2026 NFL Draft: QB Rankings
1
Fernando Mendoza
School: Indiana
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 236 lbs
Strengths:
– Accuracy is elite.
– Able to place the ball with precision at all three levels.
– Puts nice touch and arc on his passes down the sideline. Throws a very catchable ball.
– High IQ passer. It is not just accuracy, but also his timing that makes him so effective.
– Reads the defence well both pre and post-snap.
– Arm strength is good enough to throw with zip to the intermediate level, and get distance and velocity on his passes deep down the field.
– Poise is generally pretty good. He’ll stand in and take a hit to make a play.
– Footwork is clean, as is his throwing motion. Very technical player.
Weaknesses:
– Good enough athlete to take space that is given to him, but not really enough to create on his own. Pressure in the pocket is tough for him to get away from if he doesn’t roll out early.
– Arm strength is good, but not elite. Worth mentioning for a future 1st overall pick.
– Sometimes struggles with off-platform throws. This is more so where you get the sense that his arm strength is just good, and not in the higher tier.
– Perhaps his deep ball could have a bit more juice on it. Feels like a slight nitpick, but worth bringing up.
– Would like to see him step up in the pocket more often.
Summary:
Mendoza is a prototypical pocket passer with a height and a big frame. His arm talent is good, but not elite like you’d see from other top prospects. However, Mendoza is a highly intelligent player. His pre and post-snap reads are usually on point, which leads to his timing being on point. When you then factor in elite accuracy, you have a recipe that can consistently lead an offence down the field. Mobility is a bit of a concern. While he isn’t a sloth, and is capable of rolling out, his success in this area is more so dictated by how much space he receives. He doesn’t really make people miss, and he doesn’t really create much out of structure. His arm talent sort of shows the same thing. He is good within the structure of things, but his velocity takes a hit when he has to throw off-platform. Although his traits aren’t elite, his arm talent is definitely more than enough to be effective. I wouldn’t even call it a deficiency, as much as it is just pointing out non-elite traits for a future 1st overall pick. I do suspect he will need an above average offensive line, given the somewhat limited mobility. However, his arm, along with his elite accuracy and football IQ, should be enough for him to be a quality starter at the next level.
| Grade: 86.8 | Round Grade: 1st |
2
Ty Simpson
School: Alabama
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 211 lbs
Strengths:
– Has a nice dropback and plays with clean footwork.
– Can effectively run play action.
– Accuracy to the short areas is great, and generally pretty good at the intermediate level.
– Effectively goes through his progressions.
– Good enough athlete to extend the play when pressured.
– Toughness to hang in the pocket and take a hit to make the play.
– Works the pocket well when he is on his game.
– Subtle maneuvers to make people miss in the pocket, and he has enough speed to get out and make a throw outside the pocket.
Weaknesses:
– Only one season as a starter.
– Decision making can be spotty.
– Will sometimes force the ball into windows that don’t exist.
– Arm strength, at best, is average.
– Can sometimes struggle pushing the ball downfield when he has to squeeze it into a tight window.
– Opens up opportunities for defenders to undercut his passes.
– Panics under pressure and will release an errant pass off his back foot.
– Decent athlete but certainly not to the point where he is consistently picking up yards with his legs.
– Sometimes hangs onto the ball too long, which leads to sacks.
– Doesn’t always throw with anticipation. Throws to open receivers instead of throwing receivers open.
Summary:
Simpson has a good enough skill set to work with at the next level. He has enough arm strength to throw to each level, even if there are limitations. Simpson is highly effective working the quick game. His technique is clean, and he doesn’t miss many passes to this level. While he isn’t the best tight window thrower, he has enough juice to also work the intermediate level. I like the poise he plays with in the pocket, and he has enough mobility to extend the play outside of it. While his arm is good enough for him to be a starter, I see him more as a game manager that will have to be in the right system. With this in mind, there are some areas mentally where he’ll have to improve. Simpson will have to play with more anticipation, and also eliminate poor decisions. There are times where quick pressure forces a rushed and off platform throw, putting the ball in a risky spot. While his upside isn’t high end, Simpson can still find his way into a starting job and help a team win. There are elements to his game that remind me of Brock Purdy, and in the right system, I could see him having success.
| Grade: 80.8 | Round Grade: 2nd |
3
Taylen Green
School: Arkansas
Ht/Wt: 6’6”, 227 lbs
Strengths:
– Great blend of size and athleticism.
