Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza leads a QB wave as the Cal transfer shines with 17 consecutive completions against Illinois, 16 TDs and zero picks this season, fueling top-1 chatter for 2026. Rueben Bain Jr. has been the season’s most disruptive edge, tearing through Notre Dame and Florida and slotting as a premier pairing with any NFL major interior. The trenches anchor the class, with Peter Woods as a versatile interior disruptor and a slate of top OL and DEs ready to reshape first-round boards.

Beyond Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore has emerged as a breakout arm with elite pocket presence and rushing upside, while Utah’s Spencer Fano is pegged as the best run blocker in the class and a plug‑and‑play tackle for pro offenses. USC’s Makai Lemon rounds out a bar‑raising set of pass catchers, offering premium YAC and big‑play ability. The mock ties the 32 picks to reverse-super‑bowl odds, projecting a trench‑heavy, high‑variance first round with multiple QBs, OLs and DEs landing in the top 32.

2025 college football is underway with early-season scouting focused on edge defenders ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. PFF+ teases premium stats and in-season tools, plus a deep dive by Trevor Sikkema into 28 edge prospects, detailing build, bend, hand usage, and scheme fit for 3-4 and 4-3 fronts. The piece highlights Alabama’s LT Overton, Texas Tech’s David Bailey, and a host of other top-edge talents across major programs, framing fantasy and betting implications for dynasty and rookie seasons.

Key themes: thick, NFL-ready frames; explosive first steps; varying pass-rush repertoires; run defense vs. pass-rush tradeoffs; and how scheme (odd vs even fronts) tempers ceiling. Expect emphasis on long-arm potential, leverage, and the ability to threaten outside shoulders. The report serves as a blueprint for evaluating upside and scheme fit for fantasy and betting markets.

QB-heavy No. 1 overall pick market for the 2026 NFL Draft dominates FanDuel, with eight quarterbacks holding the shortest odds. Garrett Nussmeier leads at +300 as LSU sits 3-0, while LaNorris Sellers (+470) and Drew Allar (+700) project as long-term prospects despite early-season bumps. Cade Klubnik (+1100) and John Mateer (+1100) show transfer-era versatility, Fernando Mendoza, Carson Beck, Arch Manning all in the mix, and several non-QB names lurking in the late tiers.

Early-season stats paint a mixed picture: Mendoza’s league-leading touchdown pace (nine) and 708 yards, Mateer’s 944 yards and five TDs, Beck’s near-80% completion with seven TDs, and Nussmeier’s 689 passing yards keep the board fluid. The QB-centric market reflects draft-entry volatility and the transfer portal’s impact on pro stock.