Devy quarterback evaluation is a completely different exercise compared to traditional dynasty formats. Sharp devy players need to not just project for the player’s future in College Football, but also how their skills will translate to the NFL. The following three quarterbacks should be on your radar heading into 2026; however, each situation is different, and each player carries different strengths and concerns. Let’s break down three ascending devy names whose value has been aggressively trending upward this offseason.
Devy Watch: Three Quarterbacks on the Rise This Offseason
The Value of Quarterbacks in Devy
In dynasty Superflex leagues, locking down quarterbacks early is often essential because of positional scarcity and long-term stability. But devy introduces an entirely different layer of projection. Quarterbacks take longer to develop, situations change rapidly, coaching staff turns over, transfer portal movement reshapes entire programs overnight and perhaps most importantly, the hit rate is wildly volatile compared to at the running back and wide receiver positions.
For every quarterback prospect who ascends into an NFL franchise cornerstone, there are multiple cautionary tales. Spencer Rattler and D.J. Uiagalelei are perfect examples. Both were once viewed as elite devy quarterback assets with perceived top-tier NFL upside, but a few seasons later, their value trajectories looked completely different. That volatility is what makes investing aggressively in early-round devy quarterbacks such a dangerous strategy. And yet, every offseason, we see quarterbacks fly off the board early in startup and supplemental drafts. Part of that is simply league psychology; every devy league develops its own ecosystem. Some leagues aggressively push quarterbacks up the board, particularly in Superflex formats, and eventually, managers have to adapt to the room even if it conflicts with their preferred process.
Personally, I still prefer to hunt for value later in drafts rather than paying premium prices for quarterbacks years away from the NFL. Every season, there are productive, ascending names who emerge outside the elite tiers. Jayden Daniels, Cam Ward and Fernando Mendoza are recent reminders that value can still be found if you are willing to trust the process and stay patient. The following three quarterbacks all fit that discussion entering the 2026 season, so let’s explore their current and potential value.
RELATED: Ranking the 2026 College Football Quarterbacks Using “The Bill Parcells Rules”
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (California Golden Bears, 2028)
Recommended Devy Draft Range
- Startup Drafts: Mid 3rd Round
- Supplemental Drafts: Late 1st Round
There may not be a more fascinating young quarterback in college football right now than Cal’s Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. The former four-star recruit arrived in Berkeley with significant recruiting hype after initially signing with Oregon before making a rapid offseason move to Cal. Even with the pedigree, the expectations for a true freshman quarterback starting immediately at Cal were understandably tempered.
Then the season started. Sagapolutele quickly established himself as one of the most exciting freshman quarterbacks in the country, throwing for 3,454 yards and 18 touchdowns while flashing the kind of natural passing ability that immediately grabs NFL evaluators’ attention. His raw arm talent stands out immediately on film; Sagapolutele generates easy velocity without looking strained and already throws one of the prettier deep balls in college football. His left-handed release is compact and smooth, and he consistently layers throws into tight intermediate windows with impressive touch for a quarterback his age.
What makes this projection especially exciting is how advanced he already looks operating from the pocket. He showed impressive poise against pressure throughout his freshman season and consistently elevated his play in big moments. His regular-season finale against SMU was particularly impressive, as he threw for 330 yards and four touchdowns while leading an upset victory over a team fighting for an ACC Championship spot.
There are still developmental concerns, though. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is more of a pocket passer than a dual-threat creator at this stage. He has functional mobility within structure, but he is not someone who consistently generates explosive rushing production or escaping pressure with elite athleticism. Cal’s offensive line also remains a concern after allowing 32 sacks last season.
The offseason hype has accelerated quickly as well. Pro Football Focus already identified him as one of the most likely sophomore quarterback breakout candidates in the country after he posted the highest passing grade among true freshmen last year. That kind of attention tends to move devy value aggressively, especially for young quarterbacks with NFL-calibre arm talent.
To the team’s credit, the Golden Bears also did an excellent job improving the supporting cast around him. The additions of Ian Strong, Chase Hendricks, Dorian Thomas and Adam Mohammed give Sagapolutele significantly more help entering 2026 than he had as a freshman. If the offensive line stabilizes and the new coaching staff maximizes his strengths, there is a realistic path for him to become one of the biggest sophomore risers in college football.
The key with Sagapolutele is understanding his profile. He is not a polished finished product yet, but the combination of youth, arm talent, composure and developmental upside makes him one of the most attractive long-term quarterback bets in devy right now.
Darian Mensah (Miami Hurricanes, 2027)
Recommended Devy Draft Range
- Startup Drafts: Late 2nd Round to Early 3rd Round
- Supplemental Drafts: Mid to Late 1st Round
Few quarterbacks have experienced a bigger offseason value spike than Darian Mensah and honestly, it makes complete sense. Miami did not simply add Mensah through the portal because they needed a replacement quarterback. They aggressively targeted him as the player they believed could keep the program operating at a championship level following Carson Beck‘s departure.
That matters for devy, as quarterbacks who produce at Miami get viewed differently nationally. The exposure increases, the NFL attention intensifies and if the Hurricanes are competing for playoff positioning again, Mensah’s value could climb extremely quickly.
His production profile already gives devy managers plenty to work with, as Mensah threw for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns during his 2025 season at Duke after previously flashing high-end ability at Tulane. The year-over-year progression is one of the more encouraging parts of his profile. Each season, the game appears to slow down more for him, and his decision-making has steadily improved.
