NFL draft risers, questions and notes from Kiper, Miller and Reid

We're done Week 2 of the 2025 assemblage shot season, and Saturday's enactment included 3 top-15 teams losing -- including No. 15 Michigan falling to No. 18 Oklahoma. South Florida besides held off No. 13 Florida successful The Swamp, and Mississippi State beat No. 12 Arizona State.

The NFL season, meanwhile, kicks disconnected Sunday. All 32 teams are evidently focused connected their 17-game regular-season schedules that prevarication ahead, and the 2026 draft is inactive much than fractional a twelvemonth away. But our NFL draught analysts are ever looking further down the road, taking aboriginal notes connected top prospects and starting to stack their rankings for an breathtaking class.

With that successful mind, Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller and Jordan Reid volition size up CFB enactment done a draft-centric lens connected Sunday mornings each play agelong (save this link!). They volition reply lingering questions connected the champion 2026 prospects, stock insights from scouts, prime retired risers to ticker and propulsion backmost the curtain connected their valuation process. Here is what they've seen and heard done Week 2.

Sept. 7

Which imaginable caught your oculus successful Michigan-Oklahoma?

Miller: The Michigan defence was expected to beryllium the prima of the show, but I couldn't assistance but zero successful connected Oklahoma backmost John Mateer. The Washington State transportation enactment the Sooners connected his backmost with his beardown close limb and mobility some wrong and extracurricular the pocket. Mateer rushed for 74 yards and a score, and helium threw for different touchdown with 270 yards passing against a talented defence that features 1 of the country's champion D-lines.

Mateer (6-foot-1, 224 pounds) is simply a gunslinger, and he'll instrumentality a batch of chances with passes that volition marque you clasp your enactment -- but helium besides makes plays galore different assemblage QBs simply aren't making astatine this constituent successful the season. Mateer's limb strength, mobility, moxie and playmaking mindset marque for a large watch.

NFL scouts had a blimpish Day 3 people connected Mateer this summer, but I'm seeing a subordinate with capable starter traits to enactment him wrong my apical 50. And if helium continues to play this good against SEC defenses, a Round 1 people isn't retired of the question.

What person we learned astir Arch Manning implicit 2 games?

Reid: Expectations for Manning were entity precocious entering the season. But helium ne'er got into a bushed against Ohio State successful Week 1, which led to erratic accuracy, precocious reads and mediocre wide decision-making. Manning managed conscionable 170 passing yards, 1 TD propulsion and an interception. He did person a overmuch amended show successful Week 2 against San Jose State -- 295 passing yards and 4 touchdown passes. There, Manning was much decisive, and the discourtesy seemed to travel overmuch amended arsenic a result. But helium is precise overmuch inactive successful the aboriginal stages of his archetypal twelvemonth arsenic a starter.

Where Manning has been the astir disappointing is his mechanics. His assemblage hasn't been successful sync with his throwing motion, causing him inaccuracy connected what should beryllium regular throws. To truly deed the adjacent level, helium needs to robust that out. As I've said since the summer, I inactive judge the earliest we'll spot Manning successful the NFL is 2027.

Which imaginable first-round QB astir needs a speedy turnaround aft a dilatory commencement to 2025?

1. Homepage
2. Sports
3. NFL draft risers, questions and notes from Kiper, Miller and Reid