Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss had his appeal for a sixth year of NCAA eligibility denied, pushing him toward the 2026 NFL Draft.
The appeal centered on the 2022 season, which Chambliss missed due to illness. His representatives argued he qualified for a medical redshirt, but the NCAA denied the request. The case will now move to Mississippi Chancery Court for an injunction hearing on Feb. 12.
If the appeal fails, Chambliss will enter the 2026 NFL Draft as one of the class’s top quarterback prospects, especially in a group lacking a clear first-round consensus beyond Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers is an impending free agent, and even if Mike McCarthy can bridge a reunion between the two sides, the former turns 43 in December. The Pittsburgh Steelers are in need of a long-term answer at quarterback, but they don’t pick early enough in the 2026 NFL Draft to find one.
It could make sense for the Steelers to run it back with Rodgers for one more year, assuming he doesn’t retire. Even if he does, a veteran stopgap option is probably their best option for 2026. Taking Chambliss on Day 2 of the draft would give them a potential successor down the stretch without the immediate expectation of starting right away.
Chambliss, who ranked fifth in PFSN’s CFB QB Impact Metrics, led the SEC with 3,937 passing yards and guided the Rebels to the CFP semifinals. After transferring from Division II Ferris State, he finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting.
New York Jets
The New York Jets’ decision to trot out Justin Fields as their starting quarterback in 2025 didn’t pay off. He eventually got benched in favor of Tyrod Taylor, and the former’s tenure with the team seems to be finished. Behind the veteran journeyman Taylor is Brady Cook, an undrafted rookie who had just two touchdowns to seven interceptions in five games.
Even though the Jets have the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft with a glaring need at the quarterback position, there’s no quarterback worth taking that early. However, they have four picks in the top 50 this year. Chambliss would make sense as a flyer option in the second round, while allowing New York to use their two first-round picks elsewhere.
Miami Dolphins
Was 2025 the last year we’ll see Tua Tagovailoa on the Miami Dolphins? It sure seemed so when they benched him in favor of Quinn Ewers for the final few games of the year. Ewers outperformed expectations as a seventh-round rookie, but he’s hardly shown enough to be granted the keys to the kingdom just yet.
In addition to their picks in the first two rounds, the Dolphins have three selections in the third round this year. There’s a shot Chambliss will be available there, and he’d likely be the best quarterback on the board in that range. Taking a shot on him could make sense without having the expectations for immediate success out of an early-round investment.
Arizona Cardinals
Similar to the aforementioned Dolphins, the Arizona Cardinals also benched their longtime starting quarterback in 2025. The team and Kyler Murray feel destined for a divorce this offseason, presumably giving incumbent Jacoby Brissett the reins as their starting quarterback for 2026.
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While the journeyman performed admirably as a last-minute stand-in, he’ll turn 34 next season and hasn’t reached the level of a full-time starter. The Cardinals will eventually need to invest in a quarterback best suited for their long-term future. Chambliss could work well with the weapons Arizona currently has on its roster.
Los Angeles Rams
If Matthew Stafford comes back for another year of football, the Los Angeles Rams have made it known they want him back. It obviously makes sense, with Stafford playing at an MVP level in 2025 and leading the team into the NFC Championship Game. The starting job is his if he wants it next year, but he turns 38 years old on Feb. 7.
At this stage of his career, Stafford has much more football behind him than ahead of him. The Rams have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, so they shouldn’t feel obliged to use one on a QB in a weak class. Instead, it could be worth taking a flyer on Chambliss on Day 2. Working with Sean McVay would be a dream landing spot for any rookie QB.