– Combine testing was outstanding.
– Has the arm strength to make all the throws.
– Will fit the ball into tight windows.
– Can launch it deep over the top.
– A true threat to pick up yards on the ground.
– Speed to win around the corner, but can also make people miss in the open field.
– Designed runs can be a part of the offence.
– Can extend plays outside the pocket and make a throw on the run.
– Solid pocket awareness. Will step up and make his decision to either run or let go of a pass.
Weaknesses:
– Mechanics could be cleaned up, which will help improve accuracy.
– Had too many wayward attempts.
– Mental side of his game also needs work.
– Doesn’t always go through his progressions.
– Sometimes tries to play heroball and will make some mindblowingly poor decisions. Sometimes cross body throws or holding it too long in an attempt to make a play.
Summary:
Green has all the traits to be an elite QB at the next level. His athleticism is outstanding, making him a threat to extend plays outside the pocket and often pick up yards as a runner. He can do it off script, but designed runs are also a big part of his game. As a passer, the ball velocity stands out. Green can put it on a rope and fit it into any window. He can also rip one deep down the sideline with touch. The downside here is that he is still quite raw. His footwork and throwing mechanics will need to be worked on, and his accuracy, as of now, is pretty inconsistent. Mentally, he also makes a lot of errors, the worst of which often surrounds his desire to play heroball. The ball gets put in harm’s way too often, and he’ll have to learn to balance the big play chances with taking what the defence gives. He is raw as a prospect, but the upside is still very intriguing. Green will be a worthwhile shot on draft day, and could develop into a high end starter if all goes right. If not, depending on how far along he comes, his long term outlook could range anywhere from practice squadder to second string QB.
| Grade: 75.7 | Round Grade: 3rd |
4
Drew Allar
School: Penn State
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 228 lbs
Strengths:
– High end arm talent.
– Can see the velocity on his bullet passes to the intermediate level.
– Able to launch it deep with distance and power.
– Fits his passes into tight windows.
– Can throw on the run.
– Flashes the ability to step up in the pocket and maneuver around to buy time.
Weaknesses:
– Accuracy is spotty. Will wow you on some plays, but miss badly on others.
– Sometimes abandons technique, which leads to even some of the easiest passes landing incomplete due to an errant pass.
– Athleticism isn’t anything to write home about. Can extend plays when he has space, but a collapsing pocket usually is pretty tough for him to get out of.
– Decision making needs to improve. He puts the ball into trouble too often.
– Too much hero ball instead of ditching it when nothing is there.
– Not the best at reading the defence.
– Needs to do a better job of going through his progressions.
Summary:
Allar is a developmental prospect with enough upside to become a starter. He is a prototypical pocket passer with the size that traditionalists will look for. His arm strength is the biggest plus to his game, and he is capable of making any throw with relative ease. To some extent, his lack of mobility does cap his upside, and he isn’t the most creative player when forced to go off script. When he is being hunted down in the pocket, he has trouble getting away. But of the correctable issues, footwork, accuracy, and mental processing are all on the list. And with this many things being on the to-do list, it likely will take some time. But the arm talent is extremely appealing, and when Allar is at his best, you see someone who is able to lead an offence. Playing style is something that could factor in, as more teams do like mobile QB’s these days. Allar isn’t a slot, but isn’t super mobile either. But for teams that still like their traditional pocket passer, Allar’s arm talent will be something that they can build around. If the other issues are fixed, he can be a good starter in the NFL, or even a quality backup if some of the consistency issues improve, but aren’t totally ironed out.
| Grade: 74.9 | Round Grade: 4th |
5
Garrett Nussmeier
School: LSU
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 203 lbs
Strengths:
– Shows good command of the line pre-snap.
– Does well to go through his progressions.
