Author: Rob Staton (Page 1 of 456)

I said in my big summer scouting piece that the 2027 draft looks like a deep class overall — but that the quarterbacks were once again being massively overrated. That feeling has only been reinforced after two weeks of the new college football season.

Let’s start with Arch Manning.

There’s a thirst within the media for Manning to be a top player. A draft class including a quarterback with his second name is box office. The league, equally, will be desperate for Arch to live up to the hype.

I’m convinced this is why we’re seeing a variety of ‘big boards’ with Manning listed at the top end. Dane Brugler had him ranked third in his top-50 list for the Athletic. I think that’s a preposterous ranking personally. The idea of Manning being an elite prospect is attractive. The reality is very different.

If he was called Arch Smith instead, we wouldn’t be putting him in this lofty position. The Ohio State game, fourth quarter comeback or not, highlighted exactly why.

On numerous occasions he was staring down wide open receivers, not pulling the trigger, holding on to the football, then taking off and scrambling. ESPN kept showing replays where they’d freeze the footage to show an open crossing route, with Manning looking right at it, yet choosing not to throw.

This is Manning’s greatest problem. He is just so hesitant in the pocket. But he’s not just hesitant for the tight window throws where you’d understand a young quarterback second-guessing things from time to time. He is looking at players who are wide open and for whatever reason, he doesn’t let it rip.

His interception the previous week was bad enough — a red zone situation where the receiver is open very quickly and it’s a basic set, drop and get it out to him. He hesitated instead, pumped, then threw far too late into coverage and was picked off. In the NFL — you are almost never going to get the open opportunities he had against Ohio State. If he’s over-thinking these passes and missing opportunities, how on earth is he going to live in a world where every throw is a tight window, every decision needs to be quick and you need to play with timing and rhythm?

Then there’s his accuracy, which also continues to be a problem. There are far too many high and wide throws, making life difficult for his receivers. You almost get the sense that any completion creates a situation where people are going ‘see, he can throw with accuracy’. Great. Nobody’s saying he can’t complete *any* passes, or that he lacks physical talent. He is simply not consistently accurate enough to warrant any first round talk at this stage in his career.

Manning’s best aspect is when he runs around, creates, and tries to make things happen. But he resorts to this too often. The fact is he’s rejecting the easy throw, the throw the offense has designed for him to make, in preference of scrambling, far too often.

Let me be clear — I’m not suggesting he can’t improve and work on these glaring issues to become a possible high pick in the future. But you can only judge what you’re seeing in the here and now. I’ve watched eight games from 2025 and his first two games from 2026. He is not a first round prospect at this point.

My prediction is he won’t declare for the next draft unless we see a major shift in performance over the next few weeks. I think he needs games. Two seasons as a starter won’t be enough. He’s not making enough progress.

Jeff Simmons messaged me to suggest Brock Osweiler as a comparison. I think that’s a fair comp for current-day Arch Manning.

He’s not even the best quarterback eligible for the draft (far from it) — let alone the third best player at any position in the class.

Then there’s Dante Moore at Oregon. The Ducks scraped by Boise State last week and lost to Oklahoma State this week. They stood out as a major overrated team coming into the year — with their best players being projected way above their means and a serious lack of depth in behind.

There’s no better example than defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington. Touted by many as a first round pick (#23 on Brugler’s board) — he simply isn’t a good football player. He’s a good athlete. That’s it. In this game he was consistently pushed around in the run game, he isn’t stout, he offered no pass-rush threat and then he limped off injured. This is who he is.

Bear Alexander and Matayo Uiagalelei are very average prospects too. They are a team very reliant on the offensive system, yet lost their top offensive coordinator to Kentucky in the off-season.

That means it’s up to the quarterback, who many project as the likely #1 overall pick next year, to elevate his team. He didn’t do it against Oklahoma State.

He missed a wide open 4th and 2 throw in the first half. He was under no pressure. You *have* to make the play. Throw it softly into the receivers body and it’s an easy completion. In no world should that receiver be having to extend his arms away from his body:

Dante Moore could have been the first overall pick last year.

Today he is 3/11 with 17 passing yards.

Against an unranked team. 😭😭😭

pic.twitter.com/mm6a5h2E4m

— PortersBurgh (@PortersBurgh) September 12, 2026

Could he have caught it, regardless of the pass being slightly off? Yes. But that’s beyond the point. This should be a very easy completion and Moore makes his receiver work harder than necessary (the view from the endzone was even uglier on the placement of the throw).

There were several other similar misses — air-mailing a pass to talented receiver Evan Stewart and botching a swing-pass. He started the game 1/7 passing.

He is big and rigid and lacks creativity. Yes his mechanics are sound and he has the size plus a decent arm. But he just looks very average to me — not someone you’d expect to take the league by storm. What special qualities does he have?

On a 4th and 6 in the fourth quarter, he bootlegs out to the right and his read is covered. So he just burns the throw into the turf. It’s fourth down. You’re trailing by five points at this moment. There’s just under seven minutes to go. Improvise. The scheme told him the play — and he couldn’t shift on it, with the game on the line, so he just throws it away.

His processing in this game wasn’t great and he threw multiple dangerous fourth quarter throws. It said it all with about four minutes to go. Oregon were trailing by eight and yet kept trying to run the ball for the tying score. They didn’t just put the ball in Moore’s hands.

He did have a 36-yard touchdown to the deep left that was well thrown. He delivered a very catchable ball with a good arc. He dropped it in with touch.

Moore reminds me of Josh Freeman, taken 17th overall by Tampa Bay in 2009. Freeman was a 5.00 runner — and Moore similarly doesn’t have the mobility and quickness to move around and create. He has a decent arm, he’s well sized (although not as big as Freeman). I can imagine their careers following a similar path. I don’t think he has any kind of special quality to become a top NFL passer.

I’ve spoken to people recently in the scouting world who share these same concerns. Indeed, there seems to be far more league buzz around Darian Mensah. I have reservations there — he’s looking very polished so far but playing for Miami is becoming the cheat-code for boosting your stock. They aren’t really tested in the ACC. He gets to throw to Malachi Toney, who would be a top receiver in the NFL today even though he’s only a sophomore. Toney should be the Heisman favourite, not his quarterback. They run the ball effectively and protect at a reasonable level.

Mensah still has to put the ball in the right places and play on time — which he’s done very well so far against two bad opponents. He’ll also likely avoid the brain-farts Carson Beck had a year ago, meaning he’ll likely play at a consistent enough level to keep enhancing his stock. Nobody was calling him a future top-five pick at Duke or Tulane, though. We should remember that. And he doesn’t quite have the physical tools of Cam Ward — who equally used a spell at Miami to propel himself to a level that was probably beyond his capabilities.

