The 2026 NFL Draft Quarterback Class: Six Prospects, Five Evaluation Criteria

The 2026 NFL Draft's quarterback class features six prospects with credible first-round grades, the deepest class at the position since 2021, according to scouting reports published by Pro Football Focus and The Athletic. Texas sophomore Arch Manning, Georgia sophomore Dylan Raiola, and Colorado junior Shedeur Sanders lead the grade sheet, with two tiers separating the remaining three candidates.

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN's senior draft analyst, called the class "better than average but lacking a clear No. 1" in his January draft preview. The variance between mock drafts reflects the perceived depth — five different quarterbacks have been projected as the No. 1 overall pick across publicly available mock drafts since January.

Arch Manning — Texas

Arch Manning, grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli, completed his first full season as Texas's starter with 3,612 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His 68.4 percent completion rate ranked sixth among FBS quarterbacks, and his adjusted passer rating of 124.8 ranked fourth. Manning's deep-ball accuracy has drawn particular attention — he completed 52.1 percent of passes traveling more than 20 air yards, the highest rate among qualified FBS quarterbacks.

Scouts have praised his pocket presence, arm talent and mechanical consistency. Pro Football Focus's lead analyst Steve Palazzolo graded Manning as the class's top quarterback through the regular season, noting his "ability to process quickly against multiple defensive looks." Concerns focus on his drift under pressure and his occasional tendency to back out of the pocket rather than stepping forward.

Dylan Raiola — Georgia (via Nebraska)

Dylan Raiola's transfer from Nebraska to Georgia in January 2025 was among the offseason's most consequential quarterback movements. The son of former Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola, Dylan posted 2,819 passing yards and 13 touchdowns at Nebraska in 2024 despite playing for a struggling offense.

Raiola is expected to start for Georgia in 2025 following Carson Beck's declaration for the 2025 NFL Draft. Scouts anticipate his grade will rise significantly at Georgia, where the offensive line and receiver talent are considered superior. Mel Kiper's January mock draft listed Raiola as the No. 2 overall pick.

Shedeur Sanders — Colorado

Shedeur Sanders, son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, completed his third season at Colorado with 4,101 yards and 32 touchdowns against only six interceptions. His completion rate of 74.2 percent ranked first in the FBS. Sanders's pocket poise and decision-making under pressure are widely praised; scouts criticize his arm strength and his ability to generate velocity on deep throws outside of rhythm.

The Colorado offensive system has been described by NFL coaches as "quarterback-friendly to the point of concern," per The Athletic's draft preview. The concern reflects questions about how well Sanders's skills will translate to NFL timing and protection standards.

Jaxson Dart — Ole Miss

Jaxson Dart led Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff in 2025, finishing with 4,112 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His strongest attribute is dual-threat athleticism — Dart rushed for 512 yards and six touchdowns, making him the class's most mobile option behind Sanders.

Dart's projected draft range spans from the late first round to the mid-second. His arm strength ranks in the class's middle tier, but his decision-making in the red zone has drawn praise. Dart completed 72 percent of passes inside the red zone, the second-best rate in the class.

Cam Ward — Miami

Cam Ward, a sixth-year senior who transferred from Washington State to Miami in December 2024, threw for 4,321 yards with 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his single season at Miami. His college career included stops at Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami. Ward is the most experienced quarterback in the class and the oldest prospect — he turns 24 in May.

Scouts have raised questions about whether his production will translate given the age gap with younger prospects. Ward's draft range spans from the late first round to the early third. His pocket mobility and play extension have drawn praise; his consistency on throws over 15 air yards ranks in the class's lower tier.

Quinn Ewers — Texas (via Ohio State)

Quinn Ewers, Texas's starter for most of 2023-24 before Manning's promotion, declared for the draft after his junior season ended with a wrist injury. Ewers threw for 3,479 yards with 28 touchdowns in his most recent full season. His arm strength ranks among the class's best; his decision-making, particularly in his final two games at Texas, drew criticism.

Ewers is expected to be selected in the late first round to early second. His medical clearance following the wrist injury will determine his final draft range — several AFC teams have reportedly scheduled private medical evaluations after the April combine.

Evaluation Criteria

Scouts across five NFC and AFC teams, speaking anonymously to The Athletic, identified five evaluation criteria they weigh most heavily for quarterbacks: mental processing under pressure, throws of 20-plus air yards, mechanical consistency, pocket composure with a free rusher, and anticipation throws (defined as a completion to a receiver not yet open at release). Manning, Raiola and Sanders lead in different categories.

The five criteria are scored individually on a 10-point scale, with a composite score used to rank prospects. Manning leads in processing and throws of 20-plus air yards; Raiola leads in mechanical consistency; Sanders leads in pocket composure.

Draft Outlook

The Tennessee Titans hold the first overall pick based on their 3-14 record. General manager Mike Borgonzi told reporters in March that the team has "not made any decisions" on whether to select a quarterback. Tennessee has been linked to potential trade-back scenarios with the Las Vegas Raiders (picking No. 4), the New York Giants (No. 6), and the New Orleans Saints (No. 9).

Three quarterbacks have been projected to go in the top 10 across most analyst mock drafts, with the third selection typically varying between Sanders and Dart. Seven additional quarterbacks are projected to be drafted in the first three rounds, giving this class 13 quarterbacks likely to hear their names called in the first 97 picks.