Right now final yr, many members of the soccer group repeatedly predicted that the 2026 NFL Draft class would yield considerably extra top-tier quarterback prospects than the 2025 class.
Quick-forward to November 2025, and it appears some NFL executives have been discouraged by what they’ve noticed from faculty quarterbacks in the course of the fall.
Are there no franchise quarterbacks in 2026 NFL Draft class?
“No one is taking part in the place effectively sufficient to be like, ‘That dude can take over my franchise,'” one unnamed NFL government advised The Athletic’s Jeff Howe about faculty quarterbacks in a bit revealed on Friday.
Heading into Week 11 of the NFL season, the Tennessee Titans (1-8), New Orleans Saints (2-8), New York Giants (2-8), New York Jets (2-8), Cleveland Browns (2-7) and Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) had been among the many groups near the underside of the league standings that could possibly be in search of a first-round quarterback within the spring.
New Orleans rookie Tyler Shough has solely made two begins to this point, so it is too early to find out his potential as a professional. Tennessee’s Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart of the Giants have proven promise, however each groups could have new full-time head coaches earlier than the NFL Scouting Mix. These teaching staffs may fall for a unique rookie early subsequent yr — or possibly not.
“I don’t love any of [the quarterbacks] proper now,” a second government advised Howe in regards to the 2026 draft class. “We’re attempting to know onto someone as a result of there isn’t anyone, and it’s such a taste of the week. Good luck proper now.”
Is historical past repeating itself for quarterback-needy groups?
In January, a number of front-office employees stated that each one six quarterbacks taken within the first spherical of the 2024 draft had been higher than the prospects within the 2025 class. ESPN stats present that Ward began Friday ranked final amongst certified gamers within the NFL with a 24.4 adjusted QBR for the season. Whereas Dart has performed effectively with the Giants, he’s at the moment sidelined with a concussion and has been evaluated for head accidents four times for the reason that preseason.
In 2026 mock drafts up to date at completely different factors in November, three completely different CBS Sports personalities had Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza as the highest quarterback chosen. Solely Blake Brockermeyer predicted that LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina could be drafted first total if the draft had been held now.
“Total, we had been hoping it was going to be higher than final yr,” a 3rd government advised Howe in regards to the quarterback prospects. “There was a hangover from such a great class two years in the past. There have been extra projected (quarterbacks) coming into this yr, however the expectations of the higher-end gamers by no means actually materialized. A number of the youthful guys are leaning towards going again as a result of they haven’t performed effectively and are making the (title, picture and likeness) cash.”
There’s nonetheless loads of time for at the least one faculty quarterback to quiet the doubters earlier than the tip of January. Nevertheless, it seems that common managers anticipating a number of franchise saviors within the 2026 draft is perhaps disenchanted.
