After Top QBs, Third Passer Drafted May Face Long Wait

LSU's Nussmeier, Penn State's Allar, Miami's Beck among potential Day 2 QB options

Apr. 12, 2026 at 8:37am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented, overlapping images of a football game or quarterback, conveying the uncertainty and complexity of evaluating the next generation of NFL signal-callers.The unpredictable nature of the 2026 NFL Draft's quarterback class leaves teams with tough decisions on when to take a chance on the next potential franchise passer.Penn State Erie Today

After Indiana's Fernando Mendoza and Alabama's Ty Simpson are expected to be the first two quarterbacks drafted, the next group of QB prospects like LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, Penn State's Drew Allar, and Miami's Carson Beck may have to wait a long time to hear their names called on draft day. Their draft stock fell during the 2025 college football season, and they are now considered mid-round picks at best.

Why it matters

The quarterback position is the most important in the NFL, and teams are always looking to find their next franchise signal-caller. However, after the top two QBs are off the board, there appears to be a significant drop-off in talent and potential, leaving teams with difficult decisions on whether to reach for a QB or wait until later rounds.

The details

Garrett Nussmeier, the son of Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, was once considered a potential first-round pick but saw his stock fall after a disappointing 2025 season at LSU where he took too many sacks and struggled with injuries. Drew Allar of Penn State had a similar trajectory, with his draft stock dropping after an early-season slump and a season-ending ankle injury. Clemson's Cade Klubnik and Miami's Carson Beck are also in the mix, but are more likely to be mid-round selections.

  • In the 2026 NFL Draft, Fernando Mendoza is expected to be the first overall pick by the Raiders.
  • Ty Simpson of Alabama is projected to be selected late in the first round.

The players

Fernando Mendoza

The quarterback from Indiana who is expected to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Raiders.

Ty Simpson

The quarterback from Alabama who is projected to be selected late in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Garrett Nussmeier

The quarterback from LSU who was once considered a potential first-round pick but saw his draft stock fall after a disappointing 2025 season.

Drew Allar

The quarterback from Penn State who had a similar trajectory to Nussmeier, with his draft stock dropping after an early-season slump and a season-ending ankle injury in 2025.

Carson Beck

The quarterback from Miami who helped his draft stock by transferring from Georgia and leading Miami to the national championship game, but is still likely to be a mid-round selection.

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What they’re saying

“All it takes is one team to have a high grade on a quarterback and draft him earlier than anyone expects, and perhaps one of these quarterbacks will be a surprisingly high pick.”

— Michael David Smith, Author

What’s next

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in the coming weeks, where teams will have to decide whether to take a chance on one of the quarterbacks projected to be selected in the middle rounds or wait until later rounds to address the position.

The takeaway

This year's NFL Draft class lacks a clear consensus after the top two quarterbacks, leaving teams with difficult decisions on whether to reach for a signal-caller or wait until later rounds. The third quarterback drafted could face a long wait, as the remaining prospects have all seen their draft stock fall over the past year.