The NFL draft is one of the most significant events in the NFL offseason, and one of the most thrilling. Each year, the draft, designed to help teams improve their roster while keeping the NFL fair and competitive, creates great anticipation. Fans and the media look forward to seeing which college players will join the site. All are curious to see how they fit into the roster and whether they meet the — maybe somewhat unfair — expectations of them.
The 2026 draft may still be some time away, but already, fans are thinking about it and who’s likely to be picked sooner rather than later. Below is a look at who in college football will likely be among the first picks.
Arch Manning
Right now, all eyes are on Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning, who many think teams will make a beeline for first when the 2026 draft arrives. The 6’4” sophomore from New Orleans posted 939 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns, and four rushing touchdowns in 2024. He also completed 61 of his attempted 91 passes.
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Experts believe Manning will take the Longhorns’ offense to the next level in the 2026 season. According to the sportsbooks, which have set college football odds of +500 for the Longhorns winning the title, the Texans could go to the championship. Their leader exudes confidence and is unafraid of stretching the field and testing defenses. Whereas young quarterbacks often throw to the first open receiver, Manning is a dynamic playmaker who doesn’t just go for the obvious choice or always throw deep, but will also make second-level throws.
Caleb Down
Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Down is considered the number one defensive player in college football right now, so many expect NFL teams to race for him when the draft opens. In the 2024 season, the junior from Hoschton, Georgia, made 82 tackles in total, including 33 assisted; posted eight tackles for loss; accumulated six passes defended; and intercepted twice. Down has built a reputation for positional versatility, outstanding football intelligence, and independent play. The Buckeyes team is relatively young, and this independence allows him to cancel out errors made by younger players. He also displays a temperament that suggests he’s more than ready to step up to the NFL when it comes calling.
Drew Allar
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback is another red-hot prospect for the 2026 draft. The Ohio-born senior threw with immense conviction in the 2024 campaign and helped the Lions to the semifinal of the College Football Playoff. Allar hit 3,327 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, attempted 394 passes, and completed 262. He also posted 306 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
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Allar’s frame and skills fit the profile of a classic pocket passer, although he also delivers accurate throws outside of the pocket. He’s strong on drive throws and pushes the ball out to all levels of the field. His anticipation is reasonable, he gets the ball out early, and when rushing lanes open, he collects rushing yards. Most notable is his ball security: he’d chalked up 311 passing attempts since he started playing football before anyone intercepted. Returning for his senior season, he’s also shown a high commitment to mastering the nuances before moving to the next level.
Garret Nussmeier
Garret Nussmeier has hit 4,073 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns, and three rushing touchdowns for Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2024 to become a quarterback many think will be an early pick in the 2026 draft. The Lake Charles, LA, senior has completed 337 of his 525 passes.
Nussmeier shows tremendous control of the offense, especially at the line of scrimmage, where he’s happy to change plays if he sees fit. Before the snap, he gets a clear picture of the defense in his mind to make his half-field decisions. His throwing to all areas of the field is effortless, efficient, and reliable, and if a throw is more difficult, he can change his arm angle to accommodate it.
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Nussmeier doesn’t lack confidence, having shown a willingness to attack tight windows, but he needs to learn to work with what the defense gives him. When he tries to generate extra speed, the ball sails and leads to a turnover, so his ball placement needs to improve. The more he plays, the more experience he’ll build, and the better he’ll develop his defense-reading and ball placement skills.
The NFL draft is an exciting time that gets fans and the media talking about who will be making the leap from college football to the NFL big time. Other players to follow when the 2026 draft kicks off include South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback (QB) LaNorris Sellers, Clemson Tigers QB Cade Klubnik, and Arizona State Sun Devils QB Sam Leavitt.
