The transfer portal has become a way of life in college football, shedding its stigma in the name of player empowerment. Fueled by NIL, players can cash in without sacrificing eligibility and starting the clock on their professional careers.
Subsequently, senior quarterbacks are all the rage in NFL Draft circles. Joe Burrow wouldn't have been the first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft if he hadn't transferred to LSU, and this past season, Cam Ward made his case for 1.01 with a one-year stint on the Miami Hurricanes. Both passers developed before they heard their names called in April, getting more in-game reps before the pressures of the professional spotlight.
Transferring is cool again, and it's no surprise that NFL hopefuls are trying their luck at new schools before heading to the next level. This weekend, they'll get a chance to make strong first impressions and start their platform seasons off on the right foot.
Top draft-eligible QB transfers to watch in Week 1
Carson Beck, Miami (formerly Georgia)
Beck entered the 2025 NFL Draft cycle as the summer's QB1. He was viewed as a game manager with enough tools to garner excitement, backed by his championship pedigree and strong performances against SEC competition.
However, in his first season without tight end Brock Bowers, Beck was forced to find new answers while pushing the ball downfield. His time to throw and average depth of target increased, as did his turnover-worthy-play and pressure-to-sack rates (PFF).
An elbow injury ended his 2024 campaign and, ultimately, his Georgia tenure. He'll get a fresh start in Miami, hoping to boost his stock closer to Day 1 -- just like his predecessor, Ward. In Week 1, a prime-time clash with Notre Dame on Sunday night will set the tone for his final collegiate season.
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (formerly Cal)
The highest-ranked transfer passer on my board, Mendoza will begin the season with a late-first-round grade. At Cal, he routinely flashed an ability to stretch the field, and that upside makes him dangerous.
For an Indiana team that flirted with championship contention a season ago, Mendoza presents an upgrade at the sport's most important position. He might be the best passer in the Big Ten. A season of showcase games against better competition, and perhaps a College Football Playoff berth, should help his stock and the Hoosiers' national profile at the same time.
Mendoza's processing is strong, but I have questions about his consistency under duress. Big Ten defenses can promise to generate more of it than his ACC opponents a season ago, setting the stage for his potential development.
Things will start simply for Mendoza. Indiana is a 23.5-point favorite over Old Dominion on Saturday, allowing him to get his feet wet in the weeks before conference play.
John Mateer, Oklahoma (formerly Washington State)
Helmet scouting won't do anyone any good, but for those of us with a Geiger counter set to the Baker Mayfield setting, Norman is off the charts.
At 6'0", 224, the package looks awfully similar to Mayfield, and the playstyle only adds to the comparisons. There are enough in-structure flashes for the Oklahoma faithful to fall in love with, but Mateer is an erratic pocket manager who seems to do his best work out of structure. Mateer thrives in the same kind of chaos Mayfield did, regardless of how it might affect his NFL Draft stock.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two Sooners is Mateer's athleticism. He's a legitimate rushing threat who can be built into Oklahoma's ground game, rushing for 15 touchdowns in 2024. As things stand, Mateer is a fringe Day 2/3 prospect with room to grow in 2025.
That process will start by hosting Indiana State on Saturday. Expect him to look the part and get the hype train rolling for his redshirt junior season.
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