– When kept clean, he usually throws with pretty good accuracy.
– Will take a hit to make a play.
– Will step up in the pocket to avoid pressure. Mobility within that structure is alright.
– Strong performance at the Senior Bowl seems to have boosted his stock.
Weaknesses:
– Traits are average. Enough arm strength to throw to different areas of the field, but velocity isn’t always the greatest.
– Likewise, he has enough athleticism to sometimes escape, but there are a lot of times where he doesn’t have that initial burst needed to get away.
– Accuracy dips when he is throwing on the run.
– Sometimes tries to do too much and will force the ball into a bad spot.
Summary:
Philip Rivers’ quick return to football last season reminded people that making calls at the line almost seems like a dying art. But with Nussmeier, it is very much alive. You can see the consistent command that he has of things pre-snap, which helps him identify targets post-snap. His accuracy is solid enough to each level, and his toughness and willingness to make a play are admirable. However, his physical traits are average, which puts a cap on his ceiling. He plays the game too risky and can put the ball in harm’s way sometimes. If this can be worked out, he might have an outside shot at winning a starting job at some point. But his more likely route is that of a backup. Fixing some of those issues should go a long way in helping him secure a second string job, if it ends up that he starts lower early in his career. If he can put it all together, his arm, although not elite, has enough juice for him to be a reliable backup that can work the quick-intermediate game, with the occasional deep shot. His performance at the Senior Bowl showed improvements from his college tape, so perhaps he is already on track.
| Grade: 74.0 | Round Grade: 4th |
6
Diego Pavia
School: Vanderbilt
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 207 lbs
Strengths:
– Plays tough.
– Good athlete who is able to extend plays outside the pocket.
– Capable of picking up yards on the ground, and keeps the defence on its toes.
– Solid arm strength to drive the ball to the intermediate area of the field.
– Scans the field and will go through all of his progressions if he has to. Doesn’t just lock onto a target.
– Accurate to the short and intermediate levels.
– Can throw on the run.
Weaknesses:
– Velocity dips on deep balls and throws to the opposite hashmark.
– Accuracy also fades on deeper routes.
– Size will be an issue for some teams.
– Will sometimes force the ball into a tight window that is a little optimistic for his arm strength.
– Holds onto the ball too long on a lot of plays and will take unnecessary sacks.
– Sometimes gets a false sense of pressure and bails outside too early.
Summary:
Though undersized, Pavia is a solid QB prospect with enough tools to make it as a pro. He plays with a spring in his step and a chip on his shoulder. When facing pressure, he is able to escape the pocket and extend the play. He can throw on the run outside of the pocket or pick up chunk yardage on the ground, depending on what is there for him. His arm strength is solid enough to drive passes to the intermediate level, and his shirt-mid accuracy is generally pretty good. However, he definitely has more struggles on deeper shots, where both velocity and accuracy take a hit. Mentally, Pavia does well to go through his progressions, rather than locking onto a target. However, he does often hold onto the ball too long, leading to more sacks than he should be taking. As well, his decision making can be a bit spotty. His arm strength is okay, but definitely not elite. On some occasions, he’ll be pushing it as if he had elite arm strength, when for him, that window shouldn’t really have been an option. There are some heroball tendencies to his game, and his physical profile has some things to like, along with some limitations. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him start one day. I think his ability to play off script, as well as his ability to work the short-mid game from the pocket give him a chance to do so. However, a number 2 job is probably a safer projection until he proves he can work his way up. Size for a QB isn’t as big a deal to me as it is to other evaluators, but on draft day, it likely will hurt him. As well, in order to elevate himself on a depth chart, Pavia will have to improve his decision making and play a safer brand of football with a closer eye on his limitations.
| Grade: 73.7 | Round Grade: 4th |
7
Carson Beck
School: Miami
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 233 lbs
Strengths:
– A lot of experience in high pressure situations.
– Great when he is able to get in rhythm.
– Works the quick game with efficiency and good timing.
– Puts those passes in a spot that allows the receiver to run after the catch.
– Shows ability to throw to all three levels.