For me, Trinidad Chambliss continues to be the standout quarterback prospect. His processing is just on another level — as is his ability to throw with anticipation and timing. He’s hugely creative and can make magic happen on the run. He elevated his team last season and appears destined to do it again this year. He’s not as trendy as some of the other ‘bigger name’ prospects but he’s the best quarterback prospect as of today.

Through two weeks, there are no signs LaNorris Sellers has taken a step as a passer despite the switch to the ‘Art Briles’-type offense in South Carolina. He was off all night against Towson, completing just 10/23 for 96 yards and zero passing touchdowns. His interception was unfortunate and on the receiver flubbing an easy catch — but this was another game where his running (119 yards and a touchdown on seven carries) was his main key skill. He has a big arm too — but he simply isn’t developing as a passer.

Neither Julian Sayin (Ohio State) nor John Mateer (Oklahoma) played like draftable players on Saturday. Sam Leavitt threw three honking interceptions for LSU against Louisiana Tech. UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava didn’t play well against San Diego State and threw an abysmal interception in the red zone — throwing woefully back across his body into a crowded central area with a lofted, loopy pass that any of us could’ve picked off.

Drew Mestermaker played well for Oklahoma State against Oregon — but only after a miserable display the prior week in a loss to Tulsa. He has four interceptions in two games.

The truth is — this is a wildly overrated quarterback class again. I understand why draft media is invested in suggesting otherwise — but just as we saw last year, the truth will out. Overall it’s a deep looking draft with many attractive options at the other positions. Just don’t be fooled by the people arguing this is a great crop of QB’s. It isn’t.

Other notes from week two

— In many ways Oregon linebacker Devon Jackson looks massively appealing. He’s 6-2 and 242lbs and has been timed at a remarkable 24 mph on the GPS. He chased down Mestermaker on a 75-yard run in a DK Metcalf vs the Cardinals style ‘lost cause’ — forcing the quarterback out of bounds at the three-yard line and ultimately saving his team four points. He then ran back a tipped-pass 96-yards for a pick-six. He’s a great athlete and can also reportedly jump a 40-inch vertical. However, his long speed’s better than his burst. He can be a bit slow to react and run to the ball. He needs to do a better job shedding blocks and playing with more violence once engaged. He’s not a short-area quickness player who can change direction freely and he doesn’t come downhill to set a tone.

— Kenyatta Jackson looks like he could play in the NFL now. He’s big, carries an alpha aura on the field for Ohio State and he’s had a productive start to the season. He has eight pressures in two games plus a sack. His run defense was strong against Texas. He consistently set an edge and on one occasion smashed into a pulling center to hit the running back for no gain. He drove the tackle back into Manning for his sack. However, he also stuck on too many blocks in the first half and doesn’t play with great quickness, burst or ankle flexion. He did effectively drop into coverage on one snap. He could be an eventual DeMarcus Lawrence replacement for the Seahawks but it’s tricky to judge his upside without testing numbers. I’m not sure he’ll be a sack-artist in the NFL.

— Yhonzae Pierre at Alabama is in a similar boat. He looks like a NFL player with a great frame. He’s good in space, plays read/react like a linebacker and seems to consistently be around the action. However, he’s better playing standing up and doesn’t seem to have the ankle-flexion required to be a great edge threat, nor the blistering speed. He looks like he’d fit Seattle’s system too, but again — what’s his upside? I feel like we’ve seen a few Alabama EDGE/OLB types like this.

— Ohio State’s transfer safety Earl Little Jr is a blog favourite and he led the Buckeyes in tackles against Texas (11). He was consistently reading things correctly, playing to the ball and coming up to make tackles in the running game. He’s someone I liked a lot for the last draft and this should be a great opportunity to showcase his talent. He deserves more attention.

— I have not studied Louisiana Tech cornerback Jordan McRae but the way he ran back his pick-six against LSU has me intrigued. He has blistering speed. It’s been a while since I sat up in my chair watching a run-back like I did for his play yesterday.

— Ole Miss receiver Deuce Alexander just has so much burst, quickness and spark to his game. He also plays with a competitive edge. He’s caught my eye in both games this season.

— I really hope Alabama receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams can ease some of the concerns over his drops because he’s such a dynamic player. He has limitless potential. However, he just looks so awkward and uncomfortable catching a football. If it ever clicks for him you could end up with a top, top NFL playmaker. At the moment though, even when he’s making catches, his technique looks poor.

— Two players I want to watch more of based on Saturday — Wyatt Young the Oklahoma State receiver and Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace the defensive lineman of Kentucky.

— The Seahawks look like they need more speed/quickness off the EDGE and could easily find themselves in the market for a pass rusher in the off-season. Princewill Umanmielen is off to an electric start this season. He has five sacks in two games and 10 pressures. He’s not just winning with speed off the edge — you’re seeing counters, you’re seeing hand-technique. It’s said he can run a 1.51 10-yard split. He’s a very intriguing player and one to keep an eye on.

— Indiana receiver Charlie Becker and Oregon’s Evan Stewart are both legit players. Becker is a quarterback’s best friend — he can go up and make contested catches, he separates early in the route to present open opportunities, he has enough size to be a red zone threat and he catches cleanly and away from his body. A terrific player. Stewart’s injury history will need checking out but he’s just so dynamic and quick.

There are many great characteristics that make the Seahawks who they are.

For a sport that is often focused on how you play in the trenches, the quality of your quarterback or the play-calling — the Seahawks feel like a different beast.

Their elite-level professionalism has been showcased on Hard Knocks and throughout an off-season where the franchise once again had to combat having the words ‘defending champions’ associated with the franchise. They’ve been able to draw a line, move on and return for another go.

The maturity of the roster is highly impressive. The veteran leadership, mixed with a blossoming younger core, seem to be driven in a way that is not usual. Take Devon Witherspoon for example. No hold-out. No hold-in. No big contract drama, even as talks over an extension lingered. He was at work every day, including the voluntary parts of the off-season. The mentality of the group is highly impressive.

Last night we also saw how well crafted the team is. Players who you typically wouldn’t have highlighted as necessarily being key to the game, stepping up to deliver big moments. Josh Jobe, Nehemiah Pritchett and of course, Drew Lock.

It speaks to the development work of the staff and the front office for consistently producing players who are capable of being developed in the first place. The environment helps — as does the approach of the individual players.

It was an improbable victory. Trailing 10-0 in the second half with your backup quarterback on the field, a first-time play-caller who lost his starting QB after the first drive and the defense, whilst keeping a lid on things, hadn’t produced much in the way of pressure and hadn’t had a sniff of a turnover.

It felt like they might go scoreless at one point, let alone win the game. And everyone had to come together to turn it around.

