The 2026 NFL Draft was viewed as a down year at quarterback entering Thursday night, but the league got a massive surprise when the results suggested otherwise. 

Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and national championship-winning quarterback at Indiana, was always going to go first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. Everyone saw that coming. Alabama’s Ty Simpson, a one-year starter, going 13th overall to the Los Angeles Rams — a team just a couple plays away from beating the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the NFC title game — shocked the football world. Perhaps even Rams head coach Sean McVay. 

On Day 2, two more quarterbacks flew off the board with the Arizona Cardinals selecting Miami’s Carson Beck 65th overall early in the third round before the Pittsburgh Steelers selected the hometown kid in Penn State’s Drew Allar 76th overall in the third round. 

With four passers now off to their NFL homes, who will be chosen next out of the next tier or two of quarterback prospects in Rounds 4-7 on Saturday? Here’s a closer look at the best of the remaining passers and their ideal fits. 

* All QB measurables are from the NFL Scouting Combine

• Measurables: 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, 9⅛-inch hands, 30⅜-inch arm length
• Testing: Did not participate in on-field testing

While Nussmeier doesn’t have prototypical NFL quarterback size, he has the requisite arm strength and can maintain velocity from different release angles. He plays like a throwback gunslinger, as no window is too tight to deter him. Nussmeier has enough pocket mobility to open throwing lanes on his own, which can create passes that pull a team back into — or push it out of — tight games. 

Potential fit: New York Jets

The Jets have veteran Geno Smith as their starting quarterback, with Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe behind him. They also feature two top-11-pick offensive tackles in Olu Fashanu (left tackle) and Armand Membou (right tackle). That’s an ideal setup for Nussmeier, who can become more dangerous with extra time in the pocket.

• Measurables: 6-foot-2⅝, 232 pounds, 10¼-inch hands, 31⅝-inch arm length
• Testing: 4.56 second 40-yard dash, 40-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-10 broad jump

North Dakota State’s Cole Payton started just one season in 2025 but stuffed the stat sheet for the Bison. He broke school records for total offensive yards per game (268.9) and yards per play (9.71).

Some teams may view him as a better fit at tight end in the pros, given his limited experience processing route progressions. Still, his arm strength and explosive running — including 29 carries of 10-plus yards — are tantalizing.  

Potential fit: Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins have a toolsy starter in Malik Willis, so Payton could learn behind him while fitting a similar stylistic mold. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, a branch of the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, runs a scheme that could help Payton develop as a processor. With Miami rebuilding, the team likely won’t mind his learning curve. 

• Measurables: 6-foot-5⅞, 227 pounds, 9⅞-inch hands
• Testing: 4.36-second 40-yard dash, 43.5-inch vertical jump, 11-foot-2-inch broad jump

Despite starting the past two seasons at Arkansas, some evaluators are intrigued by Green’s potential at wide receiver. He averaged the third-most total yards per game in the SEC (290.9) and, since 2024, ranked No. 1 in college football in plays of 10-plus yards (315) and 20-plus yards (109).

His combine performance turned heads, posting the second-best relative athletic score by a quarterback in combine history (9.99 out of 10). However, turnovers remain an issue, as he recorded 37 since 2024 (20 interceptions, 17 fumbles) while hunting highlight-reel throws. 

Potential fit: Green Bay Packers

The Packers and head coach Matt LaFleur are an perfect fit for Green. Green Bay has successfully developed Jordan Love behind Aaron Rodgers and Malik Willis behind Love. With LaFleur’s Shanahan-McVay system, this would be a strong environment for Green to refine his game and flash his upside.

• Measurables: 6-foot-2¼, 207 pounds, 9¼-inch hands, 31⅛-inch arm length
• Testing: Did not participate in on-field testing

Cade Klubnik was a three-year starter at Clemson, but he chose a bad time to regress in 2025, his final year of college football. After producing career bests in passing yards (3,639), passing touchdowns (36), interceptions (6), rushing yards (463) and rushing touchdowns (7) in 2024, Klubnik fell back to Earth in 2025. He threw 20 fewer touchdowns (16) and finished with 2,943 passing yards and six interceptions, while adding 94 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

His mobility is solid, but he can sometimes overthink and panic when using his legs. Those moments lead to poor mechanics and decision-making. Klubnik’s arm strength works at an NFL level, but it depends on his ability to remain calm and not rush his route progression.

Potential fit: Chicago Bears

Cade Klubnik could be a fit in Chicago backing up Caleb Williams. He fits best in an offense that simplifies his reads and leans on his mobility, which Chicago does. The Bears ran play-action at the second-highest rate in the NFL in Year 1 under Ben Johnson in 2025 (19.9%). Current backup Tyson Bagent popped up in trade rumors earlier in the offseason, so Klubnik could emerge as a long-term backup option for the Bears.

• Measurables: 6-foot-3¾, 216 pounds, 9⅜-inch hands, 32⅛-inch arm length
• Testing: 4.64-second 40-yard dash, 37.5-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-3-inch broad jump

Sawyer Robertson was a stat-sheet stuffer at Baylor over the past two seasons and finished his college career on a high note in 2025. He ranked second in the nation in passing yards per game (306.8) and threw a career-high 31 touchdowns. However, that also came with a career-high 12 INTs. 

At times, he can be late throwing with anticipation against zone coverage, and his mechanics could use tightening from top to bottom to stay in sync. Avoiding flat feet when throwing is another nitpick, as is identifying where pressure is coming from before the snap.

Potential fit: Carolina Panthers 

Bryce Young’s career started rough before he rebounded under head coach Dave Canales. Robertson needs to tighten a few aspects of his game and could follow a similar developmental path behind him. 

His competition for the QB2 role is Kenny Pickett, who failed to beat out rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel in Cleveland last year, opening a realistic path for Robertson.