2026 NFL Draft QB Class: What To Expect From Garrett Nussmeier and More

Each year of the NFL Draft brings a new pot of college quarterbacks that hope to change the fate of sputtering teams across the league. No singular position in football is more valuable to any of the 32 franchises' identity and championship aspirations than the quarterback. This necessity has historically often led to prospects shooting up draft boards and hearing their names called long before their production and athletic profiles would initially suggest.

The 2026 quarterback class leaves a lot to be desired for signal-caller-needy teams. It lacks high-end talent outside of Heisman award winner Fernando Mendoza and has some of the worst depth, if not the worst at the position, in recent years. Back in August, scouts originally mocked this group to be a strength of the upcoming NFL draft. However, now in April, with players returning to school, dealing with injuries and not taking the jump that many had predicted for them, we arrive at a place where many NFL teams have already begun setting their sights on the 2027 quarterback class.

Before we jump ahead, let's survey the 2026 NFL Draft QB class.

QB Prospects In The 2026 NFL Draft - What To Expect

Fernando Mendoza

Every year, there's a quarterback who plays his way up draft boards from being a Day 2 or Day 3 selection to a top-10 player in the class. In 2024, Jayden Daniels made that leap in his second year at LSU and in 2025, Cam Ward rose seemingly out of nowhere after his transfer to Miami. In 2026, that quarterback is Fernando Mendoza. A standout player at Cal, Mendoza tossed for 4,712 yards and 30 touchdowns to only 16 interceptions in his redshirt freshman and sophomore years while picking up another 197 yards and 4 TDs on the ground before transferring to Indiana in 2025.

It was in Indiana that Mendoza elevated his game to another level, throwing for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns while adding another 276 yards and 7 TDs rushing the football. With their Heisman trophy winner and Big Ten Player of the Year at the helm, Indiana completed a perfect 16-0 season that ended in a national championship. Throughout the season, Mendoza flashed his league readiness by making NFL-quality throws in big moments. His back-shoulder ball placement is a thing of beauty, and when he gets into the red zone, he converts at an impressively high rate. Mendoza stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 236 pounds, a size combination that has allowed him to be incredibly tough both in the pocket and as a runner. While he might not flash the raw athleticism that makes scouts and fans alike giddy, he can immediately take command of an offense and turn a franchise around.

One important thing to note is that Mendoza did struggle this past year when pushed outside the pocket, as well as when on the run. Additionally, he will have to adapt to an NFL playbook, which will call him to be under center, whereas Indiana had him almost entirely out of the shotgun.

Ty Simpson

Alabama’s Ty Simpson is probably the most intriguing quarterback in this year’s draft. He stands 6-foot-1 and 211 pounds and is overall underappreciated as an athlete. He has a comfortable pocket presence and can make throws across all three levels, although his accuracy deep waned as the season went on (possibly due to injury). Simpson also excelled outside a typical play structure and played with a level of composure and IQ that could translate to the next level.

The problem? Simpson’s season was a tale of two halves. The first nine games, he lit college football ablaze against legit competition, throwing for 1,954 yards, 19 TDs and 1 interception, and seemed destined for the top of the end of this draft. In his last six games, he seemed borderline undraftable. Additionally, Simpson finds himself in the poor company of quarterbacks who didn’t start more than 15 games, such as Mitchell Trubisky, Anthony Richardson and Dwayne Haskins, none of whom have found success early in their careers.

RELATED: Ty Simpson Scouting Report

Garrett Nussmeier

In 2024, Nussmeier threw for 4,052 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, flashing potential that had many believing he would see him rise to the top of boards in 2026. In his senior season, that did not come to fruition as he clearly regressed in form due to an injury-riddled season. When healthy, though, Nussmeier can throw with anticipation and precision, fitting throws into windows with a layer of touch that makes up for his lack of arm talent.

Drew Allar

Another faller from a season ago, Allar had an all-around nightmare season for Penn State. Allar lacks NFL-level accuracy and tends not to show up in big games or moments. However, he is a former five-star and has a unique combination of size and strength, which few have. His potential is the highest amongst any quarterback in this class, but he also has a long way to go to reach it.

Carson Beck

A longtime college starter at Georgia and this past year at Miami, Beck brings a level of experience that will appeal to NFL teams. He has shown over his collegiate career that his play is very reliant on the level of those around him, but when he gets a proper supporting cast, he can make plays and throw with fluidity and anticipation.

RELATED: Carson Beck Scouting Report

Talen Green

Green is an athletic anomaly at the quarterback position; he ran a 4.36 40-yard dash. However, the Arkansas passing attack under his signal calling left many wondering if quarterback is his best fit at the next level. Green consistently struggled with processing defenses as well as getting the ball out on time.

Luke Altmyer

A three-year starter at Illinois after transferring from Ole Miss, Altmyer was effective at just about everything he was asked to do in the offense. He has no gaping weaknesses, and at a point in the class where teams are looking for long-term backups, he might be their guy.

Cole Payton

Payton operated at NDSU in a dual-threat capacity, which allowed him to be especially successful at the FCS level. He showcased his toughness and ability to hit a man downfield at the Senior Bowl. Payton does lack ideal throw mechanics and the sense to use his legs when the play breaks down, which is an easier fix than the other way around.

Cade Klubnik

Klubnik fits in the category of quarterbacks who disappointed this year. After breaking out at Clemson in 2024, he followed that by playing streaky football throughout all of 2025 despite a solid supportive cast.

Other quarterbacks just off the list: Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), Joey Aguilar (Tennessee), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Joe Fagnano (UCONN)