2026 NFL draft: Top prospects, QBs to know, sleeper picks - ESPN

The 2025 NFL draft is over, and we're on to the next. The 2026 draft class has some exciting prospects. And the quarterback position should have a bounce-back year, with more first-round signal-callers expected. Much like the 2025 group, the defensive line class is very strong, too.

Who are the top QBs to know ahead of the season? Who are the early sleepers? Which teams and prospects will be the most fun to watch in the 2025 college football season? NFL draft analysts Matt Miller and Field Yates were joined by college football reporter Adam Rittenberg to answer seven big questions about the 2026 draft — 12 months out.

For more on next year's class and its projected top picks, check out Jordan Reid's way-too-early mock draft of Round 1. But here's an introduction to the best players to know for the 2026 draft, which will take place in Pittsburgh.

Jump to:
Top QBs | Top non-QBs | Sleepers
Early strength | Comparing to 2025
Sneaky CFB team | Best tape to watch

Matt Miller: Next year's class doesn't feature a clear QB1 heading into the season, but there is a strong group of passers vying for that spot. Clemson's Cade Klubnik received plenty of praise after a strong 2024 season. Joining him will be Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) and Drew Allar (Penn State) as well-known prospects. Scouts are also buzzing about Sawyer Robertson (Baylor) and LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina) as high-upside prospects to watch.

Field Yates: This list always looks longer at this time of the year compared to how it will look when we get to draft day in April. But I'll offer up Nussmeier as the key name to know. I believe he has the trajectory to be a first-round pick, and he's the one I've studied the most so far (he was eligible for the 2025 draft but