It is pretty common for position groups in the NFL Draft to have years of way too much talent, or not enough. There is rarely an in-between.
For the draft coming up in April, there is not much to choose from for NFL teams at quarterback. Once you get past Fernando Mendoza, it is a tough list for the QB position. According to CBS Sports, after No. 1 ranked prospect Mendoza goes off the board, the next best prospect is Ty Simpson, who is ranked as the 33rd best prospect.
When these types of classes happen, teams tend to hold off a year and look ahead to the next draft. For those teams doing that in 2026, is Gunner Stockton the best to look forward to for 2027?
The Case for Gunner Stockton as NFL QB1
The Georgia Bulldogs have not been particularly known as a QB pipeline for the NFL. However, things are changing under the direction of Kirby Smart. Stetson Bennett was a Heisman finalist in his last year in Athens and even though Carson Beck transferred to Miami, he spent nearly his entire career learning in a Bulldogs offense. Stockton is coming off of an extremely impressive year in his first full year as a starter, but imagine what he can do with another year, and a full offseason, under his belt.
There has been a trend for NFL teams lately to take chances on QBs in the draft with more experience, and it has panned out. Mendoza is likely to go No. 1 to the Raiders with several years of experience with Indiana and Cal. The Falcons took Michael Penix in the top ten despite him being 24 and spending six seasons playing college football. Experience matters. Stockton, once declared next season, will have several years learning under guys like Bennett and Beck while also having two full seasons of starting.
Beyond that, who would you trust more with your offense? Stockton has proven himself in every aspect of being a quarterback, whereas other big-name prospects have not. Arch Manning still has some proving to do, as well as guys like Dante Moore and LaNorris Sellers. Honestly, if Stockton has the season everybody imagines he will in 2026, there is no better prospect for any team looking for a QB in 2027.
We could very well be seeing the first Bulldog QB to go number one overall since Matthew Stafford, and we all know how his career has panned out.