– Gets a nice arc on his deep passes.
– Capable of taking straight line yardage on the ground when given to him.
Weaknesses:
– Arm strength doesn’t look as good since a shoulder injury.
– Can it get back to previous form?
– Has a lot of passes batted down, despite having a tall frame.
– Despite experience, decision making and mental processing question marks still exist.
– Doesn’t handle pressure that well.
– Will force throws when pressured.
– Footwork needs to be cleaned up.
– Accuracy gets spotty, especially further down the field.
– Straight line speed is decent, but he doesn’t have the most twitch to evade pressure.
Summary:
Beck had a solid college career, with time spent at Georgia and Miami, where he played in a lot of big games. He is a very solid QB when he gets into a rhythm, which allows him to work the quick game extremely well, while also completing passes to the other two levels. He suffered a shoulder injury in 2024, and his arm strength was noticeably weaker at Miami. This will be something teams will have to look into. He is capable of working all three levels, but in his current form, he projects more as a game manager at the next level. But to even get there, his decision making, poise in the pocket, mechanics, and downfield accuracy will have to improve. Entering the league, he projects more as a backup. With enough improvement, perhaps a game managing starter is a level that he can reach.
| Grade: 68.0 | Round Grade: 5th |
8
Cade Klubnik
School: Clemson
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 207 lbs
Strengths:
– Enough athleticism to evade pressure and pick up yards on the ground.
– Can be used on designed runs.
– Good enough arm to push it down the field.
– Capable of fitting the ball into tight windows, or throwing it over the top.
– When he is in sync, the offence can be opened up with routes to each level of the field.
– Has shown capable of throwing with anticipation before the receiver gets out of his break.
Weaknesses:
– Accuracy is very inconsistent at all three levels.
– Sometimes rushes his throw and abandons his mechanics and technique.
– Gets flustered by pressure, which worsens his tendency to rush passes.
– Athleticism to scramble, but the where and when feels more like a guessing game.
– Sometimes stays in the pocket too long, other times abandons it too early.
– Lacks a firm ability to read a defence.
– Will get fooled by coverages.
Summary:
Klubnik has a pretty solid arm and is a good enough athlete to make plays with his legs. When you have those two traits tilted your way, there will usually be nice flashes on tape, and at least a somewhat decent ceiling. This is the case here. You see flashes of potential. However, right now, his game is littered with inconsistencies in just about every area. His accuracy is all over the place, largely because he often just throws out his mechanics and rushes things. But the mental clock also seems to be ticking a bit faster than it should when pressure is closing in. He panics instead of making the right read, sometimes just tossing one up into harm’s way. His mental game needs a lot of work, as does the technical side. Klubnik is a developmental prospect, but he has the arm and the athleticism, so it seems likely that a team takes a shot at some point with the hope that they can tap into the potential.
| Grade: 63.1 | Round Grade: 6th |
9
Joey Aguilar
School: Tennessee
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 229 lbs
Strengths:
– Has a pretty strong arm.
– Can zip it into tight windows.
– Can also arc one deep over the top.
– Decent passer on the run.
– Shows toughness with the ability to take hits.
– Generally calm in the pocket.
– Can get in rhythm and work the quick and intermediate levels well.
Weaknesses:
– Overager as a prospect.
– Deep ball will sometimes have too much air under it and float, leading to turnover potential.
– Offence had a lot of one read quick play designs.
– Isn’t a sloth, per se, but isn’t really a threat to extend the play.
– Pressure caused off-platform throws that were often inaccurate and put in harm’s way.
– Accuracy in the quick game was usually solid, but then would have some bad misses mixed in every once in a while.
