Last year, NFL Mocks did a great job highlighting quarterbacks to watch leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft. It started when we named Fernando Mendoza the top quarterback going into the 2026 season, making us one of the first sites to rank him that highly.
Then, leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, we put the spotlight on Minnesota State-Moorhead quarterback Jack Strand, saying he could be the top Division II quarterback to come out in years. Strand has since shown enough in Atlanta Falcons camp that he could potentially see playing time this season.
So, who is the quarterback to watch this fall?
CJ Bailey has the tools to make a major 2027 NFL Draft leap
The signal caller who has impressed me and is my pick to rise up the draft board significantly this fall is North Carolina State quarterback CJ Bailey. So why am I so high on Bailey, and why do I think he is one of the players NFL Draft fans should be keeping a close eye on this weekend as the Wolfpack take on Virginia? As someone who has spent years evaluating and developing quarterbacks through NFL Mocks and Blair Quarterback Academy, Bailey is a player whose skill set immediately stands out to me.
The biggest reason for this is his impressive combination of accuracy and arm strength. When it comes to accuracy, he does a great job of consistently placing the ball on target. Last season, he completed 69 percent of his passes, which was the third-best mark in the ACC. He also has plenty of arm strength, hitting 27 passes over 20 yards last season and consistently showing the ability to challenge a defense vertically. In addition to his impressive arm strength, he is also a solid athlete who is more than capable of tucking the ball and picking up yards on the ground.
CJ Bailey with a DOT to Wesley Grimes 🎯 @PackFootball pic.twitter.com/WoeOnysfkK
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) August 28, 2025
The one area where he will need to focus this season in order to earn a first-round draft grade is operating under pressure. Last season, he really struggled against elite defenses, throwing five interceptions and just one touchdown against Notre Dame and Miami, both of which were blowout losses for the Wolfpack. This season, he will need to do a much better job of not trying to force plays, even when his team faces deficits.
However, if Bailey can avoid putting too much weight on his shoulders and improve his decision-making under pressure, look for him to make a significant climb up draft boards this season. If that happens, he could work his way into the first-round conversation, if not higher.
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