Suddenly the defense burst into life — the juggling Pritchett interception seemed to light a spark and make everyone believe. The defense ended the game with nine TFL’s, three sacks and three picks.

The offense began to flow — with Drew Lock moving on from a nervous looking first few series to suddenly appearing to be in complete control.

Let’s also not forget special teams. Jason Myers, after a challenging three pre-season games, made every kick with every point being hugely important. Michael Dickson also produced a typically excellent performance.

It was a ‘team’ win from the best team in the NFL. A shining example of what truly makes the Seahawks special. It’s not the glitz of a Hollywood quarterback or the diva superstar. It’s not a front-loaded roster, acquired at extreme cost, in an attempt to buy a title.

It’s a carefully crafted, expertly coached, driven bunch of individuals who have each other’s backs. It’s the grit of the group to stare down the most bleak situation — losing your quarterback after one drive, whilst also playing without other key starters — and still finding a way to win.

For a Head Coach like Mike Macdonald, he must constantly marvel at the character shown by his team. The Colts win. The Rams game in week 16. The NFC Championship rematch. Now this. Perfect examples of not knowing when you’re beaten, fighting through the tough moments and delivering under the biggest spotlight.

Granted, a truly awful second half from Drake Maye contributed greatly. The interceptions were, by all accounts, gifts. And for such an experienced staff it was bizarre how the Patriots handled being 10-0 and 10-3 up against a team facing such adversity with injuries.

Yet you’ve still got to capitalise and the Seahawks did. In a weird way, the Patriots come out of this game with greater quarterback questions than Seattle. Maye had a great season last year but he’s now on a stretch of games, including the playoffs last season, where he’s been a little bit exposed. The Boston media are starting to turn and he’ll be under pressure now.

Meanwhile in Seattle — clearly losing Darnold for any length of time would be massively suboptimal. Yet there’ll be renewed faith in Lock in relief after this performance. And the rest of the team has shown it can rally, galvanise and battle through in support. They can win games within this situation — let’s just hope Darnold’s MRI produces good news and this will merely be a short-term issue (although the way he left the field yesterday and then immediately went for further medical checks suggests it won’t be a quick return to football).

I am leaving Seattle later today and returning to the UK but wanted to say a few things on the trip. Firstly, the hospitality of the people of the PNW has once again been astonishing. There were several moments during the week where I’ve been blown away by the generosity shown to what is essentially a random journalist from Rotherham who happens to write a blog about the team we all share an interest in.

To Brian Nemhauser, who again has gone above and beyond, thank you. To Jason Puckett for an excellent evening, to Curtis Allen and Robbie Williams for their company, to my buddy at UW, to Curtis Rogers and Stacy Rost, to the fellas at Simply Seattle and anyone who came and said ‘hi’ during this week. Thank you. This is a wonderful part of the world, with even better people.

Finally to the community here. I doubt any of this happens without people engaging, contributing and making this, in my admittedly biased view, a great place to talk Seahawks.

This is a guest post by Curtis Allen…

A Super Bowl win.

Over $500 million of new player contracts signed.

A national spotlight on Hard Knocks that further underlined what this team is all about.

An historic sale of the franchise.

It has been quite the 2026 for the Seattle Seahawks so far.

Determination to shut all of that out and focus on the task at hand has been the next challenge for Mike Macdonald and John Schneider.  They have said all the right things this summer and the players have bought into the concept.

They can talk the talk.  Now it is time to see if they can walk the walk.

The Seahawks start the season the way they ended it:  with a matchup against the New England Patriots.

What is mainly different about these teams?

For the Seahawks, Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant and Kenneth Walker are gone.  They have brought in a collection of Cornerbacks, Safeties and Running Backs to fill their spots, most notably Jadarian Price and Julian Neal.  Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak is in Las Vegas now, replaced by Bryan Fleury.

For the Patriots, Wide Receivers Stefon Diggs and Kayshoun Boutte have been replaced by A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs.  Center Garrett Bradbury has been replaced by Left Guard Jared Wilson, with Alijah Vera-Tucker taking the Left Guard spot.  K’Lavon Chaisson has been replaced by old friend Dre’Mont Jones on the edge and Jaylinn Hawkins has been replaced by Kevin Byard at Free Safety.

It is fair to say that while some of the players on the field have changed, the fundamental truths that made the difference in the Super Bowl will still be very prominent for this game.

Here are my Super Bowl Watch Points posts from February:

For Defense

For Offense

What are some similarities in the key elements?

On Defense

We saw that the defense providing interior rush on Maye proved to be very effective.  In fact, the Seahawks only blitzed ten times on their way to a 34% pressure rate that included six sacks, ten bad throws and two interceptions.  Attacking the interior carried a lot of the weight on defense.

The Patriots are still vulnerable there.

Vera-Tucker’s last game was January 2025 and Jared Wilson (yes, this Jared Wilson) was a shaky rookie last year and is now changing spots to play center.  Lining up across from one of the NFL’s best interiors is a very tough ask for Week One.  The Seahawks must take advantage and move Maye off his spot.

Helping unbalance the game a bit is that Treyvon Henderson is out for this game with a nagging ankle injury.  Rhamondre Stevenson will carry most of the load.

Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels will also try his patented blend of misdirection and changing defenders’ eye focus, then taking shots to burn defenses deep.  This time around, he has A.J. Brown to work with, an upgrade over Diggs and Boutte.  No doubt players like Nehemiah Pritchett, Anthony Thomas and D’Anthony Bell will have critical roles behind the linebackers.  It will be a very interesting test of the defensive staff’s acumen to see if they can make the game plan work with depth players at one or two key spots.  Last year, a depleted backfield was the biggest difference in Week Five’s loss against the Buccaneers.

On Offense

Last year I wrote this:

The third (and most effective) is this: attack the edges of the defense.  It is no secret that the best way to minimize the impact of inside strength is to run away from it.  The Seahawks employ the Wide Zone as well as any team, and there are many ways they can run on the edges to create space for Walker to pick up some meaningful yards.  This is not just an idea to avoid running at the tackles.  The Patriots have shown they are vulnerable to this kind of attack.

Did the Seahawks utilize this strategy?

Yes. 

They.

Did. 

Okay that third one may not have been from the actual game.  But just look at Kenneth Walker’s run chart to see how much success he had in their wide zone scheme:

The first offensive play of the game for the Seahawks was a Walker wide zone to the left for ten yards.

Have the Patriots vastly improved at the edges of their defense?  No they have not.

Do the Seahawks have a player who can take advantage of poor edge setting?

Yes they do.

