NFL Draft intel: Peyton Manning praises these SEC QBs

Each week, Yardbarker monitors the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. 

From two SEC quarterbacks to an Arizona State wideout, here are five players we're tracking: 

Texas QB Arch Manning and LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier 

On Monday, Peyton Manning, Arch's uncle, told ESPN's Pat McAfee the SEC QBs made throws the Pro Football Hall of Famer "can't even think about making" during the Manning Passing Academy last week.

Their arms could make them top-10 picks in the draft. In Tankathon's latest mock draft, the New Orleans Saints take Arch Manning with pick No. 1, while the Las Vegas Raiders select Nussmeier with pick No. 7.  

Arch Manning (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), who has only 95 pass attempts in two seasons at Texas, may not declare for the NFL Draft until after the 2026 season. However, in a story published June 6, ESPN's Jordan Reid wrote his "physical tools were apparent on tape and give him immense potential." 

Nussmeier (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) also looks pro-ready. "He has the most jaw-dropping highlight tape of any QB in this class, as he routinely delivers the ball to where his targets are supposed to be," Reid wrote.

Both QBs should help their teams vie for an SEC title this season. Nussmeier threw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdown passes in 13 games last season. Manning, meanwhile, had 939 yards passing and nine TD passes in 10 games while backing up QB Quinn Ewers (now with the Miami Dolphins).

Clemson QB Cade Klubnik

Klubnik is in the preseason QB1 conversation with Arch Manning and Nussmeier. In his latest mock draft, ESPN's Matt Miller has the Cleveland Browns grabbing him with pick No. 1.  

"Klubnik reminds me of Baker Mayfield — whom Cleveland selected with pick No. 1 in 2018 — in terms of arm strength, mobility and playmaking awareness," wrote Miller. 

Klubnik's ability to extend plays with his legs may stand out from other QBs in this class. In 14 games last season, he rushed for 463 yards and seven touchdowns, including a 50-yarder in a 24-20 win over Pittsburgh on Nov. 16.