2026 NFL Draft: ESPN reveals Top 14 QB rankings, projected draft position

We’re officially near the halfway point of the College Football and NFL regular seasons. That means it’s time to talk about the 2026 NFL Draft.

Heading into Week 7 of the College Football season, ESPN has released its updated NFL Draft QB Rankings. Before the season kicked off, Clemson‘s Cade Klubnik and Penn State‘s Drew Allar were atop the rankings, but that is certainly no longer the case. The rankings are now led by two quarterbacks that began their collegiate journeys elsewhere.

This class certainly isn’t the strongest, but it is certainly one of the deepest we’ve seen in a while. The full list is below:

1. Dante Moore (Oregon)

Redshirt sophomore | 6-foot-3 | 206 pounds
Projected Draft Range: Round 1

Dante Moore has been stellar in his first season as Oregon‘s quarterback. He’s led the Ducks to a 5-0 record and the No. 3 ranking in the nation by passing for 1,210 yards, 14 touchdowns and just one interception this season. Moore sat behind Dillon Gabriel last season and it looks to have paid off in a massive way for the former UCLA transfer.

2. Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)

Redshirt junior | 6-foot-5 | 225 pounds
Projected Draft Range: Round 1

Indiana‘s Fernando Mendoza has been the best transfer quarterback in all of college football this season. Mendoza has passed for 1,208 yards, 16 touchdowns and one interception for a surging Hoosiers team. This weekend is setting up to be a massive one for NFL Draft scouts, as Mendoza will lead his Indiana team to Eugene for a clash against Dante Moore and Oregon.

3. LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)

Redshirt sophomore | 6-foot-3 | 240 pounds
Projected Draft Range: Late Round 1-Early Day 2

LaNorris Sellers has honestly been a bit disappointing this season for South Carolina. He hasn’t been helped by the Gamecock offense, which is one of the worst in the Southeastern Conference. Through five games, Sellers boasts 886 passing yards, four touchdowns and just one interception. Carolina will need a strong second half from Sellers if it wants to finish the season strong, as five of its seven final games are against ranked opponents.

4. Ty Simpson (Alabama)

Redshirt junior | 6-foot-1 | 205 pounds
Projected Draft Range: Early-mid Day 2

After a rough season opener against Florida State, Alabama‘s Ty Simpson has been one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC. Simpson, who has led the Tide to wins over No. 5 Georgia and No. 16 Vanderbilt in the past two games, has passed for 1,478 yards, 13 touchdowns and just one interception this season. He and the Tide are going for their third consecutive ranked win this weekend on the road at No. 14 Missouri.

5. Carson Beck (Miami)

Sixth-year senior | 6-foot-4 | 220 pounds
Projected Draft Range: Early-mid Day 2

Miami‘s Carson Beck has led the Hurricanes to the best resume in college football this season. Through just five games, the ‘Canes boast wins over No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 18 USF, Florida and No. 18 Florida State. Over that span, Beck boasts 1,213 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Beck didn’t quite look himself last season at Georgia, but is finishing his collegiate career strong this season in Coral Gables.

6. John Mateer (Oklahoma)

Redshirt junior | 6-foot-1 | 224 pounds
Projected Draft Range: Early-mid Day 2

John Mateer was the early-season favorite for the Heisman Trophy until he suffered an unfortunate hand injury in Oklahoma‘s 24-17 win over Auburn on Sept. 20. Prior to the injury, Mateer had brought back great quarterback play to Norman. Through four games, the Wazzu transfer passed for 1,215 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. He is reportedly racing back to play against Texas this weekend in the ‘Red River Rivalry’.

7. Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)

Redshirt senior | 6-foot-1 | 205 pounds
Projected NFL Draft Range: Early-mid Day 2

It’s been an interesting season so far for LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Nussmeier, who touched the 300-plus yard passing mark in eight games last season, has yet to reach that number in any of his five games played this season. His season high (273) came in LSU‘s 56-10 win over SE Louisiana on Sept. 20. Through five games, the ‘Nuss Buss’ has passed for 1,159 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions for a 4-1 Tiger team.

8. Drew Allar (Penn State)

Senior | 6-foot-5 | 235 pounds
Projected Draft Range: Early-mid Day 2

Despite starting the year with NFL hopes, it has been both a tough season for Drew Allar and Penn State so far. After opening the season with a 3-0 record against weak competition, the Nittany Lions have dropped back-to-back games to No. 6 Oregon and UCLA to open Big Ten play. Allar has been just okay this season, passing for 963 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. His game-ending interception in overtime cost the Nittany Lions their game against Oregon, and his failure to gain a first down on 4th & 2 sunk Penn State in its game against UCLA.

9. Sam Leavitt (Arizona State)

Redshirt sophomore | 6-foot-2 | 205 pounds
Projected Draft Range: Early Day 3

A year removed from leading the Sun Devils to their first College Football Playoff appearance in school history, Sam Leavitt has been solid once again for Kenny Dillingham‘s Arizona State team. Through five games this season, Leavitt boasts 1,039 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions. He, however, will miss his first game of the season this weekend against Utah with an injury.

10. Taylen Green (Arkansas)

Fifth-year senior | 6-foot-6 | 224 pounds
Projected Draft Range: Early-Mid Day 3

Although Arkansas‘ season has gone off the rails (including the firing of head coach Sam Pittman), quarterback Taylen Green has had a phenomenal campaign. Green boasts 1,398 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions this season and leads all SEC quarterbacks with 441 rushing yards. He passed for at least 300 yards in three of Arkansas‘ first four games this season. The NFL could offer him a fresh slate.

11. Josh Hoover (TCU)

Redshirt junior | 6-foot-2 | 200 pounds
Projected Draft Range: Mid-late Day 3

TCU‘s Josh Hoover‘s season got off to a phenomenal start, as he passed for 284 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-14 drumming of North Carolina in Bill Belichick‘s debut. Through five games this season, Hoover has thrown for 1,517 yards (11th most in NCAA), 15 touchdowns and four interceptions. His Horned Frogs are 4-1 and look to be en route to a strong bowl game this season. Could the NFL be next for Hoover?

12. Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss)

Redshirt senior | 6-foot | 200 pounds
Projected Draft Range: Mid-late Day 3

Trinidad Chambliss has been one of the best stories in all of college football this season. The Ferris State transfer earned playing time due to an injury sustained by Austin Simmons and has made the most of it. He’s passed for at least 300 yards in all three games he’s started in, including wins over Arkansas, Tulane and No. 4 LSU. On the season, he boasts 1,033 passing yards, five touchdowns and just one interception. He’s also rushed for 266 yards and two more scores. He could be headed to the NFL, which no one expected at the start of this year.

13. Cade Klubnik (Clemson)

Senior | 6-foot-2 | 210 pounds
Projected Draft Range: Mid-late Day 3

Clemson‘s Cade Klubnik entered the season as the premier quarterback prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, but that is no longer the case. Klubnik has been underwhelming for a Tiger squad that sits at just 2-3, passing for 1,250 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions this season. He does, however, seem to be heating up, as he’s passed for 617 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception in his last two games against Syracuse and North Carolina.

14. Arch Manning (Texas)

Redshirt sophomore | 6-foot-4 | 225 pounds
Projected Draft Range: Mid-late Day 3

If Arch Manning is considered the No. 14 QB prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, there’s no doubt he would return to school next season and shoot for the 2027 NFL Draft (which his grandfather Archie alluded to earlier this season). Manning was thought to have been the preseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy, but he just hasn’t quite been comfortable in Steve Sarkisian‘s offense this season. Through five games, Manning boasts 1,151 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.