The tape explains why Miami prioritized him. Darian Mensah is an exceptionally polished intermediate passer who consistently attacks leverage and distributes the football accurately at all three levels. His ball placement is one of the cleaner traits among rising Devy quarterbacks, and he shows impressive composure when the pocket deteriorates.
He is not an elite runner, but he moves well enough to extend plays and create outside structure, and that distinction matters. Mensah wins with timing, processing speed, anticipation and accuracy rather than overwhelming athleticism. He manipulates defenders well with his eyes and rarely looks rattled when operating within rhythm. The fit in Shannon Dawson’s offense could be excellent; Miami’s offensive structure emphasizes spacing, vertical shot opportunities, rhythm passing and creating easy access throws for the quarterback. That aligns extremely well with Mensah’s strengths as a distributor and intermediate thrower.
The supporting cast helps significantly, too. Malachi Toney returns as one of the ACC’s most dangerous slot weapons, while Cooper Barkate followed Mensah from Duke after a 1,100-yard season. Add in experienced transfers and emerging receiving talent throughout the offense, and Miami may once again field one of the deepest offensive skill groups in college football.
However, there are still concerns that NFL evaluators will monitor closely. Mensah’s frame remains relatively lean for the position, and durability questions will follow him until he adds more functional weight. His deep ball also remains somewhat inconsistent, particularly under pressure, and his ball security issues from earlier in his career still appear on tape occasionally.
There is also legitimate pressure on Darian Mensah, as quarterbacking at Miami comes with significantly different expectations than at Tulane or Duke. The spotlight quickly becomes much larger. Still, from a devy perspective, this feels like one of the more important quarterback value windows in the market right now. If Mensah produces at Miami while competing for championships, he probably will not remain affordable much longer.
Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State Cowboys, 2027)
Recommended Devy Draft Range
- Startup Drafts: Late 3rd Round to Early 4th Round
- Supplemental Drafts: Early to Mid 2nd Round
Drew Mestemaker might be the most polarizing quarterback evaluation of the group. His production is impossible to ignore; as a redshirt freshman at North Texas, Mestemaker led the nation in passing yards with 4,379, while throwing 34 touchdowns and helping guide the program to 12 wins and an AAC Championship appearance. He was named AAC Offensive Player of the Year and rapidly transformed from a former walk-on into one of the fastest-rising quarterback names in college football.
Now he heads to Oklahoma State alongside head coach Eric Morris and several former North Texas teammates as part of the Cowboys’ offensive rebuild. The upside is easy to understand. Mestemaker throws with real confidence and aggression, particularly attacking intermediate and vertical windows. His release is quick, compact and explosive, allowing him to get the ball out rapidly before pressure fully arrives. He is also comfortable throwing over the middle and consistently pushes the football downfield instead of relying solely on production underneath.
The Air Raid background shows up constantly on tape, as Mestemaker processes quickly within rhythm concepts, handles RPO timing well and flashes the willingness to work through progressions when he trusts what he sees. There is also enough athletic ability present for him to extend plays and create occasional production outside the pocket. His arm talent is what really fuels the excitement, though, as Mestemaker can make throws that many college quarterbacks do not simply attempt. That naturally creates intrigue for his projection in the NFL, especially since he is still extremely early in his development curve as a starting quarterback.
But there are real concerns, too. The biggest issue is consistency against stronger competition. His worst performances in 2025 came against the best defenses on his schedule, including multi-interception outings against both USF and Tulane. That does not automatically invalidate the production, but it does create important context around the statistical explosion.
His mechanics also require work. Mestemaker’s release point occasionally drops too low, leading to both tipped passes and inconsistent ball placement outside the numbers. Some boundary throws sail on him when his footwork becomes rushed, and there are stretches where he locks onto primary reads too aggressively. Adding functional weight will also matter; at roughly 211 pounds on a 6-foot-4 frame, he still looks somewhat lean physically for a quarterback expected to survive Power Four football and eventual NFL evaluation.
Still, Drew Mestemaker’s move to Oklahoma State creates a fascinating developmental opportunity. His familiarity with Eric Morris and several former teammates should ease the transition significantly, while the step up in competition will provide much clearer answers regarding his long-term ceiling. That is what makes Mestemaker such an intriguing Devy target right now. While there is real risk attached to the profile, there is also legitimate upside if the production translates successfully into the Big 12 environment.
Final Thoughts
Quarterback remains one of the most difficult positions to evaluate correctly in devy. The volatility is real, situations change quickly, coaching staff evolves, expectations spiral out of control and projecting quarterbacks multiple years away from the NFL Draft will always carry significant risk.
That is why cost matters so much. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Darian Mensah and Drew Mestemaker are all rising devy names for very different reasons, but none are currently priced at the absolute top of the quarterback market yet, creating opportunity. The key is balancing aggression with discipline. Devy managers shouldn’t force a quarterback early in a draft simply because it’s a Superflex league, but understanding where value pockets emerge and identifying ascending quarterbacks before major breakout seasons happen is still one of the biggest edges available in devy formats.
All three of these quarterbacks are firmly worth monitoring before supplemental draft season fully arrives.
RELATED: Devy Watch: The Sophomore Step Up (2026)
Thanks for reading my Devy Watch article on Three Quarterbacks Rising Fast This Offseason. For more Devy and College Fantasy Football content, follow me on Twitter/X @PoshplaysFF.
*Photo Credit: Bryan Terry / The Oklahoman – USA TODAY Sports*
