The 2025 NFL Draft is barely out of the rear view mirror and experts are already turning their attention toward next summer. On Friday, ESPN’s Matt Miller and Jordan Reid revealed who they expect to be the top-five quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.

While Miller and Reid each listed the same five players, they rarely saw eye to eye on where those players fell on their list. No players from the Big 12 made either of the experts’ lists despite the conference being expected to have some standout talent behind center this fall.

Instead, the other Power Four conferences stole the spotlight, with one name standing above the rest. Without further ado, let’s dive into Miller and Reid’s predictions.

Miller’s rank: No. 1 | Reid’s rank: No. 1
Cade Klubnik is both Miller and Reid’s top man heading into the 2025 campaign, and it’s difficult to fault them. Klubnik was fantastic last season, recording 3,639 passing yards and 36 touchdowns while only throwing six interceptions.

Klubnik was dangerous in the ground game as well. He tallied a career-high 463 rushing yards and seven scores last season on 119 carries. Klubnik is entering his third season as Clemson’s full-time starter and second campaign collaborating with offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. If all goes well, Klubnik will be a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy this fall.

Miller’s rank: No. 2 | Reid’s rank: No. 3
After spending two seasons behind Jayden Daniels, Garrett Nussmeier didn’t allow his first season as the Tigers’ full-time starter to go to waste. The 6-foot-2 standout racked up 4,052 passing yards and 29 touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions.

Nussmeier wasn’t much of a threat with his legs, and finished the season with negative rushing yards when including lost yards on sacks. Nonetheless, many experts are confident that Nussmeier could use his large frame to embrace the ground game in 2025 and become a dual-threat QB.

Miller’s rank: No. 3 | Reid’s rank: No. 5
Miller has lofty expectations for Fernando Mendoza but if the California transfer can replicate a fraction of the magic that unfolded in Bloomington last season, Miller’s confidence may be well-founded. Mendoza certainly doesn’t lack the physical attributes necessary to thrive.

At 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, Mendoza is built like an NFL scout’s dream QB. To pile on, he has no shortage of talent, either. Mendoza completed 68.4% of his pass attempts for 3,004 passing yards and 16 touchdowns last season. With three of Indiana’s starting offensive linemen returning, Mendoza should enjoy far more protection than he had at California, where Mendoza absorbed the most sacks in the country last season.

Miller’s rank: No. 4 | Reid’s rank: No. 2
Miller isn’t quite as high on Sellers as Reid, but he’s still excited to see what the breakout star from last season can produce this fall. Sellers left fans in awe last season with his endless weapons. He finished the year with 2,534 passing yards and 18 touchdowns.

However, he was arguably even better when using his legs, churning out 674 rushing yards and seven TDs last season. With standout wide receiving Nyck Harbor running it back in Columbia, Sellers shouldn’t have any problem posting some monstrous passing numbers in 2025.

Miller’s rank: No. 5 | Reid’s rank: No. 4

Drew Allar squeaked into Miller’s top-five but could realistically end up being the best QB in the country in the upcoming season. Allar showed promising flashes last year and led his team to the College Football Playoff semifinals. Alas, he often left fans feeling like he was capable of so much more.

Perhaps Allar will find that more this year. Miller isn’t putting it past him: “His ability to clean up mental mistakes will determine where his stock goes as a senior. Allar could be the top QB in the class … or slip to Day 3.”

Miller & Reid’s Honorable Mention
John Mateer made it look easy at Washington State last season, collecting 3,139 passing yards and 29 touchdowns compared to seven interceptions. Moreover, Mateer amassed 826 yards and a whopping 15 scores on the ground.

Now, only one question remains: Can he replicate those results against SEC talent? Before he has a chance to answer that question, Mateer will have an opportunity to show off his abilities in Week 2 when Oklahoma squares off against Michigan. If Mateer performs in the spotlight, don’t be surprised to see his name soar up 2026 draft boards.