Fernando Mendoza and Then Who? Getting to Know Top QB Prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft

From Ty Simpson to Carson Beck to Diego Pavia, there are several other quarterbacks who could get drafted.

Ty Simpson of the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on Feb. 27, 2026. Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Ever since the Las Vegas Raiders earned the right to select first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, they’ve been on the clock to seemingly take Fernando Mendoza. The Heisman winner and national champion is a sure bet to hear his name called first, and Mendoza’s pro prospects have been broken down multiple times over. But there are other quarterbacks in this year’s draft who also deserve attention.

Nine rookie quarterbacks started NFL games last season, which doesn’t even include J.J. McCarthy and Shane Buechele, who joined the league earlier than 2025 but didn’t play their first games until this past season. So fans should know about signal callers other than Mendoza. Here are the “best of the rest” in the draft.

Ty Simpson, Alabama

While Mendoza is the consensus No. 1 quarterback, Simpson has the honor of being the consensus No. 2. He could very well have been the top QB drafted if he had maintained the exceptional form he displayed at the start of last season. Simpson had a 21:1 touchdown pass to interception ratio over the first nine games of 2025, before faltering down the stretch and posting a 7:4 TD:INT over the final six games.