In the passing game, the Patriots will likely still rely on the “blitz a lot and pray” model, given their lack of effective pass rush.  In the Super Bowl, they blitzed 23 times (to Seattle’s 10), getting a very nice 35% pressure rate.  They recorded one sack and forced Sam Darnold into eight bad throws, but none were interceptions.

This is a key area to keep an eye on.  Darnold knows he did not have a good Super Bowl.  Having a better game will require that he torch the Patriot blitzes mercilessly.

One key way to beat the blitz was something we saw time and again in training camp this year:  having Jadarian Price leak into the flat and be a safety valve for the Quarterback.  If the Seahawks are able to time up some blitzes with a play like this, Price can really open things up.  All the more so if the defense gets their signals crossed.

New Factors to Consider

— Week One is always a mix of the unknown.  Teams keep their training camps under wraps more than ever and many do not even give their starters snaps in preseason games anymore.  Mike Macdonald and the staff need to be sharp on their adjustments to what the Patriots are rolling out on both sides of the ball.

— The sword cuts both ways though.  Brian Fleury is making his debut as a play-caller and putting in more pre-snap movement will be very interesting to watch.  Perhaps he can catch the defense off guard.  He also has envious depth to work with.  A deep group of Tight Ends might provide opportunities for mismatches, particularly if they are not aware and put a slower Linebacker on Elijah Arroyo.

— Mike Macdonald has praised Tyrice Knight for his camp, noting that Knight is ‘making his job hard’ in finding ways to get him on the field.  It should be noted that Nick Emmanwori was used often in a Linebacker role on the field.  It would follow that Knight can take some of his snaps if Emmanwori cannot make it, which seems increasingly likely.  Do not forget – he can be a very effective blitzer.

-Sam Darnold and Rashid Shaheed have demonstrated far better chemistry in training camp this year than they did in games down the stretch.  Shaheed had a lot of great moments but often was just slightly out of synch with Darnold on deeper passes.  All credit to Christian Gonzalez for a gorgeous breakup, but look at Shaheed slow down just enough when tracking the ball to allow Gonzalez into the play.  It also happened in the first Rams matchup Week 11.  It can be hard to time up passes with a track-speed level runner.  If Darnold can hit Shaheed deep on one or two plays, that could flip the game for the Seahawks.

— The A.J. Barner touchdown in the Super Bowl was such a blown coverage, I would be tempted to run it again and see if both Linebackers – having watched the tape several times this offseason – overzealously bite to cover him and leave the Running Back all alone in the flat.

This was a real treat — to visit ‘Seattle Sports’ in person and join Bump & Stacy. Please do check the video out below! And like/leave a comment on the YouTube page as it all helps.

A mixed bag from the quarterbacks

There’s a definite thirst among draft media’s big players to talk up the quarterback class. I still think we’re seeing familiar issues on tape.

Take Arch Manning. In my season preview we noted he hesitates too long in the pocket and needs to learn to throw with better anticipation. Yet he’s started this year in exactly the same fashion.

Look at his red-zone pick against Texas State. He pumps then throws way too late over the middle into traffic:

Arch Manning throws an interception into triple coverage to close out the half😬 pic.twitter.com/YlcQyCcZNQ

— College Football Report (@CFBReport) September 5, 2026

The commentator says the defender reads the eyes but in reality, the receiver is wide open. There’s no reason not to get that out — Manning’s delay and late throw made it an interception. That has to be a see it, get it out of your hands and execute play. You cannot ever throw late into that area, in that much of a shortened field. That’s a basic fundamental flaw that he still hasn’t fixed, clearly.

You can clearly see his mobility on tape and he has a good arm. I would say he threw with far better touch in this game than we saw in 2025. To me though, it’s way too early to be talking about him as a high first round pick. Name recognition is doing a lot of heavy lifting at the moment — but let’s see how his season progresses.

Oregon, who give off a distinct ‘good not great’ feel again, toiled a bit against Boise State. That at least created a good test for Dante Moore, who barring something unforeseen will be the first quarterback drafted next year.

He’s well sized, he has an ideal combination of height and bulk (he’s 6-5 and can easily play at +215lbs). In this game he showed off the most natural mechanics — a drop, set and throw that is extremely polished. His release is smooth and he has easy arm strength. Generally he makes it look easy throwing to all areas of the field.

The offense at Oregon is still restrictive though for evaluation and you’d like to see more challenging reads. It’s a lot of half-field stuff, or over-matched defensive backs struggling to cover Evan Stewart.

There’s also not much in terms of ‘wow’ moments — little crazy improv or downfield magic off platform. In the NFL things will break down and you need to make things happen in that instance. Can he do this? Or is he going to need to need to be a very effective ‘execute the system QB’ supported within a top offense?

He’s also not fast — he is not going to be a big running threat. This does mean he often sticks and climbs in the pocket rather than taking off, so it’s not always a negative (see: Sam Leavitt in a moment).

In the pre-season preview I discussed Nico Iamaleava as being arguably the most naturally gifted of the draft eligible quarterbacks. However, he needed to play with greater consistency, take a step in his overall play and stay on the field. I don’t think we saw a great deal of evidence of that against California.

Iamaleava played with far too much hesitation — he kept patting the football, unnecessarily hitching and that led to his interception in the game. You’ve got to be able to play on time, with anticipation and accuracy. He has the tools to be a very good player — but that pick, along with several other plays where he just wasn’t processing quickly enough, stuck in the memory.

Someone who had no problems playing with timing and anticipation, delivering several ‘wow’ throws, was Trinidad Chambliss. He ended last year brilliantly for Ole Miss and in a weirdly open, back-and-forth second half against Louisville, he stood out.

There are very few of the quarterbacks we’re talking about for 2027 with the ability to anticipate this route, throw on time and execute. This is the kind of thing you have to do, albeit remarkably sped up, in the NFL:

ELITE anticipation from Trinidad Chambliss 🎯 pic.twitter.com/e7e6934y8L

— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) September 7, 2026

In a world of wide open receivers running free and reads where you only have to hold the safety in position then peal off to your only target on the play-call, this is a wonderful example of what makes Chambliss so impressive. He is currently playing at a far greater, more NFL prepared level than anyone else.

Against Louisville he threw over the middle into tight areas. He layered throws. He attacked downfield, using the extreme speed of Deuce Alexander in 1v1 situations to gain junk plays and/or score points. He can scramble to extend, throw on the run, make gains with his legs. The only downside is purely his lack of ideal size. Other than that, there’s a ton to like here.

I was not similarly impressed with LSU’s Sam Leavitt, despite the lopsided win against Clemson. His first two throws were off target and behind, leading to one interception. He seemed to throw into dangerous areas with bad ball placement too often and largely got away with it.

