Despite his best efforts, Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is headed to the NFL.
A day after a season-ending defeat to the Miami Hurricanes, Chambliss learned that his waiver for a sixth season of eligibility was denied. Mississippi will likely appeal the decision in a last-ditch effort to start him in 2026, but Chambliss' fate seems sealed. He will soon begin the pre-draft process, parlaying an excellent College Football Playoff performance into the opportunity to be a franchise quarterback.
Where he'll be drafted -- and when he'll hear his name called -- is yet to be decided. And with so many factors clouding his projection, Chambliss is one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
At this point in the process, we can only cast a wide net and eliminate landing spots as the offseason unfolds. Some teams will write Chambliss off due to inexperience and measurable thresholds. I wouldn't be surprised if a team or two thought he was the best passer in the class. While his fate likely resides somewhere in between, it only takes one team to shock the world, and Chambliss' playoff performance is giving the NFL ammunition to do so.
Where will Trinidad Chambliss be drafted?
The first piece of this puzzle is deciphering Chambliss' stock. It is undeniably on the rise. Chambliss had a strong season filling Jaxson Dart's shoes in Lane Kiffin's offense. He stayed afloat amid the turbulence of Kiffin's exit and stacked quality performances in the three biggest games of his college career.
However, there are concerning factors that Chambliss can't answer with high-level flashes on big stages. After dominating the Division II circuit, Chambliss leaped to Power 4 play. While he played well, he only has one year of starts at the highest level of college football.
Some teams will consider that the same as Ty Simpson's one season of starts, others will give Chambliss partial credit for his lower-level victories. Furthermore, Chambliss will likely measure in a tick or two under 6'0" in Indianapolis and weigh in around 200 pounds. He's an outlier in the wrong direction, putting more stress on his physical tools and ability to anticipate.
We've seen many passers try and fail to throw over the middle consistently with suboptimal height, and the Rebels' offense worked to avoid these throws. Chambliss also had a significant number of batted passes, a direct result of his frame.
Still, Chambliss has real NFL tools. He's a standout athlete and offers enough velocity to test tight windows. His aggressiveness was often rewarded at Mississippi, he can be a part of an elite rushing attack, and his performances against Georgia and Miami suggest he's a big-game riser who can operate from an adversarial position. Thus, it's too early to rule any team out of falling in love.
The experts are, at the very least, interested. Dane Brugler called him an "interesting eval" who is being closely watched by NFL teams. Trevor Sikkema half-jokingly suggested that he'll have Chambliss as his QB3. At ESPN, Mel Kiper recently ranked Chambliss as his QB4, behind Dante Moore, Fernando Mendoza, and Ty Simpson. Let's take a look at how that could manifest itself in April.
New York Jets
It feels safe to assume that Mendoza will be taken first overall. Moore is the odds-on favorite to go second, but the football world isn't entirely convinced that he will declare before the mid-January deadline.
Is there a world where Chambliss sustains this momentum, Moore returns to Oregon, and New York rolls the dice? A few mock drafts might indulge. If the Jets aren't convinced at the top of Round 1, the 16th pick and a pair of second-rounders also feel like viable landing spots for Chambliss, even if a short-term bridge (or Moore) is a more likely option.
Arizona Cardinals
Like the Jets, Arizona has a top-five pick in both the first and second rounds. They need a quarterback and would have to be truly enamored with Chambliss to take him at No. 3.
A couple of soft factors make the Cardinals an unlikely landing spot. Doubling down on an undersized passer to usher in an era of post-Kyler Murray football would be surprising. They've done this dance before, and a new head coach may opt for a more prototypical quarterback, opening the offense up over the middle of the field.
Jacoby Brissett did this in Murray's absence. While he'd be a formidable bridge, he also allows Arizona to add top-end talent and kick the quarterback can down the road.
Cleveland Browns
Between the cataclysmic Deshaun Watson decision and a rookie class that included two bad passers, Cleveland's mess under center isn't settled. With high-level prospects at several positions, the Browns have no shortage of options at No. 6.
They do, however, have the Jacksonville Jaguars' first-round pick, along with No. 39 in the second round. Both of those are options for Chambliss, particularly if Cleveland wants to bank on character with its next quarterback.
Chambliss has handled change admirably in his rise through college football. He maintained composure as Kiffin divided the program and is drawing rave reviews as a third party decides his college football fate. Add that to his tendency to play his best against elite competition, and it's a bit easier to connect the dots between Chambliss and the Browns with a top-50 pick.
Los Angeles Rams
We know Rams head coach Sean McVay doesn't need a mobile quarterback to produce an elite ground game, but it is exciting to think about the amplification of a dual-threat passer in this offense.
MORE: 'Level playing field': Trinidad Chambliss' attorney signals action after NCAA denies Ole Miss QB
Chambliss could reasonably sit behind Matthew Stafford if he pursues another Super Bowl, and Los Angeles is well-positioned to make a luxury pick. The Rams have two first-round picks in a class that doesn't mesh well with their short-term needs. Likewise, Chambliss has a unique feel for placement and enough arm strength to test the tight windows McVay often demands. His ability to create out of structure would lighten the load on Los Angeles's offensive infrastructure, too.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Assuming the Steelers like Chambliss as a prospect, Pittsburgh is among the most straightforward fits for his services. Aaron Rodgers is on the wrong side of 40 and a mood swing away from retirement. Yet, the Steelers are in the playoffs, once again stepping into quarterback purgatory. They have no route to a top-pick passer and little reason to tear the whole thing down in pursuit of one.
Chambliss, either late on Day 1 or with the team's second-round selection, makes sense as a good-process dart throw. Pittsburgh is also projected to have four Day 2 picks. This seems like the only way out of mediocrity for the Steelers, and Rodgers' return would offer Chambliss an incredible mentor in the early going.
Rodgers found success with a heavy dosage of quick game, occasional boundary streaks, and a strong feel for pre-snap intel. Chambliss wins in many of the same ways, while adding upside to the entire operation.
Atlanta Falcons
No team wants to shut the door on a first-round quarterback after two seasons. The circumstances surrounding Michael Penix Jr. Might force Atlanta's hand. Penix has been inconsistent in his handful of starts and suffered a knee injury in 2025 -- the fifth season-ending ailment of his career.
The Falcons fired their head coach and general manager after Week 18. This new regime won't have those same ties to Penix and will lack a clear long-term option under center. It isn't clear whether Kirk Cousins will call Atlanta home in 2026, but he may buy Chambliss time to develop if he's taken with one of the Falcons' mid-round picks.
If Chambliss' meteoric rise proves to be a blip on the pre-draft radar, Atlanta has the supporting cast and motive to roll the dice, perhaps even as late as No. 114. After his incredible College Football Playoff, though, that seems to be his floor.
More NFL Draft news
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- Caleb Downs' decision puts key NFL theory to the test
- Best fits for mid-round quarterbacks, including John Mateer and Carson Beck
- Cole Payton gives Senior Bowl a small-school boost at quarterback