NFL

Never before has the play of an NFL quarterback prospect in his final college football season meant so much to his draft stock. In recent years, Joe Burrow and Fernando Mendoza have catapulted from having intriguing pro potential to becoming bona fide No. 1 overall picks.

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Trinidad Chambliss’ trajectory is headed that way after being granted an injunction to return for a special sixth season of eligibility at Ole Miss. Chambliss has been, well, special so far in 2026 in leading the Rebels to a 3-0 start.

Despite opponents containing a running game that features first-round talent Kewan Lacy, Chambliss has lit up two ranked teams. He lit up Louisville in the opener and turned in an epic performance to help his team edge its former coach Lane Kiffin and LSU in Week 3.

Chambliss has jumped out for the early big lead in the Heisman Trophy race, much like Burrow did in 2019 and Mendoza just did in 2025. He has been accurate through throwing downfield against some strong competition, which will continue when Ole Miss travels to Florida for another big SEC showdown in Week 4 (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

Had Chambliss not returned to school, he was looking at a middle-round developmental pick in the 2025 draft. Here’s breaking down why his stock is shooting up to a first-round floor and No. 1 pick ceiling in 2026.

MORE: How Trinidad Chambliss went from D-II afterthought to SEC star

Trinidad Chambliss NFL draft scouting report

Strengths

Chambliss has picked up where he left off in 2025 with his prolific passing in the SEC. He’s bumped up his completion percentage to 70 percent. He’s maintained his high yards per attempt (8.4 vs. 8.8) and yards per completion (13.4 vs. 12.0), which are both a little down from his 2025 breakout under Lane Kiffin.

The arm strength is there to make all NFL-caliber throws. His ball placement on deep balls has improved, and he also is showing more touch on shorter passes. He is a fearless improviser and does well to elude the pass rush with his mobility.

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Although Chambliss isn’t a true running QB, he is a terrific athlete and makes smart decisions to scramble in key moments, much like Burrow. That clutch attribute is un-coachable and also carries over to his big-game leadership. He raises his passing execution to match the stakes with intangibles NFL teams covet most.

MORE: Why Trinidad Chambliss didn’t follow Lane Kiffin to LSU

Weaknesses

Chambliss has a 1-2 punch of familiar knocks against him — his lack of ideal pocket-passing size (6-0, 205 pounds) and his age (24). The latter may give teams pause, but it helps that recent good rookie examples — Bo Nix was 24 in 2024, Tyler Shough was 25 in 2025 — have proved that will have limited impact on his stock.

The size will cause more teams to balk for a high pick. That didn’t faze the Panthers, however, with Bryce Young (5-10, 204 pounds), who is paying off with a potential breakthrough fourth season in ’26. Chambliss will need to keep proving he’s durable with his frame.

Chambliss needs to also watch his turnovers while becoming a more aggressive downfield passer. He already has thrown two interceptions in three games this season after posting only three in 15 starts in 2025. Chambliss isn’t can’t-miss yet for Ole Miss with his play, but consistent growth while lifting the Rebels to more College Football Playoff success gives him plenty of room to refine his game.

MORE: Lane Kiffin’s return to LSU was defined by the QB he left behind

Bottom Line

Chambliss should be considered a first-round pick, and it helps that some early buzzy passers such as Oregon’s Dante Moore, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, LSU’s Sam Leavitt and even South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers have stumbled. Chambliss is joined by Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker and Miami’s Darian Mensah as the best threats to Texas’ Arch Manning to emerge as the top QB prospect in the class and potential No. 1 overall pick.

His spectacular play opposite Leavitt put Ole Miss at No. 1 in the polls as the team to beat in the Power 4. Going back to Cam Newton (2010) and Jameis Winston (2013) to add to Burrow and Mendoza, who parlayed Heismans into national championships, all were selected at No. 1 in future drafts. That ceiling is now within reach for Chambliss.

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