He drops his eyes far too quickly when he feels pressure and immediately sets off to escape. Where was the poise in this game? Stand tall, execute the system. He’s not a dynamic enough athlete to get away with this approach in the NFL.

There’s not enough arm strength. He under-threw badly a second quarter fade to the right sideline and then had a similar very average throw deep right. There’s hardly any loft or touch to his longer range throws, the arc is too flat and there isn’t enough punch.

Look at this screen grab below. It’s an attempt to Trey’Dez Green wearing #7. He is open and there is a lot of space in front of him:

This throw goes incomplete. Why? Because Leavitt doesn’t have the juice to just rocket that into Green. Instead the pass is too floaty and the defender can recover and he has more than enough time to come across and break it up. That was a big play waiting to happen and should’ve happened. It didn’t because Leavitt doesn’t have the arm.

The Lane Kiffin system has always featured a lot of high percentage throws and this game was no different. I didn’t see one complex, highly impressive completion against Clemson. He ran around and contributed, yes, but from a pro-evaluation stand point there’s very little to get the juices flowing here.

I thought it was very difficult to glean anything from Darian Mensah’s performance against Stanford. The Cardinal were no match defensively. Mensah really spent most of the game looking off to one side, then coming back to Malachi Toney and then just throwing him the ball. He ended up with 12 catches for 234 yards and three touchdowns. Toney is a cheat code — a clear very high first round pick who could already play in the NFL even as a second year player. His presence will clearly aid Mensah this year but it also might create a red herring situation where mass production through Toney is being viewed as Mensah driving forward his own stock.

For what it’s worth, I think it’s mildly insulting that Mensah is the current Heisman favourite. Toney, the man doing the Heisman pose after his touchdowns against Stanford, really is the one deserving of that attention.

Other quick non-QB notes

— Deuce Alexander had an electrifying performance for Ole Miss against Louisville and was virtually uncoverable in a foot race. Alexander consistently burnt-off defenders to run deep and he collected five catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns. He also used his speed well to drive downfield, fake the deep route and comeback to the QB. I think he’ll need to show a bit more polish and variety with his routes, plus he needs to clean up his catching technique, but there’s a dynamic player here. Per Bruce Feldman he’s been timed at 23mph on the GPS and can deadlift three times his weight. He is clearly a freakish athlete.

— I continue to fail to understand why Oregon’s A’Mauri Washington gets so much attention in draft media. Sure, he’s a good athlete for a defensive tackle. But there’s still little sign on tape that he’s actually good at football. Against Boise State I thought he was typically poor vs the run despite his size and he offered very little as a pass rusher. He missed a tackle too. He needs to reach a whole new level of performance to justify the hype and I don’t think we saw it in week one.

— Kenyatta Jackson at Ohio State is the opposite of Washington and perhaps deserves more love in the media. He had a fantastic eight pressures against Ball State — plus six hurries and two QB hits. Admittedly it’s weaker competition but that’s when you need these players to shine. Jackson isn’t ever going to fly around the EDGE and win with pure speed but he does everything else well — he’s tough, can work speed-to-power, he can set an edge, he’s well sized. He’s a good football player.

The new College Football season is underway but the first big slate of games comes this weekend. I’ll be attending the Apple Cup on Sunday during my week in Seattle.

For the last few weeks I’ve been watching 2025 tape on draft eligible players to get a feel for the 2027 class. Here are my notes…

Is this draft class as good as people are saying?

I think some of the stuff people have been saying, such as this could be the best class ever, is premature. Some position groups appear thin at the moment, although this could change during the season as players develop and emerge.

What I would say though is there’s definitely the potential for this to be a deep, thick class of prospects with some exciting, legit blue-chip players at the top end.

There are a lot of good draft eligible players. There are potential stars at the top end. It’s going to be one of the more interesting drafts to cover in some time.

Who are the potential stars?

At the very top you have Jeremiah Smith the receiver at Ohio State. You don’t need a big report from me on Smith. There is definite Julio Jones-esque potential here. He is a truly rare prospect who ticks every physical box you want at his position. He’s already produced strong numbers in his first two years for the Buckeyes — it would be great to see him go and reach the next level in 2026. He’s playing for a contender with a settled quarterback situation. There’s no reason why he can’t win a Biletnikoff and put himself into Heisman contention. It would be a surprise, even at this early stage, if he isn’t the first non-quarterback drafted.

The second clear star in the making is Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore. I can’t recall watching someone with his exceptional combination of size, natural cover skills, production and physical talent. He is tall — said to be in the 6-1/6-2 range — and yet his mirror and transition, his back-pedal, his ability to play well in both man and zone, his quickness, his length, his instinct — he looks like a complete package at the position.

Both players would likely be considered top-five players in any given draft class.

I think there’s a bit of separation to the next group but there’s still a lot of potential with the following players:

Dylan Stewart (EDGE, South Carolina) — he’s listed at 6-6 and 250lbs and plays with classic lean quickness. He’s very difficult to contain and can dip around attempted blocks and just explode to the quarterback. His length and closing burst are major weapons. There’s very clear evidence of him extending his arms to use his length to stack blockers. He will constantly concern tackles with his EDGE speed. When he fills out a bit and gains more strength he could be a speed-to-power dynamo. His burst has to be seen to be believed at times and that initial quickness will be a major X-factor at the next level. His run defense is surprisingly good for his frame — he’s very willing to take on blocks vs the run, get free and attack downfield. He looks like an outstanding athlete with amazing upside but will need to develop more of a repertoire in 2026. It would also be good to see better counter plans when his initial rush stalls.

Colin Simmons (EDGE, Texas) — His body looks well filled out for a player listed in the 6-3 and 250lbs range. He’s very quick and moves with ease. He’s patient when reading the play and doesn’t just go with his head down in attack mode. You see a clear football IQ — he seems to understand what’s going on and what his role needs to be during a given play, rather than just rushing the backfield. For example, he will take the outside shoulder to force runs back inside and do the dirty work willingly. He doesn’t go chasing the ball-carrier and wreck contain. His closing burst is excellent. He can man-handle linemen at the point of attack, shaking them off with disdain vs the run. He has very powerful hands and is capable of delivering a big jolt to the chest to disrupt blocks. He can turn the corner as a pass rusher but doesn’t have the unreal burst to attack the shoulder then bend and straighten. His EDGE rush tends to be tighter around contact. He doesn’t have the unreal ankle-flexion to change direction on a dime — he’s a little bit tight. However, he’s just so forceful that he often plows through contact to turn the corner.

