The NFL Draft is almost here, and as many are expecting, the No. 1 pick is projected to be Indiana quarterback and Heisman winner Diego Pavia. However, there are also a lot of underrated QBs entering the draft and they are flying under the radar from the big names like Ty Simpson, Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier, and Mendoza himself.
These five quarterbacks did really well during the 2025 season, but still had a lot of ups and downs. Since the majority of analysts are talking a lot more about others, these guys may come as big surprises coming into the draft.
Top 5 Underrated QBs That May Surprise People During the 2026 NFL Draft
Haynes King – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech started out strong with an unbeaten record that had many believing they could be the No. 1 team in the country, but they soon sputtered out and missed the CFP. However, they were still very successful, and the reason for that is Haynes King, a dual-threat QB who actually led the ACC in rushing touchdowns with 15, and this is more than his passing touchdowns with 14. He was also a Heisman candidate but lost.
Luke Altmyer – Illinois Fighting Illini
Altmyer had 3,007 passing yards and 22 touchdowns this season, and he has proven to be one of the most gifted offensive players out there. He has a lot of confidence but like many of the others in this list, he was simply overshadowed by the big names.
Joe Fagnano – UConn Huskies
With 3,448 passing yards and 28 touchdowns and just one interception in 2025, Joe Fagnano has been impressive, but many did not even believe that he would even be considered to be drafted. Now, he is projected to become a Day 3 pick and he may surprise a lot of people should he be drafted a lot earlier because of his high game IQ.
Cole Payton – North Dakota State Bison
Just the fact that he is from North Dakota State would be grounds for Cole Payton to be an overlooked and underrated QB prospect. However, even after he led the Bison to an FCS national title, he is still not as talked about as the other quarterbacks projected to be picked early this year. He is a southpaw and is a dual threat, so he is definitely somebody to watch out for.
Taylen Green – Arkansas Razorbacks
The Hogs struggled this year, from coaching changes to being in a competitive conference. However, one of their biggest shining lights this season has been QB1 Taylen Green. Another dual threat QB, he had 2,714 passing yards, 19 passing TDs, 771 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. A very athletic prospect, he could surprise many who were only paying attention to the Fernando Mendozas and the Ty Simpsons.
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