Top 10 2026 NFL Draft prospect performances, Week 1: QB fits for Cowboys and Raiders

The first week of the college football season is in the books, and we’re already seeing several 2026 NFL Draft prospects improve their stock. This list highlights quarterbacks who could be ideal fits in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, along with players who entered the year with undrafted free agent grades but are proving they may be undervalued, including a couple of tight end prospects.

Top Ten Performances from Week 1

1. Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas

• NFL Fit: Dallas Cowboys

Yes, Taylen Green faced one of the weakest opponents in college football this week in Alabama A&M, but that didn’t stop him from putting on a show. He threw for 322 yards and a career-high six touchdowns, while also adding 41 rushing yards. Beyond the gaudy numbers, he displayed the traits that make him so intriguing as a prospect. He showed his arm talent with several athletic throws, including a sharp touchdown strike in the third quarter.

Performances like this reinforce why I said back in July that Green has the most upside of any quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. One possible NFL fit is the Cowboys, who need to start thinking about a successor for Dak Prescott.

2. John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma

• NFL Fit: Los Angeles Rams

Anytime you break a school record in your debut, it is a good day. That is exactly what John Mateer did, surpassing Baker Mayfield’s program mark for passing yards in a season opener with 392 against Illinois State. He finished the night with four total touchdowns and earned an impressive 90.6 passing grade from Pro Football Focus. Next week will be a much bigger test, as he faces Michigan in a matchup that NFL teams like the Rams, who may target a quarterback in the early rounds next spring, will be watching closely.

3. Peter Clarke, TE, Temple

• NFL Fit: Los Angeles Chargers

The first sleeper on this list is Temple tight end Peter Clarke, who finished his game against UMass with an absurd 99.1 PFF grade. He earned it by delivering as a receiver, hauling in all four of his targets for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Clarke also brings value as a traditional in-line blocker, which makes him especially appealing to a team like the Los Angeles Chargers that needs depth at the position.

4. Rocco Becht, QB, Iowa State

• NFL Fit: Las Vegas Raiders

Rocco Becht is quickly climbing draft boards after setting an Iowa State record by completing 95 percent of his passes on 20 attempts. He finished with 278 yards and three touchdowns in a 55–7 rout of South Dakota, the Coyotes’ largest loss since 2019. As a prospect, Becht brings accuracy, toughness, and the competitive drive that could make him the long-term answer for Tom Brady’s Las Vegas Raiders.

"Rocco Becht is a young man for us that just continues to do great things in a powerful way."

Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell

5. Red Murdock, LB, Buffalo

• NFL Fit: Carolina Panthers

The first defender on this list is one of the nation’s most productive linebackers, Buffalo’s Red Murdock. Last season he finished second in the country with 156 tackles, and he picked up right where he left off in the opener against Minnesota, recording 16 more. I currently have a seventh-round grade on him, but don’t be surprised if he follows the path of his former teammate Shaun Dolac, who went undrafted yet still earned a spot on the Rams’ active roster. The Panthers, who ESPN ranks 31st at linebacker, are in desperate need of depth and could be a strong fit.

6. Beau Stephens, OG, Iowa

• NFL Fit: Arizona Cardinals

Two things remain consistent in Iowa City: the passing game struggles, and the Hawkeyes continue to develop top-tier offensive linemen. One of their latest products is offensive guard Beau Stephens, who hasn’t allowed a sack in the past three years. In his most recent game against Albany, he earned an impressive 91.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. The Arizona Cardinals will likely look to address their interior offensive line on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, if not earlier.

7. Dae’Quan Wright, TE, Ole Miss

• NFL Fit: Arizona Cardinals

The second tight end on this list is Ole Miss’s Dae’Quan Wright, who opened the season with a 38-yard touchdown reception, showing impressive speed for a 255-pound tight end. He finished the game with four receptions for 78 yards and one touchdown against Georgia State. Wright could be a strong fit for the Arizona Cardinals, who also need more depth at the tight end position.

8. Matayo Uiagalelei, DE, Oregon

• NFL Fit: Dallas Cowboys

Defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei, the highest-rated player on my board to make this list, would be a great fit for the Dallas Cowboys. In Oregon’s blowout of Montana State, he recorded four pressures and two sacks in just 37 snaps. If he continues to play at this level, as he did last season, look for him to emerge as a potential first-round pick.

9. Will Whitson, DT, Mississippi State

• NFL Fit: Houston Texans

A transfer already proving he was underrated, Mississippi State defensive tackle Will Whitson was rated as the 360th-best transfer in the portal by 247Sports. The disruptive lineman recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack against Southern Miss, bringing his totals to 11 tackles for loss and six sacks over his last 18 games. Depending on how the rest of his season unfolds, Whitson could be a solid fit for Houston as either a Day 3 draft pick or an undrafted free agent.

10. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

• NFL Fit: Washington Commanders

Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren missed the end of the 2024 season with a shoulder injury, but he looked back to form against Kentucky. In that game, he recorded 11 tackles, forced a fumble, and didn’t allow a single completion. The Washington Commanders, who had one of the league’s weakest secondaries last season, could use the depth he provides.