Will Echoles (DT, Ole Miss) — he can really move for a 6-3, 310lbs defensive tackle. He’s capable of barging his way into the backfield. He had five sacks as a sophomore which is a good return and something to build on. His 33 pressures were sixth most among interior defenders in college football last season. His run defense is very good — he is athletic and disruptive but also stout and difficult to move. He doesn’t have the twitch of a lighter DT but once he attacks the outside shoulder he’s tough to stop. He can set-up a blocker to the outside, then use an effective arm/over to shift inside. If you line him up in the gap — O-liners struggle to get across and cut off the angle. If linemen overextend he will throw them down with disdain. He plays with a toughness and an edge. His initial contact is forceful with a powerful strike to disrupt and knock blockers off-balance. He already looked in 2025 like he could play in the NFL. He’s probably not going to be a game-wrecking pass-rush force but he still looks really good. He’s going to competently do everything you need at a good level. He possesses grown-man strength for such a young player. He has a big frame with thickness throughout. Just a really good football player.

Justin Scott (DT, Miami) — His quickness off the snap leaps off the screen for a 300lbs lineman. He can man-handle interior linemen and shove them backwards into the quarterback. He will bench-press blockers to keep his frame clean and keep his eyes in the backfield. He has an effective fake to the outside shoulder before dipping inside on the counter. He can absorb initial contact on the block and still jolt a lineman backwards to gain advantage. The thing you notice is how often opponents go backwards when facing him. He can work around contact when he sees a gap opens up and sprint to the QB. There’s evidence of him running to the sideline to make tackles despite his size. He has the instinct to get his hand up and try to tip a pass when he can’t get home. He’s just an absolute menace who will give O-linemen nightmares every week. He carries a well proportioned frame and looks like he can play multiple positions. He played a lot of snaps last season (505) which speaks to his conditioning. He can do a better job finishing (only two sacks last season) and technique refinement will be key here. He should develop a plan pre-snap — at the moment it feels like a lot of instinct and feel. He can learn to set up blockers more. He could use his explosive speed to attack the outside shoulder and rip through contact. It feels like he has a limitless ceiling to emerge as a top NFL Draft prospect if he can put together a strong 2026 season.

Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (LB, Notre Dame) — to me he looks like one of the most natural linebacker prospects in years. He constantly plays with his hips sinking into the turf, keeping low, then exploding to the ball. He’s very quick and can move across the line with great agility. He fires out like a cannon when he reads the play and reacts with violence. There’s clear evidence of him blowing up pass-protecting RB’s and TE’s. He’s extremely fluid working around blocks. So much show, he’s even shown an ability to dip his shoulder and round the arc off the EDGE as a pass rusher. He actually turns the corner brilliantly. His natural knee-bend for his size is impressive and enables him to keep low. He just moves so easily around the field. He’s extremely competent in second-level coverage and not just a forward-attacking player. He has tape where he drives the right tackle back into the pocket playing off the EDGE to show how much power he has. Stalks stretch plays to the sideline with quickness and discipline. Fills gaps in the line versus the run with ease and seems to enjoy it. He has good size for the modern-day linebacker at 6-3 and 234lbs.

Cam Coleman (WR, Texas) — There’s not actually a ton of separation on his Auburn tape from last year. However, he made several improbable completions in tight coverage. His concentration when making catches is at a high level. He can make spectacular one-handed grabs and contort his body to complete catches. Basically if you throw it in his general direction, he can make plays. This particularly works a treat in tight areas of the red zone and he still gives you a chance to score even when he’s well covered. He can round off routes nicely to comeback and present a target to the QB. He has shown he can make catches in tight windows across the middle of the field. There are examples of him extending his hands to catch away from his body. He has a nice, lean frame with good height. You see quickness off his release to challenge cornerbacks and he can get deep. You get the sense he’s only scratching the surface of his potential. I’m not sure Texas and catching passes from Arch Manning was absolutely the best move — but Manning will have a very consistent target to throw to and Coleman should make his life easier. A very natural receiver.

There are two other names I’ll mention quickly.

Ryan Coleman-Williams (WR, Alabama) burst onto the scene as a freshman and appeared destined to be a very high draft pick. Last season it felt like he disappeared — receiving fewer and fewer targets as the season progressed to the point it started to feel a bit like he was in the doghouse. I will say this though — he has clear twitch and change of direction skill and he uncovers superbly. He has the ability to cut back and break ankles to create with the ball in his hands. He can be used in a multitude of ways — conventional, deep, intermediate, YAC. He catches the ball away from his body. He has had several special moments in big games for Alabama and provides an X-factor element at his best. He runs the redline to maintain space to the sideline, then creates late separation squeezing the DB. He can adjust back to the football better than most receivers and his ball-tracking skills are great. It’s said he can jump a crazy 44 inch vertical and an 11-2 broad. He has shown a suddenness on tape that matches that level of freaky athleticism. He did have 10 drops in 2025 which is nuts and perhaps explains his loss of favour. But he has all of the talent in the world if he can have a get-right year in 2026.

I also think Kewan Lacy (RB, Ole Miss) is just such a fantastic talent. Every time I watched Ole Miss last season he jumped off the screen. He scored 24 touchdowns and was a workhorse — playing every game. He can hit home runs, he can get the tough yards. It’s difficult to project where running backs will go in pre-season but Lacy has the potential to be a high pick if he can build on last year. He is a little bit high-cut which teams typically don’t like. But he’s just so buttery smooth when running with the ball. He can run through or around contact. When he finds a crease he can turn a good run into a great run. His long strides gobble up yards when he hits top speed. He hits the hole quickly with a purpose to capitalise on openings and then when he reaches the second level the fun starts. He had 1,010 yards after contact last year — fourth most in college football.

Do any offensive linemen warrant a mention?

I think we need to see more from Trevor Goosby at Texas, who most are suggesting is a high first round prospect (I’m not convinced at the moment). Keep an eye on Ryan Baer at Pittsburgh. But the name to mention here is, unsurprisingly, another Iowa Hawkeye.

Kade Pieper will switch from right guard to center this year. He had the seventh best zone-blocking grade in 2025 (89.0) and only gave up one sack (vs Michigan State). He has the ideal center frame at 6-3 and 300lbs and reportedly runs a 4.13 short shuttle, a 1.52 10-yard split and jumps a 37-inch vertical. When linemen from Iowa put up these numbers, they typically go in the first two rounds.

He’s very quick moving upfield to the second level and he’s a block-finisher. He can extend his arms to control blocks and he’s capable of turning defenders to create lanes. He constantly resets his hands to control with good pad level. Pieper stays square and keeps defenders in front of him, rarely losing leverage. His feet keep moving forward during blocks when he’s latched on and he’s not a static blocker. He can be a tone-setting finisher.

He’s brilliant on the pull — quick, decisive and accurate with his hands, plus always in control. He’s one of the best pullers I’ve scouted. He’s shown an ability to competently combo-block and there are loads of examples where he drives defenders off the ball and dumps them to the turf.

