NFL Draft Quarterback Landscape Shifts: Strong Future Classes Emerge, 2025 Outlook Dims
Recent evaluations indicate a significant shift in the landscape for NFL Draft quarterback prospects. While future classes, specifically 2026 and 2027, are projected to offer substantial talent, the immediate 2025 NFL Draft quarterback class is widely described as having limited high-end prospects. This contrast is shaping long-term strategies for NFL teams.
2026 NFL Draft Prospects: An Early Overview
Following the conclusion of the college football season, a consensus NFL Draft board, compiled from various expert rankings, has provided an initial look at top prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Fernando Mendoza has been identified as QB1 for the 2026 class and is also listed among its top overall players.
Ty Simpson is currently ranked as QB2 and 26th overall on this consensus board, a notable change from his previous No. 5 overall ranking and QB1 designation in November.
Promising Future: The 2026 & 2027 Quarterback Classes
College football quarterback classes projected for 2026 and 2027 are broadly anticipated to be stronger than the immediate upcoming class. These future groups are expected to offer a greater number of high-caliber prospects, including players who have opted to remain in college for additional seasons.
Notable quarterbacks projected for consideration in these future drafts include:
- Arch Manning (Texas)
- Sam Leavitt (LSU)
- Darian Mensah (Miami)
- Brendan Sorsby (Texas Tech)
- Josh Hoover
- LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)
- John Mateer (Oklahoma)
- Jayden Maiava
- Gunner Stockton (Georgia)
- Rocco Becht (Penn State)
- Conner Weigman (Houston)
- Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State)
- CJ Carr (Notre Dame)
- Dante Moore (Oregon)
- Trinidad Chambliss (Mississippi), who secured an injunction to play another year.
The anticipated depth and talent in these future classes may significantly influence NFL teams' long-term strategies regarding their quarterback positions. This could potentially lead to an increase in first-round selections for quarterbacks in those years.
Challenges Ahead: Assessing the 2025 Quarterback Class
The 2025 NFL Draft class for quarterbacks is generally assessed as having limited high-end talent, with scarce overall depth for immediate impact starting quarterbacks.
Several factors contribute to this cautious assessment:
- Performance setbacks or injuries experienced by multiple prospects in the previous college season, including Garrett Nussmeier, Cade Klubnik, and Drew Allar.
- An inconsistent season reported for Ty Simpson.
- Observations of decreased arm strength for Carson Beck following elbow surgery.
Draft-eligible underclassmen for the upcoming NFL Draft (likely referring to the 2025 draft) have until January 23 to declare. This deadline will finalize the pool of players available for what analysts consider a challenging quarterback class.