If you’re a team in need of a franchise quarterback, the 2026 draft may not be the best place to look for one.
In a class likely to be led by Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Alabama’s Ty Simpson, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe noted the feeling among NFL executives right now is not one of great enthusiasm.
“Nobody is playing the position well enough to be like, ‘That dude can take over my franchise,'” one executive told Howe.
As for the specific players in the class, the one executives seem most enamored with as the best of the bunch is Mendoza. Howe did note the Hoosiers star generally has a “robotic personality and quiet leadership style,” but one executive described him as being “tough as s–t” and a player teammates can believe in because of how well he plays in clutch situations.
Simpson has been the biggest riser of the potential first-round quarterbacks. He wasn’t even included on B/R’s top 30 big board entering the season, but seems like the top contender to challenge Mendoza as a potential No. 1 overall pick.
Despite his success at Alabama thus far, NFL decision-makers aren’t completely sold on his physical traits translating to the next level.
“He’s had the best year out of all of (the QB prospects), but he’s not as high up as some of these other guys in terms of physical tools,” an executive told Howe. “More power to him. The kid has played his tail off, and he’s throwing the s— out of the ball.”
One potential wild card in the class is Oregon’s Dante Moore, who was projected to go No. 6 overall to the Cleveland Browns in B/R’s post-trade deadline mock draft published on Nov. 4.
However, recent rumors strongly indicate that Moore will return to the Ducks in 2026. If he wanted to go to the NFL, though, one executive told Howe they would “take him (as the top QB) at the end of the day” because they believe in his physical traits and personality being able to develop even if he’s not a finished product yet.
Even with some skepticism about players like Mendoza and Simpson right now, history suggests teams picking at the top of the draft with a need at quarterback won’t hesitate to add them because there’s always the belief that the right coaching staff can maximize their ability.
Mendoza and/or Simpson may not develop into future MVP winners, but the upside for a young quarterback with untapped potential is far more intriguing than a lot of the veteran players who might change teams in the offseason.
Teams like the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints can only sell their fans on that hope at this point given the current state of those three rosters.
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