Pieper excels in the red-zone to help finish drives in the running game. He consistently panics defenders and has them moving backwards, clinging on for dear life. He never plays with too much aggression and is always seemingly in control of his emotions. I’d call him a silent assassin as a blocker.

In pass-pro he drops and sets with ease and shows a strong back to anchor down. He’s shown he can move, turn his body against the grain and steer defenders from an angle. He’ll be able to play anywhere in the interior and looks like he could be a first or second round pick. My only quibble is he can over-extend sometimes and can play a little high.

Are some players being overrated in the media?

I’m not going to linger too much on negatives — I want this to be a positive piece — but I do think there are some players who need to show the hype is justified. A’mauri Washington (DT, Oregon) is more of an ‘athlete for his size’ than good football player based on 2025 tape. I’ve mentioned Texas’ Goosby but there’s absolutely no way anyone should be projecting new LSU tackle Jordan Seaton in the first round based on what he showed at Colorado. When I watched Ahman Moten Jr (DT, Miami) I didn’t see a first round player like many are suggesting and find him a weird player to analyse — given he’s 6-3 and 325lbs but his best skill is rushing the passer and I wish he did the basics better — anchor, control, take on blocks, tackle.

I think there’s a group of EDGE rushers who are being inflated in the media — Will Heldt, John Henry Daley, Quincy Rhodes, Clev Lubin, Anthony Smith and Matayo Uiagalelei. It’s not that they’re bad players — it’s just I think they are what they are and are being pumped up a little too much.

Players who might be a bit underrated

I have enjoyed watching safety Earl Little Jr and now he’s going to Ohio State he’ll have a great opportunity to showcase his potential. Kelley Jones, the cornerback at Mississippi State, looks like he should be really stiff given his frame is so long and big but he’s surprisingly capable in coverage. I think Ohio State pass-rusher Kenyatta Jackson has another level to reach and if not — he’ll give you everything as a physical force off the EDGE. Miami running back Mark Fletcher is a really fun watch and has plenty of talent. I mentioned Ryan Baer at Pitt earlier and I think it’ll be interesting to see how Justice Haynes the running back gets on after transferring to Georgia Tech.

Let me also highlight a kicker to watch who stood out to me in 2025 — Lucas Carneiro from Ole Miss.

So… quarterbacks

This is the one area I do think some people have got carried away. It’s not a surprise — the draft is big business now and the best way to engage an audience or readership is to sell the dream that quarterbacks are here to save your team.

A year ago Todd McShay (not to pick on Todd, but it helps illustrate the point) had Garrett Nussmeier as the #1 pick in his ‘way too early’ 2026 mock with Cade Klubnik at #5 and Drew Allar at #7. They went in the seventh, fourth and third rounds respectively.

Remember, although it turned into a universally viewed underwhelming quarterback class — a year ago, there was plenty of hope and expectation for the group.

For 2027 — I think it’s full of players with an absolute ton to prove. There are issues galore throughout the class — but also plenty of upside. It’s a deep group. Many won’t turn pro, weakening the numbers. The sheer depth of players available, though, will make for many a great debate over the coming weeks.

Let’s start with Arch Manning at Texas.

If he didn’t have ‘Manning’ on the back of his jersey, we wouldn’t be talking about him as a first round prospect. Let’s just get that out of the way. There is very little on tape to suggest he warrants that kind of talk. I also think he needs to take such a stride in terms of development that the chances are he may well return to college football in 2027 rather than turn pro. Based on his 2025 tape he isn’t close.

Now, he has the arm to throw from the left hash to the right sideline with good velocity. He’s not static in the pocket and keep’s his feet moving and eyes downfield. When the pocket opens up to scramble, he has the legs to make gains. There are tools to work with.

However, he hesitates in the pocket and needs to learn to throw with better anticipation. He waits far too long for players to uncover. He will throw dangerous passes into tight areas. He only had 17 big time throws and 15 turnover worthy plays last season. He doesn’t help his receivers by telegraphing passes, leaving them open to big hits.

He needs to throw with better touch downfield. There’s nowhere near enough plus accuracy on tape currently. He moves around too much sometimes — just drop, set and trust your read. He really only has one level of velocity and doesn’t vary his throwing pace enough. His best skill at the moment is his mobility but you want to see so much more as a passer.

The player who most of the mocks have at the top of the class is Oregon’s Dante Moore. I understand why. He’s big with an arm, he’s a former hot-shot recruit and there are definitely moments on tape to catch your eye. I’ve got to be honest though — I’m just left wanting so much more from him. A lot of his tape is quite boring. I can see the physical potential. I can see the flashes. At no point during the 2025 tape study did I think I was watching a future NFL star though. He did the right thing returning to Oregon to develop his game. He wasn’t ready. Let’s see if that changes in the coming weeks.

LaNorris Sellers at South Carolina clearly has extreme physical tools — a big arm, great running ability. Yet there are moments on tape where he simply doesn’t look like a player with a NFL future. South Carolina’s offensive line was absolutely dreadful last year so we’ll see if that situation improves. Plus with Art Briles’ son coming in as offensive coordinator, the system may now be tailored to make the most of Sellers’ talent. But he needs to become a productive quarterback, not just a player with physical upside.

The quarterback who I think might be the most naturally gifted is Nico Iamaleava at UCLA. He can drop, set and throw over the middle with accuracy and velocity. He flicks the ball out of his hand with ease. He showed last year that he can fit the ball into tight areas and can layer throws. He’s very capable of playing the short/intermediate game but can also challenge opponents downfield.

He can fire pinpoint accurate throws down the sideline, hitting his receivers in stride. I really like the way he fits throws in-between second-level defenders. He varies his velocity nicely — he has a fastball but also throws with touch. He can throw difficult deep-balls to covered receivers, throwing them open down the seam. He can complete difficult middle-of-the-field throws in the crowded red zone. He can attack the middle of the field with accuracy and has delivered big throws on third down — for example a big 3rd and 21 vs USC conversion in the fourth quarter. There’s clear evidence of throwing with timing and anticipation.

There is so much talent here — he just needs to be more consistent, stay on the field and produce. Iamaleava is a big season away from launching his stock into the stratosphere. He has all the talent you need to succeed.

He has a tall, lean frame. Can he add some mass to help protect himself against NFL hits? He can be absolutely dynamic as an open-field runner. You have to account for his legs at all times. When he sees an opening he can take off and glide for running gains. He shows great escapability and can dodge sacks and extend plays with his legs. He possesses a good sense of danger and will throw low/high when sensing turnover potential.

He does needs to avoid throwing late across his body. He also has too many ‘trusting the read’ throws and can throw blind into dangerous areas.

