Arch Manning and other top rookie QBs on the Rams radar for the 2026 NFL Draft

(11) - Oklahoma QB John Mateer

Oklahoma rookie quarterback prospect John Mateer is entering his fourth season of college football, but he played his first three season for the Washington State Cougars. That means that Mateer has a lot at stake this season. From what he showcased at Washington State, Mateer is perfectly positioned to make a move towards being drafted in 2026. Standing 6-foot-1 and tipping the scales at 219 pounds, Mateer is on the smallish size of NFL quarterback size.

But he does have several factors working in his favor.

For starters, he is a dual-threat quarterback who is very dangerous whenever he pulls the football down and runs for daylight. In 2024, he rushed 178 times for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns, essentially adding a star running back to any offense. He matched that with completing 224 of 347 passes for 3,149 yards, 29 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. If he matches or exceeds those numbers in the Oklahoma Sooners offense, you can expect him to be a hot name in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Projected: Round 4

(12) - Florida QB DJ Lagway

Entering just his second season of college football, DJ Lagway is considered one of the top college football quarterback prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 235 pounds, Lagway is a name to monitor, if only to bear witness to why he is projected so high in the draft two years away.

He is projected to highly because he is a treasure trove of what NFL draft analysts check off in what they look for in rookie quarterback prospected. He stands 6-foot-3, and some reports list him over 235 pounds (of muscle). Even as his draft profile is a work in progress, Lagway is piquing the intrigue of an ever increasing number of draft analysts. And some are touting hkim as an elite rookie quarterback prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft. So, why bother with tracking him now?

Well, it's always a good idea to follow the peformance of a promising college quarterback, even if he does not declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. But part of tracking a player is to determine the validity of promising profiles. Is Lagway destined to be an elite NFL quarterback? You can decide.

Projected: Top 3 overall in 2027 NFL Draft

(13) - Illinois QB Luke Altmeyer

The Fighting Illini boast a sleeper rookie quarterback prospect in Luke Altmeyer. Listed at 6-foot-2 nd 195 pounds, Altmeyer was a two-year backup on Mississippi's roster before transferring to Illinois and taking on the reins of starting quarterback for the Big-10 contender. While he languished under-the-radar for three seasons of college football, he boosted his stock significantly with a solid season in 2024.

If he showcases improvement in 2025, he could see his stock skyrocket. NFL teams love prototypical rookie prospects, but also gravitate towards those college players who transfer and excell with their new teams. And the Rams are definitely one of the NFL teams that loves rookies who boast that in their collegiate career.

In the Fighting Illini offense, Altmeyer has improved from 1,883 passing yards and 13 touchdowns to 2,717 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. If he can improve those numbers for the third season in a row, he will hear his name called out in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Projected: Round 3

As always, thanks for reading.