB1 in either 2026 or 2027.

Top 10 2026 Nfl Draft Qb Rankings Cade Klubnik Fernando Mendoza Are

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