Can the new staff at UCLA tighten up his game and get him to deliver a complete season? It might not help that this is year one of a new regime. Is the supporting cast ready to help him realise his potential? If progress is made, could he be tempted to return next year to really finish with a bang and max out his stock?

The other thing to wonder about is his personality fit as an eventual leader of the locker room. The way he departed Tennessee will be studied by NFL teams closely. I’m not convinced he will be for everybody. One thing I’ve learnt in recent years is teams really do value an alpha energy, calmness in the huddle, doing things the right way day-to-day, leading by example. Iamaleava may well be capable of that. He was also still very young when he left Tennessee and clearly had maturing to do. I’m just not sure. It won’t matter if he can’t elevate his game to a more consistent level in 2026. If he does, the person will be scrutinised as much as the player. He has a ton of talent though — and that can’t necessarily be said for some of the other quarterbacks in this class.

In terms of the others — Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss) is also very naturally gifted and just got better and better as last season went on. His lack of ideal size is an issue but he is just so creative and capable of making magic happen. If he plays in 2026 the way he ended 2025 — he will rise, regardless of his size. He throws with unique touch, even when scrambling. He shows off easy arm strength. He’s a classic improv artist who can create and extend even when the play looks over. His scrambling ability is better than most. He has a good arm and is capable of throwing downfield with velocity. There are examples of superb ball placement — in fact it’s arguably his best quality. He’s comfortable throwing over the middle and can layer passes. His accuracy doesn’t suffer when he’s on the run. He’s good but small and would be a 25-year-old rookie next year. It’s also worth noting he lost two really good receivers from last year, including De’Zhaun Stribling.

I would be surprised if CJ Carr left Notre Dame after just two years as a starter. The only way I could see it is if he plays lights out, the team go on a great run and they perhaps win the playoffs. Then he might choose to leave on a high. I just think quarterbacks are going to be more conscious than ever of being ‘ready’ for the NFL — and game experience matters. Now that you get paid handsomely to play college football, there’s no rush any more.

I’ll be very interested to see how the Sam Leavitt/Lane Kiffing double act goes at LSU. Leavitt has sneaky creative ability that people don’t talk about and can definitely execute Kiffin’s offense. However, Kiffin’s quarterbacks are not often highly drafted players. Leavitt is unlikely to possess the physical tools to be a high pick but he could end up being an attractive late day two or early day three option for some teams with a big year. He’s very capable of making plays on the move and he’s a playmaker. He just lacks the real punch to his throws and he’s been banged up.

John Mateer at Oklahoma was threatening to build a compelling draft profile a year ago before his thumb injury derailed his season. Mateer at his best is a playmaker with his arm and legs. He’s also worked to fix some technical issues this off-season. He’s disappeared off the radar a bit given the way 2025 unfolded but I wouldn’t count him out just yet.

When Darien Mensah was at Duke last year, I thought he really grew into the season. He’s another slightly undersized player who lacks the elite level tools. However, he can function as a very capable starting college quarterback — who can do things NFL teams will like. Going to Miami, somewhat controversially, will give him a huge platform to elevate his stock just as players like Cam Ward managed. I remember watching Ward at Washington State and he didn’t look like a first round pick in the slightest. Miami made him the #1 overall pick.

I still think Mensah’s stock should be projected, for now, in the middle rounds at best. Is the physical upside truly there? I’m not sure.

Byrum Brown will be an interesting player to keep an eye on, having transferred from USF to Auburn. He’s a strong, athletic runner who can still make plays with his arm. Julian Sayin will likely have a good year for Ohio State but physically he just doesn’t have the tools to think he’ll be a high draft pick. NC State’s CJ Bailey had some standout performances last year but his supporting cast has been decimated by transfers, despite his decision to stay put, and the end result was a horror show against Virginia last weekend. He might need to go somewhere else next year to rejuvenate his stock.

I have to say I’ve seen very little from new Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker to justify all the hype he’s getting online. I’m also not sold on USC’s Jayden Maiava being much more than a mid-to-late round prospect.

I wrote a piece about Brendan Sorsby, who’s sitting out the season, here.

Overall, there’s a lot of names to talk about. But I think at the moment people are just throwing first and second round grades at these players. There are too many question marks to feel that way about many of the 2027 eligible quarterbacks. Development is needed.

If you missed my latest conversation with Puck Sports discussing the Seahawks, click here.

And if you want to watch this week’s Seahawks Collective, click here.

— I’m intrigued to see what the plan at safety is. By cutting D’Anthony Bell, AJ Finley and Rodney Thomas, there is no depth behind Julian Love and Ty Okada. Presumably at least one of these players will be on the practise squad and then elevated for the Patriots game. It’s an interesting approach, though.

— It shouldn’t be a surprise that Trevon Diggs was cut. He was on a pitch-count to play about a quarter for the Chiefs game. He’s clearly building up after a long time without any consistent football in his life. He hasn’t had a full camp either. It always felt likely he would go to the practise squad, see how he comes along and eventually he might get called up to the roster, or elevated. This was a longer term play I think. (Note — Tom Pelissero is reporting Diggs will indeed be back on the practise squad).

— Having stashed Jared Ivey throughout last season, I wondered if a very active performance against the Chiefs might save him. Evidently not — it was too little too late. It’s a shame, we’ve needed to see a young D-liner emerge and that’s not really happened this off-season.

— I am surprised Cody White was cut and Montorie Foster Jr was retained. I think White is a better player. Foster Jr has shown flashes and it sounds like he had a good camp. There’s a reason he’s been featured on Hard Knocks and I’m sure the call to find out he’s made it will be a big emotional moment in Tuesday’s final episode. However, he’s tended to be pretty up-and-down in his performance. I think this is a position where they are probably one light.

— It’s a shame that Zach Charbonnet will have to start the season on the PUP — but it’s a good opportunity for Jadarian Price to hit the ground running. I can’t wait to see what he can do over the first month of the season. They will need him to produce though. I do wonder if they’ll lean on their passing game in the first couple of weeks. Who are you going to turn to in this situation? A rookie runner, or putting the ball in the hands of Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba? At least until things settle down with a new playcaller.

— Seattle’s last four picks in the 2026 draft were all cut (Emmanuel Henderson, Andre Fuller, Deven Eastern and Michael Dansby). I wouldn’t spend one second over-thinking that. This was one of the thinner drafts in recent memory. This was very much a priority UDFA range for players. It’s a shame none of them stood out enough to make the roster but it shouldn’t be unexpected. And they could all land on the practise squad and get another look down the line.

— Looking at the roster overall, I do think there’s scope for some business down the line. We talked about potential trades and they added cornerback Avery Smith today. I think as the season progresses, there might be some areas where they want to make some moves.