In any NFL Draft class, it’s always fun to try and predict which sleeper prospects will take the league by storm.
Over the last few years, players like Puka Nacua, Brock Purdy, Kyren Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown have turned from Day 3 draft picks into Pro Bowlers. It’s not often those steals come at the quarterback position, but they can be extremely helpful for a franchise if you can find a starter late.
Heading into the 2025 college football season, certain quarterbacks have established themselves as top players at their position. Which top collegiate passers are flying under the radar as 2026 NFL Draft prospects, though?
Let’s break down seven sleeper quarterback prospects for next year’s draft.
Mark Gronowski, Iowa
Mark Gronowski was a two-time FCS national champion and an FCS All-American during his time at South Dakota State. Now, he looks to carry his success onto a bigger stage upon transferring to Iowa.
A look at the game-winning touchdown pass from QB Mark Gronowski to WR Griffin Wilde with 1:30 left in the game 🔥
No. 1 South Dakota State defeated No. 3 Montana State 20-16 on Saturday night
📹: @zachmckinnell pic.twitter.com/Ose195cOEi— FCS Football Central (@The__Bluebloods) September 10, 2023
Aside from his 49-6 record as a starter, Gronowski brings a lot to the table. He’s tough in the pocket and possesses ideal arm strength. He has a dense frame at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds and can run well in space, too.
The FCS leader in passing efficiency at 179.67 in 2023, Gronowski won the Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player at the FCS level that year. He has also scored over 30 touchdowns from scrimmage in each of his last three seasons, showing off tremendous dual-threat ability.
Noah Fifita, Arizona
A stellar redshirt freshman season put Noah Fifita on the radar heading into last season. In 2023, he threw for 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions with a 72.4% completion percentage. He led Arizona to its first ten-win season since 2014, too.
2024 was a regression year for both Fifita and the Arizona program. They fell from 10-3 to 4-8 after head coach Jedd Fisch departed for Washington. Fifita’s completion percentage dropped to 60.5%, and he led the Big 12 with 12 interceptions. Needless to say, he has a lot to prove in 2025.
However, the tools are there for Fifita to bounce back. He has an elastic arm with a good sense of timing and above-average athleticism for the quarterback position. His small frame will likely hold his draft stock back. But if he can get his decision-making back to its 2023 form, he could be a sleeper to watch out for.
Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
Opinions are split on Nico Iamaleava as an NFL Draft prospect. Some see him as a Day 3 prospect, while others believe he could end up selected in Round 1.
He’s the least “sleeper” quarterback on this list since he’s well-known among college football fans. After leaving Tennessee for UCLA in a controversial process with NIL implications, he’s one of college football’s most polarizing quarterbacks.
In general, though, Iamaleava isn’t talked about as an early-round prospect with the frequency of players like Garrett Nussmeier, Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik, and LaNorris Sellers. But he’s a strong-armed quarterback with a 6-foot-6 frame and impressive athleticism for his size.
Having thrown for 19 touchdowns and led Tennessee to the playoffs in 2024, Iamaleava is coming off a good year but needs another strong campaign to silence the outside noise. The tape might not be perfect, but his physical attributes indicate he could develop into an NFL starter if coached properly.
John Mateer, Oklahoma
John Mateer was one of the top quarterbacks in the nation last year; you just might not have heard about him. Playing at a Washington State team in a zombified Pac-12, he didn’t get the spotlight he’ll surely get upon transferring to Oklahoma.
Last year, he threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns, showing off his arm strength and flexibility on a wide range of throws. He also ran for a whopping 15 touchdowns.
Mateer has a solid sense of timing, knows how to climb the pocket, and picks his running spots. On top of that, he’s a really good athlete with impressive ball-carrier vision. With shades of Baker Mayfield and Gardner Minshew to his game, he’s a sleeper who could rise up boards with a strong 2025 season.
Luke Altmyer, Illinois
After an up-and-down 2023 as a first-time starter for Illinois, Luke Altmyer turned around massively by leading the Fighting Illini to a 10-4 season in 2024.
Altmyer came through in the clutch last year, leading the nation with five game-winning drives. He regularly hits his receivers in the hands and delivers passes down the field with touch and poise.
His throwing motion dips a bit too much, and he doesn’t have an elite physical ceiling with average arm strength and athleticism. But Altmyer is an accurate passer who’s tough physically and mentally. Don’t be surprised if he sticks around the NFL as a backup for a long time.
Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
Baylor hasn’t had a quarterback selected in the NFL Draft since Bryce Petty in 2015. If all goes well, that streak will end if Sawyer Robertson enters the league.
Robertson broke out as a starter in 2024, scoring 32 touchdowns for the Bears and eight interceptions. He has an uncanny ability to place jump balls right where his receivers can grab them, showing off his arm strength and downfield touch. He’s also an explosive straight-line athlete for his position.
Robertson is unproven at running a pro-style offense. He’ll need to work on his decision-making past his first read. However, he has the arm talent, athleticism, and flashes of accuracy to develop into something special. He’s a sleeper quarterback prospect with serious riser potential.
Kevin Jennings, SMU
For a quarterback who led SMU to the college football playoff in his first season as a starter, Kevin Jennings isn’t being talked about nearly enough as a 2026 NFL Draft prospect.
Granted, he’s an incoming redshirt junior who could stay at school in 2026. Quarterbacks rarely declare early for the draft unless they’re consensus early-round talents. Given Jennings’ strong 2024, though, don’t rule it out.
Starting off the summer by sharing my initial 2026 Top 10 QB rankings at @PFN365! Complete with early observations and analysis.
Fernando Mendoza, LaNorris Sellers, and Cade Klubnik hold the class’ highest potential, but there are more passers to know. https://t.co/k811A9oWPU
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) May 27, 2025
Jennings graded as the second-most efficient returning passer in the FBS. He scored 28 touchdowns from scrimmage and went 9-2 as SMU’s starter. He’s an athletic quarterback who can extend the play well and hit receivers in stride.
He is an undersized quarterback who will need to silence the criticism of his playoff performance against Penn State, in which he threw two pick-sixes. That said, his 2024 regular season indicates he’s a sleeper worth monitoring this coming year.
