Windy City Gridiron
WCG’s lead draft analyst shares some of his top breakout candidates for the 2026 NFL Draft class.
Going into the dead of summer, NFL fans and analysts alike find themselves with plenty of free time that’s normally spent discussing their favorite team or players.
Truthfully, there’s not a lot of news going on in the football world currently, particularly surrounding our beloved Chicago Bears. That said, I like to use this dead period to pick up my preparations for the next NFL Draft class.
I feel like I write this in every summer draft article I write, but a lot will change between now and the 2026 NFL Draft next April. If anything, I like to try and predict which players could potentially break out and shoot their way up my draft board.
Whether it be a first-year starter or a raw prospect with tools to develop further, I’ve identified six players I think could break out in the 2025 college football season and cement themselves as top 2026 NFL Draft prospects. These are those six players.
Current ranking: No. 24
Given that he’s only started in two career games at the collegiate level, Arch Manning doesn’t have a big enough sample size to warrant being my QB1 at this stage, nor does he hold a true first-round grade for me yet. If he performs the way I expect him to in 2025, though, that will probably change.
Aside from his obvious NFL lineage, Manning is a poised and intelligent passer who reads the field well and has shown he can scan past his first read to find the open man. He has a quick release with some nice zip behind his throws and good anticipation. He’s also a much better athlete than his two Super Bowl-winning uncles, as he showcases impressive agility and breakaway speed. If he can improve his footwork and his sense of backside pressure, he could end up being my QB1 in this class with a very high grade when it’s all said and done.
Current ranking: No. 92
Leavitt fared well in his first season as a collegiate starter, throwing for 2,885 passing yards with 24 touchdowns to just six interceptions. He also contributed on the ground, rushing for 443 yards and five touchdowns. Grading in at 89.1 by PFF in 2024, he was the only Power 4 quarterback with 80+ grades as both a passer and a runner.
I get J.J. McCarthy vibes from Leavitt based off what I saw from him as a redshirt freshman last year. He’s a skinny quarterback but has good arm elasticity with the ability to hit targets in tight windows from any platform. He’s an agile quarterback who maneuvers the pocket well with his head on a swivel and above-average athleticism for the position. The flashes he shows in terms of deep-ball accuracy are enticing, as well. His anticipation and timing are a bit hit-or-miss, but with...
