We are now under two weeks from the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Over the next few weeks, we will take a look at some of the top prospects entering this year's draft, breaking it down position by position:
Let's continue with the quarterbacks. The rankings and analysis are taken from Pro Football Focus’s Big Board, ESPN’s Best Available and Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 50 Prospect Rankings and Bucky Brooks’s positional rankings from NFL.com.
Names of Note
Fernando Mendoza - Indiana
Measurables
Height - 6'5"
Weight - 236 lbs
Arm - 31 7/8"
Hand - 9 1/2"
Prospect Overview
Mendoza spent three seasons at Cal before transferring to Indiana in 2025. He won the Heisman Trophy and just about every other Quarterback-centric award last season while he led the Hoosiers to their first ever National Championship victory. He led the FBS with 41 passing touchdowns to just six interceptions and ranked third with a 72% completion percentage.
Rankings and Analysis
"Mendoza doesn't have rare physical gifts, but his football IQ, football character and ball placement are top-class, making him worthy of a first-round selection as an early-impact projection and potential franchise quarterback."
"Mendoza is a very accurate thrower with excellent size, toughness and enough athleticism. He operates well out of shotgun and leans heavily on the RPO game. He has fast hands, makes good decisions and is accurate on those quick throws…He is insanely tough, routinely hanging in the pocket and absorbing big hits…His size, arm talent and competitive nature remind me of Matt Ryan coming out of Boston College."
"Mendoza spent three seasons at Cal before transferring to Indiana for his redshirt junior season. He led the Hoosiers to a national championship in 2025 and won the Heisman Trophy along the way. He has the prototypical size and frame for a starting QB in the NFL, and Mendoza routinely makes the smart play, doing a great job of taking care of the ball and limiting turnovers."
Ty Simpson - Alabama
Measurables
Height - 6'1"
Weight - 211 lbs
Arm - 30 7/8"
Hand - 9 3/8"
Prospect Overview
Simson started one season with the Crimson Tide after sitting behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe. He was Second-team All-SEC in 2025 and ranked 10th in passing yards in the FBS (3,567) and threw 28 touchdowns to five interceptions.
Rankings and Analysis
"Simpson has intriguing NFL traits both as a passer and as an athlete, flashing high-level throws against zone coverage and posting a strong success rate attacking the middle of the field. However, his limited starting experience at the college level shows up in his timing, inconsistent ball placement and uneven performance under pressure."
"Simpson is a slightly undersized quarterback with sound mechanics, touch and accuracy. He primarily operated out of the shotgun at Alabama. He has quick feet in his setup and marries his feet with his eyes to stay on platform as a passer. He has a compact delivery and enough arm strength to make all the throws…Overall, Simpson has the skill set to develop into a functional NFL starter, but it might require some patience."
"Simpson sat behind Jalen Milroe before becoming the full-time starter in 2025. Simpson had a very strong outing at the combine, showing a polished foundation. Mechanically, he has good footwork on his drop and plays with a solid platform. He delivers a very catchable ball with a tight spiral, and he has a quick release, allowing him to get the ball out with pressure in his face."
Garrett Nussmeier - LSU
Measurables
Height - 6'2"
Weight - 203 lbs
Arm - 30 3/8"
Hand - 9 ⅛"
Prospect Overview
Nussmeier started two seasons for the Tigers after redshirting in 2021 and sitting behind Heisman winner Jayden Daniels in 2022 and 2023. Nussmeier was a finalist for the Manning Award in 2024 (given to the nation's top QB) and ranked fifth in the FBS with 4,052 yards through the air and 10th with 29 passing touchdowns. He battled injuries in 2025, starting nine total games. Nussmeier's father, Doug Nussmeier, is the current offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints and was a fourth-round pick by the Saints in the 1994 NFL Draft.
Rankings and Analysis
"Nussmeier brings NFL bloodlines and a polished, foundational approach to the position, traits that fuel his confidence as a vertical pocket passer. However, his average arm strength and below-average stature could create challenges for his aggressive, gunslinging style at the next level."
