2026 NFL Draft: Quarterback Class

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Let me first off by saying, I wasn't able to do my annual draft discussion last year because I got the flu.

Per NFL Mock Draft Database:

FIRST ROUND
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana - 22 years old, 6'5, 225 pounds
2. Ty Simpson, Alabama - 23 years old, 6'2, 208 pounds

THIRD ROUND
3. Garrett Nussmeier, Louisiana State - 24 years old, 6'1, 205 pounds

WILDCARDS
Drew Allar, Penn State - 22 years old (at the time of the draft), 6'5, 235 pounds
Carson Beck, Miami of Florida - 23 years old, 6'4, 225 pounds
Cole Payton, North Dakota State - 22-23 years old, 6'3, 233 pounds

Mendoza is going to be the 1st overall pick and a Las Vegas Raider, unless he pulls an Eli Manning on us. We all know what happened during the 2025-2026 College Football season: The Indiana Hoosiers completed a historic dream season, going 16-0. Mendoza won the Heisman and was named the Offensive MVP for the National Championship game.

For the conversation here, the discussion begins with who goes AFTER Mendoza. Simpson is seen as QB2. He spent his first three seasons doing backup duties, and really only had one season worthy of resume work. Nussmeier had a strong 2024-2025 season, going 9-4 as a starter and passed for just over 4k yards and scored 32 touchdowns (29 passing) to 12 interceptions. In 2025, he only played 9 games, got hurt (abdominal), and ended up being benched. However, at the Senior Bowl this year, he was named the MVP of the game.

What are your thoughts on the 2026 Draft class? We will get into more details as we go through.

 

[Clayton]

In my non-biased opinion, the Raiders should keep Geno Smith and develop Drew Allar.

 

[Xeliou66]

Mendoza is the only one worthy of a 1st round pick IMO. Simpson’s performance fell off in the second half of the season and he doesn’t have a lot of experience. This is not a good year for QBs at all.

 

[PDay8810]

I still think the rams draft Simpson with their second 1st round pick.

we shall see

 

[DJ Fieri]

In my non-biased opinion, the Raiders should keep Geno Smith and develop Drew Allar.

LOL.

Nive try.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

I still think the rams draft Simpson with their second 1st round pick.

we shall see

Lot of folks are thinking that. I thought about that when they made the trade last year "Hmm, are the Rams loading up for a QB?" but I think it kind of backfired with how lackluster the draft is for QB. Simpson definitely needs to go back to College (he's not ready to start week 1 in 2026) so the Rams would be ideal for him, where he can sit and learn under Stafford...

But if the Rams really want to make a run - they'd be better served spending the pick on BPA instead of locking in at a need. They have needs in the secondary, OL could be bolstered, and they could even attempt to snag a WR to get a replacement/supplement for Adams. With a pick nearly in the top 10 you expect an immediate starter.

Ty Simpson is nowhere NEAR the BPA in the teens let alone 1st round. He'll just get drafted there likely because he's a decent QB prospect. Very reminiscent of the 2022 draft where the Steelers took Kenny Pick'INT which was a colossal failure, and then no other QB went until the 3rd. Only difference here is the 2026 draft has a #1 overall candidate with Mendoza... who I think would bust, but he's going to a QB friendly system in LV. Although the Raiders gotta fix that line... Mendoza is a sack machine if there's any pressure on him.

 

[UK Cowboy]

Let me first off by saying, I wasn't able to do my annual draft discussion last year because I got the flu.

Per NFL Mock Draft Database:

FIRST ROUND
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana - 22 years old, 6'5, 225 pounds
2. Ty Simpson, Alabama - 23 years old, 6'2, 208 pounds

THIRD ROUND
3. Garrett Nussmeier, Louisiana State - 24 years old, 6'1, 205 pounds

WILDCARDS
Drew Allar, Penn State - 22 years old (at the time of the draft), 6'5, 235 pounds
Carson Beck, Miami of Florida - 23 years old, 6'4, 225 pounds
Cole Payton, North Dakota State - 22-23 years old, 6'3, 233 pounds

Mendoza is going to be the 1st overall pick and a Las Vegas Raider, unless he pulls an Eli Manning on us. We all know what happened during the 2025-2026 College Football season: The Indiana Hoosiers completed a historic dream season, going 16-0. Mendoza won the Heisman and was named the Offensive MVP for the National Championship game.

For the conversation here, the discussion begins with who goes AFTER Mendoza. Simpson is seen as QB2. He spent his first three seasons doing backup duties, and really only had one season worthy of resume work. Nussmeier had a strong 2024-2025 season, going 9-4 as a starter and passed for just over 4k yards and scored 32 touchdowns (29 passing) to 12 interceptions. In 2025, he only played 9 games, got hurt (abdominal), and ended up being benched. However, at the Senior Bowl this year, he was named the MVP of the game.