Summary:
Aguilar has baseline traits that should translate to some extent at the next level. His arm strength shows on short and intermediate passes, where he generates a good bit of velocity and can fit the ball into some tight windows. However, when he tries to launch it deep, although he has the distance, the ball floats up for what seems like ages. This led to some turnovers and near turnovers. At this point, he is much better working the first two levels of the field, but even still, some blips show. Pressure seems to force mistakes out of him, and even unforced inaccurate passes show up. Aguilar is an overager as a prospect, and you have to figure that the upside here is rather limited. He can make some technical and mental improvements, but overall, the feeling seems to be closer to “what you see is what you get.” He isn’t much of an off script guy, but can throw on the run when the time to do so comes. Accuracy in the pocket is solid when he gets in a rhythm, and his profile seems to have enough for him to potentially win a backup job.
| Grade: 62.6 | Round Grade: 6th |
10
Jalon Daniels
School: Kansas
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 219 lbs
Strengths:
– Athletic enough to be used on designed runs.
– Big frame and runs with toughness.
– Can extend play outside the pocket when structure breaks down.
– Can pick up yards on the ground, but still will look to pass, when rolling out, if he has the chance to.
– Generally accurate enough to work the quick passing game, and also has enough velocity on shorter passes.
– Shows flashes of having decent enough arm strength on passes down the field.
Weaknesses:
– Overager prospect.
– Mechanics are sloppy and lead to issues as a passer.
– Accuracy is inconsistent at all three levels.
– Sometimes will bail on a pocket too early.
– Forces his passes into high danger situations.
– Feel for pressure seems to come and go. Instances where he doesn’t notice until it is too late.
Summary:
The playmaking ability with his legs will get Daniels a look. He is a big, tough runner, but he also has that north/south speed that can make him tough to catch when he finds a hole up the middle. Daniels extends plays decently well and will sometimes look to pass, if options are available. His arm strength is decent enough to work the various levels, but his accuracy is still highly inconsistent, partly due to poor mechanics. As well, his decision making and processing could use some work. It would be an uphill battle for him to end up as a starter one day, but Daniels does have enough tools to work his way into a backup job. He needs development right now, but there are some things to work with, and his athleticism tops that list.
| Grade: 62.2 | Round Grade: 6th |
11
Mark Gronowski
School: Iowa
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 233 lbs
Strengths:
– Can get into a rhythm and work the quick game well.
– Good accuracy on quicker routes.
– A leader who can command an offence.
– Plays tough.
– Poised in the pocket. Will step up to deliver a pass, or sometimes take off and run.
– Can execute play action.
– Decent straight line speed to pick up some yards when the space is in front of him.
– Generally a good decision maker.
– Good mechanics.
– Was the best QB at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Weaknesses:
– Overager as a prospect.
– Athletically, he has enough to take what is given, but isn’t a big threat to create much with his legs.
– Arm strength isn’t great. It works for the quick passes, and he gets away with it on intermediate ones. However, his accuracy and drive takes a dip as he gets further down the field.
– Sometimes will try to push it into windows that he doesn’t have the arm to.
– Limited upside.
Summary:
Gronowski doesn’t have the most upside, but when the pressure isn’t all on him, he is capable of doing enough. He is a smart player who can throw with timing and accuracy on quick passes. While he isn’t the twitchiest QB, his determined playing style and decent enough straight line speed will see him pick up yards on the ground from time to time. He won’t always be a running threat, but when it is there, he can take it. Arm strength is a concern, and both velocity and accuracy take a dip on downfield passes. This while he sometimes trusts his arm a bit too much. His ceiling is capped, and I don’t really see much starter potential. He can be a decent enough game manager on a team that helps him out in other areas. Reliable backup is probably the ceiling, and I could see him getting there, both for his leadership and ability to operate the quick game. He’ll likely have to make it as a potential late round pick or UDFA, but his East-West Shrine Bowl performance might have boosted his stock a little bit.
| Grade: 59.8 | Round Grade: 7th |
12
Sawyer Robertson
School: Baylor
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 216 lbs
Strengths:
– Generally accurate in the quick game.
– Decent enough velocity on bullet passes to the intermediate level.
– Can get on a roll when he finds a rhythm and is working within the structure of the offence.
– Will stand tall in the pocket and deliver his pass before taking a hit.
– Remains calm under pressure and is also able to sense it and roll out at the right time.
Weaknesses:
– Not super twitchy. Escapability is very basic and he isn’t always able to get away.
– Arm talent doesn’t look the same when he throws it deeper down the field.
