Trinidad Chambliss NFL Draft projection: Why Ole Miss' star QB isn't expected to be a top pick

Morgan Moriarty

•
Trinidad Chambliss NFL Draft projection: Why Ole Miss' star QB isn't expected to be a top pick image

One of the rising stars of this year’s college football season is Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. Through the Rebels’ College Football Playoff run, he has thrown for 644 yards with three touchdowns and racked up another two scores on the ground. Against a top-ranked Georgia defense, Chambliss posted a season-high 362 passing yards.

That’s all to say there are few players in the country playing better at the most important time of year. That said, his NFL Draft stock doesn’t seem to match the production.

Here’s a look at the Ole Miss QB’s current professional projections.

MORE 2026 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NEWS:

Trinidad Chambliss strengths 

Chambliss has thrown for 3,660 yards with 21 touchdowns and three interceptions on the season, good for first in the SEC and sixth nationally.

One of Chambliss’ biggest strengths is his ability to keep plays alive with his feet and continue looking downfield. On the season, Ole Miss has allowed just 22 sacks, tied for 22nd in the nation. Chambliss has rushed for 520 yards with eight scores on the ground. He had a couple of incredible improvised plays against Georgia’s pass rush, like this last-second pitch on a play that looked dead to rights:

He did it again in the fourth quarter, this time lofting it Lacy again: 

He showed off his athleticism again with this nearly over-the-head snap that resulted in a collected Chambliss throwing a dime down the left sideline: 

But Chambliss can hang in the pocket and make throws when he needs to, too, like this clutch third-down conversion late in the game against Georgia: 

Chambliss has since announced he will return to Ole Miss next season, if granted a 6th-season waiver to play by the NCAA.

MORE: Lane Kiffin transfer portal losses: Trinidad Chambliss, Kewan Lacy reject LSU

Trinidad Chambliss weaknesses

Chambliss’ biggest weakness may be his lack of experience as a starter. He began his career at Ferris State in 2021, where he took a redshirt. He didn’t become the Bulldogs’ full-time starter until the 2024 season, when he helped lead Ferris State to a national championship, knocking off unbeaten Valdosta State 49–14. There simply isn’t that much high-level film available on the Rebels star.

He started the 2025 season at Ole Miss as a backup to Austin Simmons. But after Simmons suffered an injury in Week 3 against Kentucky, Lane Kiffin turned to Chambliss, who remained the starter for the rest of the season. In his career, he has just 28 games under his belt as a starter. He is also slightly undersized for an NFL quarterback at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds.

Bleacher Report's Damian Parson wrote in December—before Ole Miss' playoff run—about Chambliss' biggest areas that need improvement as an NFL passer: 

-Chambliss struggles with post-snap coverage rotations and disguises. He can be outsmarted by dropping rushers into coverage. He does not confirm the defender's positioning before deciding whether to throw. This leads to turnover-worthy plays and testing compromised windows. Zone defenders have tricked him into making dangerous throws by masking their coverage responsibilities.

- Ole Miss's starting QB does not have strong pre-snap recognition. He needs to make protection checks and calls to account for simulated pressure looks. Typically, he turns and checks the cards from the staff on the sideline to make any pre-snap adjustments. This is not an NFL process and will need to learn/adapt to the next level.

MORE: Ranking the College Football Playoff semifinals from first to worst

Trinidad Chambliss NFL mock draft projection 

It may surprise some, but Chambliss is currently projected to be an undrafted free agent, via NFL Mock Draft Database. NFL Draft buzz has him going in the sixth round. But if Chambliss continues to play like he has been on these big college football stages, his stock will rise. 

ESPN's Pete Schraeger described Chambliss a Day Three potential pick last week, but added with a strong CFP performance he could continue to rise up draft boards due to the lack of quarterbacks in 2026. Mel Kiper listed Chambliss as the sixth-best quarterback for 2026 on Jan. 2, behind both Oklahoma's John Mateer and Miami's Carson Beck.  

MORE: Where is Trinidad Chambliss from? More on the QB's Michigan roots

Trinidad Chambliss NFL player comparison

Chambliss' improvisation ability is similar to that of Tampa Bay Buccaneers' quarterback Baker Mayfield or the Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray. Listed at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, he can add to his size if he has to. Chambliss' Ferris State head coach, Tony Anesse told AllSportsPeople that the quarterback went from 170 pounds coming out of high school to 203 pounds when he left.

"I would tell any [NFL] scout that he's got an NFL arm," Chambliss' high school head coach Eddie Ostipow told AllSportsPeople earlier this season, while referencing a throw he made against LSU earlier this year. 

"I was like, 'oh, my God, that's an unbelievable throw. That's an NFL throw.' And so I think he certainly has that potential. I mean, obviously there's a long time before that, that's going to be something that's on his radar right now. But if he's playing for the number four team in the country, and you're a top Heisman candidate, I certainly think NFL teams are going to take a look at him."

A lot about Chambliss' draft stock might come clear when a decision about his waiver. Until then, if he keeps playing like he has been, he can onky improve his standing.

MORE: How Trinidad Chambliss went from DII afterthought to SEC breakout star

Content Producer

Contributing Writer