What are your thoughts on the 2026 Draft class? We will get into more details as we go through.

IMO, Mendoza will develop into a solid but unspectacular starter. The rest of the fellas...its a lottery pick crapshoot. Down year for sure

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Mendoza is the only one worthy of a 1st round pick IMO. Simpson’s performance fell off in the second half of the season and he doesn’t have a lot of experience. This is not a good year for QBs at all.

I have watched plenty of videos of Simpson. He's got good numbers, good size, and has shown to make NFL-caliber throws, but the one-year experience thing is a huge negative. We rarely ever see a successful QB with less than 2 years experience in college.

 

[Clayton]

I have watched plenty of videos of Simpson. He's got good numbers, good size, and has shown to make NFL-caliber throws, but the one-year experience thing is a huge negative. We rarely ever see a successful QB with less than 2 years experience in college.

I feel like he has good football IQ and okay accuracy and arm talent. What he doesn't have is pocket awareness.

Stash him a year in a good program and he might be good as a pro. Start him on the Jets or Raiders and he'll fail miserably.

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

I feel like he has good football IQ and okay accuracy and arm talent. What he doesn't have is pocket awareness.

Stash him a year in a good program and he might be good as a pro. Start him on the Jets or Raiders and he'll fail miserably.

If he goes in the first round, we know he's going to start sometime in the 2026 NFL Season.

Cole Payton is an interesting prospect who could become a quality starter under a terrific offensive system.

 

[Clayton]

If he goes in the first round, we know he's going to start sometime in the 2026 NFL Season.

The Rams could easily be the exception to this. Rams are going to have to pay Puka and a rookie QB contract would balance that out assuming Stafford has one more year in him.

Dolphins, Jets, Cardinals or Steelers likely start him.

I don't want to write off Simpson entirely because his injury might be clouding the tape. Its weird to think of an Alabama QB as a bit of an underdog.

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

I am going to start the ball rolling with Cole Payton from ND State.

One-year starter, went 12-1, duel threat QB: Had 29 TDs (13 rushing) to only 4 INTs.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

I am going to start the ball rolling with Cole Payton from ND State.

One-year starter, went 12-1, duel threat QB: Had 29 TDs (13 rushing) to only 4 INTs.

you said all the red flag words there.

 

[Iggloo]

I think Sawyer Robertson of Baylor, formerly of Mississippi St., is a late round pick with some developmental potential. Could be the next Jarrett Stidham, who is his cousin.

PFF 2026 NFL Draft Guide: Sawyer Robertson NFL projection, advanced stats & scouting report

Robertson has NFL-caliber tools (arm strength and overall size), but his inconsistent fundamentals lead to too many inconsistent results and negative plays in his current state. That must be cleaned up before he gets a starting shot in the pros.

www.pff.com

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

IMO, Mendoza will develop into a solid but unspectacular starter. The rest of the fellas...its a lottery pick crapshoot. Down year for sure

Yeah this is a terrible year to need a QB. Does anyone see Mendoza as more than this? And that's best case scenario for him the rest aren't worth a draft pick IMO.

 

[Clayton]

Yeah this is a terrible year to need a QB. Does anyone see Mendoza as more than this? And that's best case scenario for him the rest aren't worth a draft pick IMO.

Mendoza has protypical size and really good accuracy. Im sure its going to take him awhile to read an NFL defense but its not hard seeing a scenario where he is the best Raiders QB since Rich Gannon.

 

[ducky]

Mendoza has protypical size and really good accuracy. Im sure its going to take him awhile to read an NFL defense but its not hard seeing a scenario where he is the best Raiders QB since Rich Gannon.

He's sneaky athletic too.

He is going to be very similar to a early Herbert when he still used his legs regularly before the injuries started to pile up.

This isnt the best top 10 you will find in the draft. But it is a VERY good year to hold the #1 overall pick.

 

[Clayton]

He's sneaky athletic too.

He is going to be very similar to a early Herbert when he still used his legs regularly before the injuries started to pile up.

This isnt the best top 10 you will find in the draft. But it is a VERY good year to hold the #1 overall pick.

I wouldn't say I'm 'high' on Mendoza but I'm not low on him, either. Im just saying it isnt super common you actually get a QB coming out that checks both the size and accuracy boxes on top of being the champion. There is still a wide range of outcomes with him but thats every QB.

Imo the issue with this years draft is the bottom of rd1. You kinda have 1 of every archetype up there as rd1 guys but after the first QB, RB, TE, G, specific Edge that fits your scheme...you're left with some sizable positional dropoffs imo.

 

[Southieinnc]

Yeah this is a terrible year to need a QB. Does anyone see Mendoza as more than this? And that's best case scenario for him the rest aren't worth a draft pick IMO.

My QB picks for this year:






.

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Garrett Nussmeier