📝 NFL Draft Scouting Notebook — Week 2

We watch all the games so you don't have to. Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 NFL draft through three weeks of college play.

Week 1 was about first impressions. Week 2 was about proving whether those impressions were real. Some quarterbacks stepped forward and delivered in big moments, others stumbled under the lights, and a few defenders made their presence impossible to ignore. The picture isn’t complete yet, but the draft storylines are starting to take shape — and they’re only getting juicier.

---

1. Lead Item: What’s Going On At Quarterback

Week 3 gave us no clarity on the 2026 quarterback class. Four big names over the summer have given us glimpses of big play, but haven’t found consistency yet. Cade Klubnik (Clemson), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), and Sam Leavitt (Arizona State) are often discussed as the top quarterbacks for this upcoming class, but how have they actually looked?

Below is our updated analysis focusing on Cade Klubnik, LaNorris Sellers, Garrett Nussmeier, and Sam Leavitt as quarterback prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft, addressing the question of what’s “wrong” with them based on their performances and scouting reports through Week 2 of the 2025 college football season.

Cade Klubnik (Clemson)

Strengths: Klubnik, a senior, has been a cornerstone for Clemson, showcasing significant growth in 2024 with 3,639 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions, leading the Tigers to an ACC Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance. His performance against Texas in the 2024 CFP (336 yards, 3 TDs) highlighted his ability to operate in rhythm, make quick reads, and deliver with poise. Scouts praise his experience (nearly 40 starts), clean mechanics, and ability to leverage Clemson’s talented receiving corps, which returns its top three targets in 2025. He’s a consensus top QB prospect, often ranked as QB1 or QB2 for 2026 among media scouts, but NFL teams are less sure of him.

What’s “Wrong”: Klubnik’s Week 1 performance in 2025 against LSU was concerning, completing just 19-of-38 passes (50%) for 230 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception in a 17-10 loss. His struggles against LSU’s aggressive defense exposed ongoing issues with arm strength, as he failed to drive the ball consistently into tight windows or stretch the field vertically. His 6’2”, 210-pound frame is adequate but not ideal for the NFL, and he tends to take sacks outside the pocket (13 in 2024, fifth-most in FBS), reflecting questionable decision-making under pressure. To maintain his top-10 draft projection, Klubnik must rebound in games like the upcoming matchup against LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina, proving he can handle elite defenses.

2026 Draft Outlook: Klubnik is a projected first-round pick, potentially top-10, but his Week 1 performance dropped him behind Sellers in some rankings. If he doesn’t address concerns about arm strength and consistency in high-stakes games, he risks slipping to Day 2. His experience gives him an edge over younger QBs, but he needs to capitalize on it.