Overview
- Preseason coverage as of Sept. 1, 2026 places quarterbacks at the center of the Heisman conversation, with CJ Carr, Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Darian Mensah, Julian Sayin, and Trinidad Chambliss listed as the early favorites.
- Early NFL mock drafts disagree on the projected No. 1 pick, with Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates projecting Oregon’s Dante Moore at the top while USA TODAY and others favor Texas’ Arch Manning, leaving the order unresolved until on‑field results.
- Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is widely regarded as the strongest non‑quarterback contender after consecutive All‑America seasons and a clear target share increase with Carnell Tate gone.
- Draft analysts have flagged specific concerns about Arch Manning’s accuracy and consistency, noting a sub‑optimal raw completion rate in 2025 and tape‑based issues with ball placement that he must fix to solidify top‑pick status.
- Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy’s May shooting and surgery remain an open recovery story that clouds his candidacy, and the broader context is that 16 of the last 20 Heisman winners were quarterbacks so a non‑QB winner would require an exceptional season.