Draft Preview 2026: Quarterbacks
February 18, 2026
by Steve Thomas
Every year, we at The Hog Sty make an effort to provide a preview of all available draft-eligible players, by position group. Here’s what we’ve done so far this year:
Today, we’re going to cover quarterbacks. In the years in which Washington is in the market for a quarterback – which, historically, is most years – I typically spend many hours, sometimes for weeks, watching film and studying the candidates, and then base my writeup mostly on my own analysis of each player. When I go through that effort, my analysis usually ends up being pretty close to reality. I also usually hold off on publishing the quarterback column until right before the draft for that same reason. It takes that long to do.
Well, guess what? Washington has Jayden Daniels, who may have quite a bit to prove in 2026, but is nevertheless engrained in the starter’s job for next season, at a minimum. Not only that, but I expect Washington to re-sign Marcus Mariota as the backup. The team could conceivably select a quarterback in the back of the draft to develop as the #3 of the future, but considering the enormity of the team’s other needs, I view that as fairly unlikely. As a result, I didn’t go through my normal herculean effort for this year’s preview in favor of a simpler methodology, and also decided to publish this position group before the Combine. The point is, I’m not going to pretend that I’ve spent significant time watching these folks this year. Sorry. Look, folks, this is a free column.
With that having been said, here’s a preview of this year’s quarterback class, in approximate order of probable selection, according to me. This is viewed as a very weak class, with only two being worthy of a first round pick.
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (6’5” / 225): He’s the near-unanimous projected #1 overall draft pick. He spent three years at the University of California, including a redshirt year in 2022, before transferred to the University of Indiana for the 2025 season. In total, he played in 36 games, with 691 completions in 1008 attempts, for a 68.6% completion percentage, 8247 yards, 71 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions. In 2025, playing in 16 games, with 273 completions in 379 attempts, for a 72% completion percentage, 3535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. He won essentially every major award in 2025, including the Heisman Trophy, the Walter Camp Award, the Maxwell Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, and the Manning Award, and was a Consensus All-American. Prior to this past season, he was viewed as a Day 2 or 3 prospect. Scouts view him as a classic pocket quarterback, with plus-level arm strength. He’s seen as very pro-ready. His weaknesses include occasional poor decision-making and inconsistent accuracy.
Project draft position: #1 overall pick
Ty Simpson, Alabama (6’2” / 208): Simpson is the consensus #2 quarterback on the board. He spent 4 years at the University of Alabama, but didn’t become the regular starter until 2025. In total, Simpson played in 31 games, and had 334 completions in 523 attempts, for a 63.9% completion percentage, 3948 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. In 2025, he played in 15 games, and had 305 completions in 473 attempts, for a 64.5% completion percentage, 28 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions, and earned Second-Team All-SEC honors. He’s viewed as being accuracy in short to midrange, but less so on longer throws. He’s arm strength is not a plus, and is viewed as average at best. He isn’t an elite athlete, but is mobile by quarterback standards. In my view, his biggest concern is his lack of experience as a starter.
Projected draft position: Bottom third of round 1 to round 2
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU (6’2” / 200): Nussmeier spent five seasons at LSU and played in a total of 40 games, completing 660 passes in 1032 attempts, for a 64% completion percentage, 7699 yards, 52 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. He became a full-time starter in 2024. In 2025, he played in 9 games, with 194 completions in 288 attempts, for a 67.4% completion percentage, 1927 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. However, Nussmeier was benched for a combination of injuries and performance in LSU’s game against Arkansas on November 15 and didn’t return for the rest of the season. He was originally viewed as a much higher pick prior to this past season. Scouts view Nussmeier as having a strong, accurate arm, and high football IQ. However, he’s also seen as a gunslinger, for better or worse, a trait that can result in some interceptions and bad throws. He also has a fairly slight frame. He’s also seen as someone who is better in offenses that feature short passes and screens. Nussmeier’s combination of quality traits and problems has caused scouts to project a wide range of draft possibilities for him.
Projected draft position: Anywhere from late round 2 to day 3
Carson Beck, Miami (6’4” / 220): Beck spent a total of 6 seasons in college football, including 5 years at Georgia from 2020 – 2024 and then at Miami for the 2025 season. In total, he played in 55 games, completed 966 of 1390 pass attempts, for a 69.5% completion percentage, 11,725 yards, 88 touchdowns, and 32 interceptions. In 2025, he played 16 games for the Hurricanes, completing 338 passes in 467 attempts, for a 72.4% completion percentage, 3813 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He earned Second-team All-SEC honors in 2023 and Third-team All-ACC honors in 2025. His 2023 season with Georgia was much better than 2024, which appears to have played a part in his transfer to Miami. He’s known as a traditional pocket passer, with accuracy and a quick release. Scouts view him as having very good throwing motion and mechanics, and a high football IQ. For weaknesses, he’s seen as a fairly streaky passer with questionable decision-making under pressure.
Projected draft position: Rounds 3 to 5
Drew Allar, Penn St. (6’5” / 235): Allar spent 4 years at Penn St., including 3 years as the starter. In total, he played in 45 games, with 633 completions in 1002 attempts, for a 63.2% completion percentage, 7402 yards, 61 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. In 2025, he played in just 6 games before suffering a season-ending leg injury, completing 103 of 159 pass attempts, for a 64.8% completion percentage, 1100 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Allar is viewed as a pocket passer with prototypical size, with above-average arm strength and passing velocity. He also started for three seasons at Penn St., which is more than many modern prospects. However, scouts also see him as a fairly streaky thrower who doesn’t always properly goes through his progressions. It’s possible that some team may see his physical characteristics and draft him higher than he probably should be.
