Cam Ward stands 6’0 and weighs 205 pounds. He’s been off to the races ever since, moving from a sleeper prospect to the unmistakable front-runner for the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He decided to transfer from Alabama to Ohio State. In Columbus, he was a key orchestrator in steering the Buckeyes to a national championship. He deserves credit for the remarkable talent he has displayed all throughout his college football career. This powerful experience is a springboard for what should be a bright and impactful professional career.
Ward initially made headlines during his stellar freshman year at Alabama in 2023, where he proved his capabilities on the field. His move to Ohio State brought unexpected opportunities his way. There, he honed his craft and proved himself as a prospect in one of the most talent laden leagues around. What emerged was a player that, by the end of the season, had proven himself a quarterback of tremendous poise and playmaking prowess.
Rising Stars: Competition for the Top Picks
Therefore, Ward has been the winner as the starting quarterback. At the same time, plenty of other strong contenders are jockeying for the top of the draft. John Mateer, who played at Washington State in 2024, finished the season with impressive stats: 3,139 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions. His competitive nature, confidence and fearlessness have checked the boxes enough that scouts now see him as a serious threat to Ward’s supremacy.
Mateer’s poise in the pocket has made him one of the top quarterback recruits to watch. He’s competitive as hell, which will help him when teams decide to weigh their options. As one AFC assistant noted, “I know [defensive tackle Peter] Woods gets a lot of the love, but Parker is the one that could be drafted first off of that defense this year.” Though the talent pool is deep, Mateer’s streak of competitiveness makes him one to watch.
Aside from Mateer, Cade Klubnik is the other QB raising eyebrows during this year’s draft cycle. He had perhaps the best performance in history, taking his team through the entire College Football Playoff. He’s the guy that accumulated 336 yards and three touchdowns against Texas. Klubnik has amassed a jaw-dropping 3,639 passing yards on the season. With 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions, his efficiency has made him hard to miss for NFL teams looking to scout potential quarterbacks.
Key Factors Impacting Draft Decisions
When watching quarterbacks in the lead-up to the draft, teams are further judging players’ performances in important contests. Consider Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, who has been faulted to some extent for not being more effective in high-leverage moments. His defensive contributions, including 77 tackles last season, show versatility but may not be enough to elevate his status without significant improvements in his passing game during critical moments.
The draft landscape includes several standout offensive linemen who could impact the overall direction of teams looking to build around their quarterbacks. One such prospect is Olumuyiwa Fano, who was an impressive consistent blocker in 2024. He only gave up one sack after moving from left tackle, showing his value on the gridiron.
The other player to get maybe even more attention than Campbell is Joe Proctor, who stands an impressive 6-7 and tips the scales at 360 pounds. His size provides him with a huge ceiling to be picked as high as possible in the draft. An AFC executive commented on Proctor’s potential: “I think he has enough to be a fine starter on the next level, but his setup will always have to be near perfect to get the best out of him.” That said, Proctor has all of the physical tools required to rebound. All eyes will be on his further development, as he makes the jump to the pros.
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