Joey Aguilar attempted to secure an additional year of eligibility for the 2026 season, but his efforts were unsuccessful. He was left with no option but to enter the 2026 NFL Draft sooner than he likely would have preferred.
What to Expect From Joey Aguilar in the 2026 NFL Draft
Aguilar is an overage prospect who turns 25 in June. That extended journey often raises concerns among scouts, particularly regarding his developmental ceiling, as NFL teams typically prioritize younger quarterbacks with perceived long-term growth potential.
However, not everyone is dismissing his prospects, as respected NFL analyst Greg Cosell shed light on Aguilar’s appeal on the “Check the Mic” podcast, highlighting traits that translate to the next level.
“I found Joey Aguilar pretty interesting,” Cosell said. “I watch a ton of their games… and again, he’s not a perfect prospect. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not sitting here saying he should be a first-round pick, but I think you’re talking about a big guy. He looks big, too, on tape. He had really clean footwork on his drop and set a really good ball, staging a compact delivery with torque and weight transfer.”
“He cleared his back hip on his delivery, which positively impacted his arm strength, particularly on intermediate routes for vertical deeper routes. He did struggle, but he showed flashes of playing the position…”
According to PFSN’s scouting report, Aguilar profiles as a potential camp arm or QB3 at the next level, with uncertainty about whether he can develop into a reliable starter. He transitioned seamlessly from the Sun Belt (Appalachian State) to the SEC, throwing for 3,565 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2025.
He is “worthy of a camp and QB3 spot but has an uncertain long-term projection.”
His performance earned him an 85 grade in PFSN’s College Football QB Impact Metric, ranking him No. 26 nationally.
Former NFL defensive lineman Leger Douzable sees intrigue in Aguilar’s game as well. As he studied more film, Douzable tweeted that Aguilar could be worth a late-round gamble, potentially in the sixth round, for a team willing to bet on his tools and experience.
Aguilar underwent surgery in early January to remove a benign tumor from his throwing arm. This prevented him from throwing at the NFL Combine, making his Pro Day performance critical for his evaluation.
If his Pro Day on Tuesday shows that his surgery hasn’t compromised his arm strength, NFL teams enamored with his gunslinger mentality can take a flyer on him in the late rounds.
