Georgia QB Gunner Stockton's NFL Draft Stock Questioned by Rival SEC Coach Ahead of 2026 Season

Gunner Stockton helped lead Georgia to the SEC title and the College Football Playoff last season, but he still has some work to do to elevate his NFL draft status in the eyes of at least one SEC defensive coordinator.

"He's a great college quarterback," the coordinator said, per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. "He's tough, so he can get some bull yards and take some big hits and all that stuff. I really like him, he's a really good player. I don't know if he's an NFL specimen, but he's a great college player."

In June, B/R's Brent Sobleski did not include Stockton as a projected first-rounder in his mock 2027 NFL draft. 

That he included Arch Manning, Darian Mensah, Dante Moore, Drew Mestemaker and CJ Carr all in the top 10 underscores just how much talent is at the position going into the 2026 college football campaign.

LaNorris Sellers was just outside at No. 11, and it didn't even include Julian Sayin, who has been projected elsewhere as a potential top-five pick. There are a number of players Stockton would have to jump to be considered a surefire first-rounder, which means he will be under the spotlight during the upcoming season.

He at least has plenty of positive qualities to thrive under that spotlight.

"He runs it better than you think, really smart, pretty accurate," an SEC defensive coordinator said. "I don't think he's got unbelievable arm talent, but pretty good."

Stockton completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 2,894 yards, 25 touchdowns and five interceptions while adding 462 yards and 10 scores on the ground as a runner last season. Three of his touchdown passes came in the win over Alabama in the SEC title game, and he also threw for a combined eight touchdowns in high-profile regular-season games against Ole Miss and Texas.

If he consistently performs like he did in those marquee games throughout the 2026 season, he could rise up the draft boards and challenge some of those other names.