Summer is just about here, and it is the time when scouts begin evaluating players ahead of the 2026 college football season. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Bucs fans and give them names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Tampa Bay.
Are we going to write about quarterbacks? Offensive tackles? Edge rushers? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Bucs, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so that Bucs fans can be the most informed.
So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.
Film
AuburnTexas
Background Info
Listed at 6-1/218 lbs.
Notable career stats heading into 2026
Notable numbers from PFF heading into 2026
Strengths
Player Summary
John Mateer is one of the more difficult quarterback evaluations I have watched so far because there are moments where he absolutely looks like a modern NFL quarterback, especially when plays break down. He is dangerous in scrambling situations, Oklahoma clearly trusts him in designed quarterback runs, and he can stress defenses both vertically and outside the pocket.
The deep ball is probably my favorite part of his game right now. Even when he is off balance, Mateer can still push the football vertically and give his receivers chances to make plays. The problem is that I do not think the same power consistently shows up on cross-field throws. The ball gets there, but I would like to see more drive and velocity on throws outside the numbers.
Mechanically, Mateer is also pretty unconventional. He throws from different arm angles, uses sidearm deliveries on screens, and rarely looks fully settled when throwing the football. Pressure speeds him up quite a bit, and when that happens, the footwork can get frantic. There are also moments where he appears more focused on his receiver than the secondary around him, which can leave defenders opportunities to undercut throws.
Still, the athleticism, improvisation ability, and experience operating RPO-heavy concepts are all going to keep NFL evaluators interested. Mateer may never look like the cleanest pocket passer in the class, but his ability to create offense makes him one of the more fascinating quarterbacks to monitor heading into 2026.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 2027 NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma
Reporting by Mason Riney, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