– Accuracy also takes a big hit on downfield passes, especially ones to the sideline.
– Offence was full of quick one read passes.
– Doesn’t often go through progressions, and transition to pro level could be a struggle.
Summary:
Robertson has baseline arm talent to work the quick passing game and intermediate middle portions of the field. His bullet pass is effective in slipping through some pretty tight windows. His toughness stands out on tape. Robertson will stand in the pocket and take a hit to make the play. And while his mobility isn’t anything to write home about, he does know when to bail on the pocket. Where he largely falls short is as a downfield passer. His arm talent doesn’t quite hold on deep passes down the sideline, and his accuracy especially can be erratic. He isn’t good enough at putting touch on his passes. Most of his best plays are bullets to the middle. Additionally, Robertson played in a one read offence, and almost never would go through his progressions. I see him struggling to adjust to a pro style. If he can, his ability to work the quick/intermediate levels could see him eventually land a gig as a backup. However, he may be someone that, if he ends up on the field in a pinch, will need coaches to tailor the offence, with a heavy approach on quick, one read passes. He has enough that a team will give him a look, and he could probably make it as a QB3. With improvements, he could end up as a number 2, but he’ll need work to get there.
| Grade: 56.7 | Round Grade: 7th |
13
Cole Payton
School: North Dakota State
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 232 lbs
Strengths:
– Athletic QB with size.
– Threat as a runner on designed plays.
– Size makes him tough to bring down. Has drawn comparisons to Taysom Hill.
– Can escape up the middle.
– Instances where he gets into a rhythm and finds a little consistency as a passer.
– Decent stretches where he works the middle of the field, as well as the odd shot over the top.
Weaknesses:
– Passing mechanics need an overhaul.
– Accuracy is all over the place due to poor mechanics.
– Only one season as a starter.
– Throws to the outside lose a lot of velocity. Vulnerable to being jumped by the DB.
– Processing can be slow at times.
– Athleticism is more north/south than east/west, and his escapability to the side isn’t quite as good as you’d hope.
Summary:
Payton will draw some interest due to his athletic ability. He is a tough runner with good straight line speed, and can be a threat on designed runs. As a passer, he has decent moments working the middle, but at this point, he is way too inconsistent. His mechanics need a lot of work, which hopefully will improve some of his issues, but making big adjustments is easier said than done. Additionally, his arm strength isn’t anything special. Good enough for the middle portions, but his passes lose velocity when thrown to the sideline. I do wonder if a position switch is in his future. Or perhaps a Taysom Hill sort of role. He has already drawn some of those comparisons, after all. But as far as playing as a traditional QB, a lot of work will need to be done. He’ll likely need to lean on his athleticism to maybe crack a roster early in his career, and hope to later prove he can make it as a passer.
| Grade: 56.0 | Round Grade: 7th |
14
Behren Morton
School: Texas Tech
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 221 lbs
Strengths:
– Has enough arm to work all three levels.
– Shows flashes of good touch on downfield passes.
– Decent enough athleticism to get out of the pocket or maneuver within it.
– Flashes of anticipatory passes.
– Capable of scanning the field and going through his progressions.
Weaknesses:
– Overager prospect.
– Multiple injury concerns.
– Traits are solid, but is lacking a high end feature.
– Accuracy can be inconsistent.
– Passes lose velocity on deep throws.
– Capable athletically to work the pocket and roll out, but isn’t really a threat on the ground.
– Can get a bit flustered in the pocket when pressured. Happy feet.
Summary:
Morton has shown glimpses that lead me to believe he could be a solid backup at the NFL level. When he gets in rhythm, he is throwing with good timing to the short and intermediate levels of the field, and good touch on deep passes. His physical traits, including arm strength and athleticism, are okay. They don’t necessarily stand out, but you can work with what he’s got, even if they aren’t high end. While good in rhythm, Morton isn’t always in this state, and you often see inconsistencies with accuracy. Additionally, he can get flustered by pressure in the pocket. While players like him do get drafted as potential backup QB’s, his extensive injury history will cause his odds to take a dip. But he should get a chance in camp, and with more consistency, could land an early gig as a QB3, with an eventual opportunity to maybe work up to QB2.
| Grade: 54.0 | Round Grade: UDFA |
15
Haynes King
School: Georgia Tech
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 212 lbs
Strengths:
– Good rushing threat.
