Early 2026 Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings (1 Viewer)

[Max Power]

Here are my preliminary summer rankings of the 2026 Draft class

2026 QB Rankings Grade: B

4. Cade Klubnik | Clemson | 6-2 | 210
5. Garrett Nussmeier | LSU | 6-2 | 200
6. Sam Leavitt | Arizona State | 6-2 | 200

I'm trying to do my homework on these three specifically as I have a SF devy draft coming up shortly and they are all available. I'm currently ranking them in the same order you have listed.

I think Klubnik has the highest celling of this bunch and has some serious weapons around him. Clemson running game could be rough this year, but I actually like their incoming Freshman Davidson long term. Clemson is just built to air it out this year and Klubnik benefits the most from that.

Nussmeier seems smarter than he is athletic. He knows where to go with the football, but I'm never wowed by him.

I haven't watched much Leavitt, so he's harder for me to evaluate. Could be the wildcard of the bunch.

Interestingly, I have seen each Klubnik and Nussmeier as QB1 in different lists. Both of them have high-level attributes. Leavitt has less experience as a starter, but his potential is arguably just as high.

Here are my QB Notes.

2026 QB Rankings


8. Nico Iamaleava | UCLA | 6-6 | 215 | Pro Comp: Blake Bortles, with Justin Herbert upside
2024 (Tenn): 2,616 yds | 19 TDs | 5 Int | 63.8% Comp Pct || 358 yds rushing | 3.3 avg | 3 TDs
Nico “ee-ah-MAH-lay-ah-va” has an NFL frame and NFL arm. It was a bad look with how he left Tennessee. That said, he is just dripping with raw talent. He struggled through some growing pains last season at Tennessee; however, I worry about this move for Iamaleava. The UCLA offense is bereft of playmakers to go along with Iamaleava, and they seem headed in the wrong direction. I have Nico this high based purely on his raw talent, but he still has a ways to go.

Good writeups. I worry about Nico as well. He's obviously going to be the guy there and they'll mold the offense to his strengths. UCLA has a tough schedule and will be the lesser talented team in almost all of those matchups. Could break either way for him, but tough hill to climb for sure.

If Nico takes this UCLA team to a Bowl Game, I will be shocked. I am not sold on this coaching staff or the talent they have surrounding Iamaleava. As you say, this will be a tough hill to climb.

vs Utah
@ UNLV
vs New Mexico
@ Northwestern
vs Penn St
@ Michigan St
vs Maryland
@ Indiana
vs Nebraska
@ Ohio St
vs Washington
@ USC

I can't see it. Vegas put their o/u at 5.5 wins and I'd be comfortable taking the under.

 

[socrates]

Here are my preliminary summer rankings of the 2026 Draft class

2026 QB Rankings Grade: B

4. Cade Klubnik | Clemson | 6-2 | 210
5. Garrett Nussmeier | LSU | 6-2 | 200
6. Sam Leavitt | Arizona State | 6-2 | 200

I'm trying to do my homework on these three specifically as I have a SF devy draft coming up shortly and they are all available. I'm currently ranking them in the same order you have listed.

I think Klubnik has the highest celling of this bunch and has some serious weapons around him. Clemson running game could be rough this year, but I actually like their incoming Freshman Davidson long term. Clemson is just built to air it out this year and Klubnik benefits the most from that.

Nussmeier seems smarter than he is athletic. He knows where to go with the football, but I'm never wowed by him.

I haven't watched much Leavitt, so he's harder for me to evaluate. Could be the wildcard of the bunch.

Interestingly, I have seen each Klubnik and Nussmeier as QB1 in different lists. Both of them have high-level attributes. Leavitt has less experience as a starter, but his potential is arguably just as high.

Here are my QB Notes.

2026 QB Rankings


8. Nico Iamaleava | UCLA | 6-6 | 215 | Pro Comp: Blake Bortles, with Justin Herbert upside
2024 (Tenn): 2,616 yds | 19 TDs | 5 Int | 63.8% Comp Pct || 358 yds rushing | 3.3 avg | 3 TDs
Nico “ee-ah-MAH-lay-ah-va” has an NFL frame and NFL arm. It was a bad look with how he left Tennessee. That said, he is just dripping with raw talent. He struggled through some growing pains last season at Tennessee; however, I worry about this move for Iamaleava. The UCLA offense is bereft of playmakers to go along with Iamaleava, and they seem headed in the wrong direction. I have Nico this high based purely on his raw talent, but he still has a ways to go.

Good writeups. I worry about Nico as well. He's obviously going to be the guy there and they'll mold the offense to his strengths. UCLA has a tough schedule and will be the lesser talented team in almost all of those matchups. Could break either way for him, but tough hill to climb for sure.

If Nico takes this UCLA team to a Bowl Game, I will be shocked. I am not sold on this coaching staff or the talent they have surrounding Iamaleava. As you say, this will be a tough hill to climb.

vs Utah
@ UNLV
vs New Mexico
@ Northwestern
vs Penn St
@ Michigan St
vs Maryland
@ Indiana
vs Nebraska
@ Ohio St
vs Washington
@ USC

I can't see it. Vegas put their o/u at 5.5 wins and I'd be comfortable taking the under.

Likewise. I don't see where 6 wins come from. I think they would have to run the table on the first 4 games.