John Mateer’s name wasn’t on many NFL Draft boards a year ago, but that is changing fast. After a breakout season at Washington State and a high-profile transfer to Oklahoma, the dual-threat quarterback is now drawing serious attention from scouts and analysts.
Recently, ESPN’s Todd McShay called the dual-threat QB a breathtaking prospect to study. He looked closely at Mateer’s skills, pointing out what makes him stand out, where he can improve, and how those things may shape his future in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Todd McShay Breaks Down Why John Mateer Could Be a Top NFL Draft Pick
McShay doesn’t simply say nice things about the former Cougar. He details why he thinks he is a top talent. First, he talks about how quickly and sharply Mateer moves. Then, he talks about how powerful his arm is and how easy it is for him to throw long throws.
“Mateer is a breathtaking prospect to study in all the ways,” McShay said. “He’s an undersized playmaker with undeniable suddenness and speed. He has a snap release with energy on the ball no matter the arm angle or body contortion on delivery.”
McShay also loves how he stays calm under pressure and can make tough throws when the pocket breaks down. He explained, “I absolutely love his competitive fire and toughness, and also appreciate that when buying time (which is frequently) he’s always looking to advance the offense rather than bailing/drifting/retreating.”
Mateer transferred to Oklahoma in December 2024 after a breakout season at Washington State. There, he threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns and rushed for 826 yards. Overall, he led the FBS with 44 total touchdowns. His dual-threat skills earned him a spot as a Manning Award finalist and the Pac-12 Offensive Top Performer.
John Mateer 6-1 220
-Solid size/ bulk/ thick powerful lower body
-solid arm strength
-effective on rollouts, sprints, bootlegs
-able to extend plays, make initial defender miss keeps eyes downfield
-can fit ball into tight windows
-a bit of a sidearm delivery
-can break… pic.twitter.com/Gca1EdNQ07— Tony Trifaro (@Jetsdraftmaniac) June 16, 2025
McShay praised Mateer’s ability to deliver in clutch moments and carry an offense, calling him “a massive upgrade at the position for OU in 2025.” But he also pointed out areas for improvement. “Mateer’s footwork can sometimes be an unmitigated mess, and his erratic ball placement is a direct reflection. In addition, Mateer’s frenzied style of play leads to a lot of poor decisions, despite his solid TD-to-INT ratio last season,” he added.
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In Oklahoma, Mateer reunites with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who helped develop him at Washington State. McShay believes that continuity could be key to unlocking his next level. “My hope is that Mateer has drilled in his footwork and has worked diligently to play within structure with more patience in the pocket and sound decision-making based on progression reads.”
The Oklahoma quarterback is a playmaker with great natural potential. He can pull off some pretty cool and impressive stuff on the field. But his playmaking style can get a little crazy and unpredictable, which sometimes results in mistakes or inconsistency.
So, McShay isn’t seeing him as a first-round pick right now. He thinks Mateer should keep pulling off those excellent plays, but also work on being more disciplined and consistent to improve his draft stock.