– Speed to win around the corner on both designed runs and scrambles.
– Decent velocity on short-mid passes.
– Works play action nicely.
– Can throw at different arm angles.
– Capable of working the deep portion of the field.
Weaknesses:
– Overager prospect.
– Running is a big part of his game, but his frame looks a bit lean to be taking those kinds of shots on a consistent basis.
– Mechanics will need a lot of work.
– Accuracy issues show up at all three levels.
– Not great at reading the field.
– Doesn’t throw with a lot of anticipation.
– Will take some shots downfield, but overall, seems to prefer dinking and dunking.
– Arm strength is alright, but nothing special.
Summary:
King, at this point, makes most of his money as a runner. He has good speed and can shoot gaps up the middle or win races to the corner. His athleticism also helps him extend plays outside the pocket, where he then has his choice to run or pass. King’s arm talent is solid enough to work all three levels. However, he isn’t great at reading the field, and his accuracy is all over the place. Especially as he looks to pass downfield, you see the issues pop up, which perhaps is why he often goes stretches just dinking and dunking. King has enough traits that you don’t want to rule anything out, as far as what his future might hold. That being said, his issues aren’t insignificant. He is an overager prospect who needs to improve his mental game and mechanics, which isn’t easy to do. The safest projection is probably a QB3 who competes for a backup job. Winning that job could certainly be within reach and, with enough improvements, there might be a very outside shot he goes even beyond that. But for now, it is one step at a time.
| Grade: 53.9 | Round Grade: UDFA |
16
Luke Altmyer
School: Illinois
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 210 lbs
Strengths:
– Throws with good anticipation.
– Can go through his progressions and scan the field well.
– Puts good touch on his passes.
– Looks to throw when he rolls out.
Weaknesses:
– Arm strength is lacking, even for shorter passes.
– Throws with good timing, but largely is forced to, as his arm doesn’t allow him to cut it much closer.
– Not able to consistently zip the ball into tight windows.
– Lack of velocity leaves his passes susceptible to undercuts.
– Has baseline mobility, but isn’t the biggest off-script threat and sometimes has trouble getting away from pressure.
– Can become a bit flustered by pressure, at times.
– Technique and footwork could use some work.
Summary:
Altmyer shows some ability on the mental side of his game. He scans the field well and is consistently looking to make, not only a play, but the right play. I didn’t see him force much. He is a smart player, but unfortunately doesn’t have the physical tools to match it. His arm strength looks below average, and his athleticism is okay for a pocket passer, but not enough for someone who would be looking for rushing production to offset a lack of arm talent. Technical improvements could lead to some improvements in other areas, but Altmyer will have to compete in camp for either a roster spot or a spot on the practice squad. At the moment, QB3 seems like the ceiling, but he could end up in a spring league.
| Grade: 51.1 | Round Grade: UDFA |
2026 QB Rankings:
1. Fernando Mendoza (86.8, Rd 1)
2. Ty Simpson (80.8, Rd 2)
3. Taylen Green (75.7, Rd 3)
4. Drew Allar (74.9, Rd 4)
5. Garrett Nussmeier (74.0, Rd 4)
6. Diego Pavia (73.7, Rd 4)
7. Carson Beck (68.0, Rd 5)
8. Cade Klubnik (63.1, Rd 6)
9. Joey Aguilar (62.6, Rd 6)
10. Jalon Daniels (62.2, Rd 6)
11. Mark Gronowski (59.8, Rd 7)
12. Sawyer Robertson (56.7, Rd 7)
13. Cole Payton (56.0, Rd 7)
14. Behren Morton (54.0, UDFA)
15. Haynes King (53.9, UDFA)
16. Luke Altmyer (51.1, UDFA)
Notables Not Graded:
– Joe Fagnano
– Athan Kaliakmanis
