2026 NFL Draft: Colts’ QB Outlook Shifts Amidst โขCurrent roster Dynamics
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Indianapolis, IN – A pivotal decision regarding the starting quarterback position for the 2025 season has thrown the Indianapolis Colts’ long-term plans into sharper focus, potentially influencing their approach toโ the 2026 NFL Draft.The Colts announced Daniel Jonesโฃ will start at quarterback in Week 1, a move that places incumbent Anthony Richardson on the sidelines and raises questions about the team’s future at the position.
Colts’ Quarterbackโ Landscape in 2025
The unexpected decision to start Jones over Richardson signals a need for stability at quarterback while Richardsonโ continues to develop. This advancement coincides with the emergence of โseveral highly-touted quarterback prospects expected to be eligible for the โฃ2026 draft, โcreating a strategic inflection pointโข for the Colts’ front office. Among the most discussed prospects isโข Arch Manning, the nephew of colts legend Peyton Manning.
While Archie Manning has indicated his grandson โis unlikelyโ to declare for the draft after his โข2025 season, the Colts will undoubtedly monitorโฃ the progress of other rising stars. The quarterback position is paramount in today’s NFL, and teams must continually evaluate their options to remain competitive,
notes NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. (ESPN, 2024).
Top quarterback Prospects for the 2026 NFLโ Draft
Several quarterbacks are poised to โmake a significant impact in the 2025 college football season, potentially elevating their draft stock. Here’s a look atโ some of the top contenders:
Drew Allar, Penn State
allar has โappeared in 39 games, completing 62.9 percent of โฃhis passes for 6,302 yards, 53 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. In 2024, he led the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff semifinals, finishing with a 66.5 โpercent completion rate, 3,327 โคpassing yards, 24 touchdowns, and eightโข interceptions.
Carson Beck, Georgia
Beck โขhas played in 39 games, achieving a 68.0 percent completion rate with 7,912 passing yards,58 touchdowns,and 20 interceptions over five seasons with the Bulldogs. He served as โthe starter for the 2023 and 2024 seasons before sustaining an elbow injury โคduring the 2024 SEC Championship game.
Nico Iamaleava, โTennessee
Iamaleava has participated in 18โ games, accumulating 2,930 passing yards, aโฃ 63.6 percent completion rate, 21 touchdowns, and five โฃinterceptions. He played a key role in the Volunteers’ 2024 College Football Playoff run, appearing in 13 games.
Tyler Klubnik, โฃClemson
Klubnik is entering his third season as the Tigers’ starting quarterback. In 37 games, โคheโ hasโ thrown for 7,180 yards, completing 63.4 percent of hisโฃ passes for 57 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.He delivered a standout performance against Texas in the College Football Playoff, passing for 336 yards and three touchdowns.
Blake Leavitt, Arizona State
Leavitt has 17 games under his belt, with 3,024 passing yards,โ a 61.9 percent completion rate, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He led the Sun Devils to a College Football Playoff appearance.
Arch Manning, Texas
In his first season as aโ full-time starter, Manning has appeared in 12โฃ games, throwingโฃ for 969 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions. He passed for 325 yards and two touchdowns in a win against mississippi State in 2024 and is currently expectedโ to return โto Texas for another season.
Michael Pratt,โฃ Tulane
Pratt has played in โ24 games, amassing 3,406 passing yards, a 65.3 percent completion rate, 32 touchdowns, and seven โinterceptions. He โคspent three โคseasons at Washington State, throwing for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 2024.
Brady Cook, Missouri
Cook has 20 gamesโฃ of experience, โขtotaling 4,712 passing yards, a 66.5 percent completionโ rate, 30 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.โค He played two years at California, passing for 3,004 yards in 2024 and consistently exceeding 225 passing yards in all his ACC appearances.
LSU’sโฃ Jayden Nussmeier
Nussmeierโ has 31 games under his โขbelt,โ with 5,772 passing yards, a 62.6 percent completion rate, 40 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions. Heโค became LSU’s starterโ in 2024,passing forโ 4,052 yards with a 64.2 percent completion rate, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Dequan Watts Jr.,โฃ USC
Watts Jr. has 15 games of experience, with 2,620 passing yards, a 66.0 percent completion rate, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, along with 725 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He threw for 353 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Missouri in 2024 and rushed for at least 10 timesโข in every appearance except one.
Did Youโ Know? The Indianapolis Colts have a history of strategically draftingโ quarterbacks,most notably Peyton Manning in 1998,who led the franchise to Super Bowl XLI โvictory.
The Colts’ decision-making process will be heavily influenced by Richardson’s development โand performance,โ as โฃwell as the โperformance of Jones in the 2025 season. The team will also closely evaluate the available quarterback prospects in theโ 2026 draft class.
Pro Tip: Keep a close watch on Arch Manning’s progress at Texas. His lineage and โpotential could make him a highly sought-after prospect.
What impact will Daniel Jones’ performance have on the Colts’ long-term quarterback plans? Andโข how will the development of Anthony richardson influence their draft strategy?
| Player | School | Passing Yards (Career) | Touchdowns (Career) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drewโ Allar | Penn State | 6,302 | 53 |
| Carson Beck | Georgia | 7,912 | 58 |
| Arch Manning | Texas | 969 | 9 |
The NFL quarterback marketโ is constantly evolving, driven by factors such as rule changes, offensive schemes, and the emergenceโข of new talent. Teams are increasingly prioritizing quarterbacks with both arm talentโ and mobility, as well as the โability to make fast decisions under pressure. The 2026 NFL Draft is expected to be particularly strong at โthe quarterback position, with several highly-rated prospects vying for theโ top spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Indianapolis Colts’ current quarterback situation? The Colts have named โคDaniel Jones as their Week 1 starter, with Anthony Richardson as the backup.
- Whoโฃ are the โtop quarterback prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft? Some of the leading prospectsโ includeโ Arch Manning, Drew allar, and Carson Beck.
- How will the Colts’ 2025 season impact their draft strategy? The performance of Daniel jones and Anthony richardson will heavily influence their decision-making process.
- Is Arch Manning likely to declare for the draft after the 2025 season? According to his grandfather, Archie Manning, it is indeed unlikely.
- What qualities are NFL teams looking for in a quarterback today? Teams prioritize arm talent, mobility, decision-making skills,โข and the ability to perform under pressure.