"Undersized pocket passer with legitimate arm talent that has not been able to make up for some flaws in his game. Nussmeier is inconsistent diagnosing coverages and working through progressions, which limits his ability to counter what defenses show him…Teams will need to balance Nussmeier's mistakes and durability concerns against his potential to improve on his LSU output."
"Nussmeier was extremely productive as a passer in 2024, but had a drop-off in 2025 as he dealt with an injuries the majority of the season. He is very confident in his arm talent, but that can sometimes get him in trouble at times -- he threw 12 interceptions in 2024. He has a quick, smooth release and does a good job at layering his throws between levels of the defense."
Carson Beck - Miami
Measurables
Height - 6'5"
Weight - 233 lbs
Arm - 30 ⅝"
Hand - 10"
Prospect Overview
Beck started his collegiate career backing up Stetson Bennett IV at Georgia before starting two seasons for the Bulldogs in 2023 and 2024. He was named Second-team All-SEC in 2023, completing a school-record 72.4% of his passes. He initially declared for the draft after the 2024 season but then decided to return to college and transferred to Miami for the 2025 season. He was Third-team All-ACC for the Hurricanes last season, leading them to a National Championship game appearance.
Rankings and Analysis
"Beck enters the NFL with a ton of playing experience, clean fundamentals and a good game manager's mindset. However, his arm talent took a big hit in 2025 after his UCL surgery and could be an unfortunate roadblock to NFL success."
"Three-year starter who has weathered his share of ups and downs. Beck has NFL-caliber size and a lot of experience playing in high-leverage games. He recovered from 2024 UCL surgery on his throwing elbow, but he appeared to lose some drive velocity on deep balls and move throws…Beck projects as a good backup with the potential to earn a starting job down the road, but he must continue developing game-managing instincts."
No analysis provided.
Drew Allar - Penn State
Measurables
Height - 6'5"
Weight - 228 lbs
Arm - 32 3/4"
Hand - 9 7/8"
Prospect Overview
Allar was the top-ranked QB prospect when he committed to Penn State. He was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Conference in 2023 and 2024 and started the first six games of 2025 before injuring his ankle and missing the remainder of the season.
Rankings and Analysis
"Allar has the arm talent to play in any offense in the NFL, but he was gun-shy and too inaccurate in 2025. He's a developmental toolsy prospect who needs some time to refine his game."
"Allar looks the part with prototypical size and an effortless arm that can make any NFL throw. However, inconsistent touch and ball placement are a major hindrance. In big moments and big games, he hasn't proven he can rise to the occasion or sustain efficiency…Mechanical fixes are possible, but confidence, poise and recognition must be the foundation of any rebound. Allar projects as an average backup with high-end traits."
No analysis provided.
Taylen Green - Arkansas
Measurables
Height - 6'6"
Weight - 227 lbs
Arm - 34 3/4"
Hand - 9 7/8"
Prospect Overview
Green started his career at Boise State, spending three seasons with the Broncos before transferring to Arkansas. He started the last two years for the Razorbacks and ranked ninth in the FBS with 13.7 yards per completion in 2025.
Rankings and Analysis
"Green is a well-built, athletically gifted prospect whose inconsistent passing will likely hold him back from a shot at a starter role (and maybe even a backup) in the pros. However, he is such a good athlete that a change to tight end or wide receiver could be in the cards."
"A long, rangy, dual-threat quarterback with upside, Green's ability to generate explosive plays as a runner and passer helped keep his offense afloat. In-game consistency has been a sticking point, though. He has a long, unorthodox delivery and tends to baby too many throws…Green's upside will be tantalizing but his ceiling will only track with his growth as a passer."
No analysis provided.
Watch the 2026 NFL Draft April 23-25 on ESPN and NFL Network.
Take a look at some of the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) dives for a touchdown during the College Football Playoff national championship game against Miami, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) looks for a receiver against Florida State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (18) looks to throw a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (15) celebrates during an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA defeated Penn State, 42-37 (Ryan Kang via AP)
Miami quarterback Carson Beck (11) celebrates during the College Football Playoff national championship against Indiana, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Indiana defeated Miami, 27-21. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) rolls out against South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (10) rolls out to pass against Missouri during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) looks to pass during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) runs the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas State, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
National Team quarterback Cole Payton (9), of North Dakota State, drops back to pass during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
