Top 5 QBs (2026 Draft)

Let’s get down to business. Quarterbacks. The most important position in football. There are a lot of names to cover, but my list may look a little different than yours. That’s ok, we’re all just guessing anyways.

1.    Fernando Mendoza

The consensus number #1 pick seems to be this kid from Indiana. You know him by name now and for good reason. Mendoza has been putting teams on notice all season. It’s not just for his statistics. He is a proven leader, that can rally his team behind him by what he does on the field, and how he leads off the field. Mendoza has a lot of strengths, namely his pre snap reads, ball placement, his ability to make leveled throws, and his pocket awareness and general football IQ. There are concerns that he thrived in an IU system that was crafted for him, and his ability to lock onto reads with his eyes. I think this can be said for almost any QB, and while he may need some work over time, he has the tangibles and intangibles of a successful NFL QB. The Raiders, who most likely will be selecting him with their first pick, will have their QB of the future. Let’s see how he pans.

2. Ty Simpson

Ty Simpson has gotten some up and down reporting over the months leading to the draft and combine. For Simpson, his game lies in his awareness in the pocket. He can recognize pre/post-snap reads, he has nice ball placement and decent zip on his throws and can extend with his legs. Where people have trouble with Simpson is his smaller sample size starting, as he only started 15 games in his career. There are issues with ball security and deep ball accuracy, but I think his physical abilities will help give him an edge over some of the other QBs. The key for Simpson is where he lands. Hopefully, he has time to develop, because he is not a Day 1 starter.

3.    Garrett Nussmeier

Some news came out today about Nussmeier and his oblique, as he appears to have a cyst sitting on a nerve which is causing that oblique pain. We will see how that turns out for him and how much effect it has on his career. Nussmeier is the third in my eyes of viable starting QBs in time. I think he can be decent in the league, as he has a great deep ball, can lay the ball in with touch, throws well on the run and is a true competitor. He has trouble with defensive disguises in pre snap, holds the ball a little too long, and zones in on reads. But for the LSU Tiger, he has some game that I don’t think teams will overlook that need QB depth in the second and third rounds.

4.    Taylen Green

I am an independent mind. I have my own ideas about how things will turn out. Taylen Green is no different. I really like this dude. Like a lot. Green has the archetype of an NFL QB. Big, athletic, powerful arm, his eyes are up, he has vastly improved his decision making over the years, and he is able to diagnose the defense. That is special. There are issues with his completion percentage, his ability for touch passes, and his mechanics tend to fail under pressure. But if this guy can figure it out, and pays dividends in the leagues, the league will be kicking themselves for years to come.

5.    Cole Payton

Haven’t heard about a good QB from NDSU since Carson Wentz, right?? Well, allow me to introduce you to Mr. Cole Payton. Another guy I’m seriously in love with. Payton is a powerful lefty with an NFL prototype build. Big, strong, fast. He makes leveled throws as well as anyone, throws on the run, and has very little turnovers. I mean, what are we even discussing here. His knocks are his sample size being too small, missing some NFL window throws, and general mechanics. He’s more hit or miss than Green in my eyes, but here is another one of those guys that if he can figure it out, watch out.