Projected draft position: Rounds 3 – 5
Cabe Klubnik, Clemson (6’2” / 210): Klubnik spent four years at Clemson, including three years as the full-time starter. In total, he played in 49 games, and made 916 completions in 1432 attempts, for a 64% completion percentage, 10,123 yards, 73 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. In 2025, he played in 12 games, with 257 completions in 392 attempts, for a 65.6% completion percentage, 2943 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Scouts view him as having an elite arm and foot speed; however, he’s also seen as a play who’s been inconsistent, bad footwork, and as someone who occasionally loses his composure. Draft projections for Klubnik are all over the board.
Projected draft position: Late day 2 – round 6; but likely earlier than later.
Luke Altmyer, Illinois (6’2” / 205): Altmyer spent five years in college football, including two seasons at Ole Miss and three seasons at Illinois. He started in a portion of 2023, and full-time in 2024 and 2025 for Illinois. In total, Altmyer played in 44 games, with 660 completions in 1036 attempts, for a 63.7% completion percentage, 7924 yards, 60 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. In 2025, he played in 13 games, and made 246 completions in 365 attempts, for a 67.4% completion percentage, 3007 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. Scouts believe he has good passing velocity, a quick release, and good throwing mechanics. He’s also has above-average mobility. However, scouts also see him not being overly comfortable in the pocket and as suffering from consistency issues. There are a wide range of opinions regarding his proper draft range.
Projected draft position: Anywhere from round 4 to UDFA
Sawyer Robertson, Baylor (6’4” / 220): Robertson spent a total of 5 season in college football, including three seasons at Mississippi St and two at Baylor. He redshirted his freshman year in 2021 and started both seasons at Baylor. In total, he played in 35 games, with 605 completions in 1000 attempts, for a 60.5% completion percentage, 7639 yards, 61 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions. In 2025, he played in 12 games, and had 304 completions in 504 attempts, for a 60.3% completion percentage, 3681 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Sawyer is known as a quarterback with good mechanics, and is mobile by quarterback standards. His 60% college completion percentage isn’t a good sign. Scouts believe he lacks arm strength and passing velocity.
Projected draft position: Most have him as a day 3 selection, although a minority believe him to be worthy of a pick as high as round 3.
Taylen Green, Arkansas (6’6” / 224): Green played a total of 5 seasons of college football, including 3 at Boise St. and 2 at Arkansas. He started a total of four years, including 2 years at Boise St. and both seasons at Arkansas. In total, he played 53 games, with 715 completions in 1190 attempts, for a 60.1% completion percentage, 9662 yards, 59 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions. In 2025, he played in 12 games, and had 198 completions in 326 attempts, for a 60.7% completion percentage, 2714 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Green is seen as athletic and mobile, with a strong arm. However, scouts also believe he has a slow release and takes too much time in the pocket, and is inconsistent in reading defenses.
Projected draft position: Early day 3
Jalon Daniels, Kansas (6’0” / 215): Daniels spent 6 full seasons at the University of Kansas. He originally earned the starting job in 2022 but had that year and 2023 cut short due to injuries. In total, he played in 49 games, and completed 734 of 1193 pass attempts, for a 61.5% completion percentage, 9282 yards, 67 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions. In 2025, he played in 12 games, and completed 198 of 319 pass attempts, for a 62.1% completion percentage, 2531 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Daniels is known as an athletic quarterback, but one with questionable accuracy, which is backed up by his low completion percentage. He also has a injury history which could affect his draft status.
Projected draft position: Round 6 – UDFA
Cole Payton, North Dakota St. (6’3” / 233): Payton spent five years at North Dakota St., including a redshirt year in his freshman 2021 season. He was the full-time starter only in 2025. In total, he had 199 completions in 283 attempts, for a 70.3% completion percentage, 3190 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. In 2025, he had 162 completions in 225 attempts, for a 72% completion percentage, 2719 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Payton has size and athletic ability, and is considered a dual-threat player who could conceivably end up playing at different positions in the NFL. Some scouts have compared him to Taysom Hill.
Projected draft status: Rounds 6 – 7
Joe Fagnano, Connecticut (6’4” / 225): Fagnano is the very rare prospect who stayed in college football for 7 seasons, with 4 years at the University of Maine from 2019 – 2022 and 3 years at Connecticut from 2023 – 2025. In total, he played in 51 games, with 885 completions in 1427 attempts, 10,926 yards, 94 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. In 2025, he played in 12 games, and had 285 completions in 413 attempts, for a 69% completion percentage, 3448 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He missed most of the 2023 season due to a shoulder injury. It isn’t clear exactly how old he is, but given that he stayed in college for 7 seasons, he is likely at least 25. Scouts see him as a mechanically sound prospect, and he has good college stats and plenty of experience, so it’s possible that a team might use a late draft pick on him.
Projected draft status: Round 7 – UDFA
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (5’9” / 207): I’m including him here primarily because of his high-profile public status. Pavia played a total of 4 seasons, including 2 at New Mexico St. and 2 at Vanderbilt, and started some in his first season, then the bulk of the rest of his collegiate career. In total, he made 766 completions in 1232 attempts, for a 62.2% completion percentage, 10,255 yards, 88 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions. In 2025, he played in 13 games, with 267 completions in 378 attempts, for a 70.6% completion percentage, 3539 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He is athletic and competitive but at 5’9”, is probably too small to be a starter in the NFL.
Projected draft position: Late day 3 to UDFA
Note: Trinidad Chambliss was originally viewed as the #3 quarterback in this year’s class. However, he sued the NCAA, claiming that the NCAA wrongfully denied him a sixth year of eligibility due to a medical exemption. Chambliss obtained a permanent injunction last week and is thus expected to return to Ole Miss in 2026.