Arch Manning isn't a top 10 quarterback in the country, let alone a top 10 player. That's how one veteran NFL evaluator assessed college football's biggest name. Manning draws polarizing opinions that range from future No. 1 overall pick to vastly overrated, as the scout believed.
Just think about what the internet made of the viral catch made by Manning's new top receiver, Cam Coleman. The NFL evaluator's claim sounded hyperbolic so we pressed him to name 10 quarterbacks who were better. Eventually, after going through every perceived top quarterback in the country, the NFL scout conceded "not a top 10 quarterback" may have been too harsh.
But he was adamant that there are real concerns around Texas' star quarterback, including his lower-body mechanics. He does not have him ranked as a top-five quarterback ahead of the 2026 season. "Watch him throw a deep out," the scout says, "he'll sail it every time." The NFL scout was one of 10 voices CBS Sports polled about its top-10 ranked players in CBS Sports analyst Blake Brockermeyer's top 150 player rankings.
We polled two college football general managers, two NFL scouts and six college football personnel executives on the top 10 players asking if they thought they were underrated, properly rated or overrated in the context of the top 10. No. 1) Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith No. 3) Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss No. 5) Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore No. 6) Texas defensive end Colin Simmons No. 7) LSU offensive tackle Jordan Seaton No. 10) Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker Manning prompted strong opinions but he is not our most overrated player. That ignominious honor goes to Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker.
The former walk-on quarterback threw for a nation's best 4,379 yards and second-best 34 touchdowns last season at North Texas before following head coach Eric Morris to Stillwater. The numbers may be eye-popping but eight of our 10 experts tabbed Mestemaker as overrated at No. 9 overall. "Feel like most would point to Arch here but I go with Drew," says a high-ranking ACC personnel executive.
"Think the rest of the list is proven and really legit talents. In my mind, Drew is the one and only unproven player at the Power Four level. (I) like some of the traits and he has ability, but I'm rolling with him because I think he is overpaid and (Oklahoma State) won't even make a bowl game." Says a Big Ten general manager: "I'm not sure I'd put (Drew) above (Jayden) Maiava or (Julian) Sayin in terms of pure talent. I don't think you can put him above (John) Mateer, either.
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