Daniel the Draftnick – Early Look: The Quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft Class

 By Daniel Rios (Daniel the Draftnick)

We’re now officially in Week 10 of the college football season, and it’s time to take a look at the top quarterbacks for the 2026 NFL Draft. It’s early, no doubt about that, but the picture is clearer than it was at the beginning of the season for which prospects those quarterback-needy teams in the NFL will be taking close looks at throughout spring. Here are my Top 4 quarterbacks for the NFL draft at the moment.

1- Fernando Mendoza, Indiana.

One thing is for sure about Mendoza and its size. No one will question it with him at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds —an impressive size for an NFL quarterback. When you watch him, it’s evident he can maneuver a pocket and take the biggest hits he’ll see at the next level and still deliver accurate balls through it. He can layer his passes over defenders and into tight windows. Indiana’s offense uses a heavy dose of RPO, and Mendoza runs it cleanly. Fast, accurate passes and quick decisions are showcased every single Saturday. He can scramble if needed, but he’s not the most athletic player; he can look off backers and/or defensive backs. He has everything an NFL team would want from a first-round draft choice. His biggest weakness is the tendency to hang onto the ball and take unnecessary sacks because of it. A couple of reps this season, he hesitated and held onto the ball for a little longer than needed, and created negative plays for his offense.

2 – Ty Simpson, Alabama

As an overall passer, Simpson, for me, is the best in this class. Great mechanics, fast release and great velocity every time he airs out the ball. He can step up in the pocket, avoid pressure and scramble when he needs to. His arm strength is evident when he pushes the ball down the field. The only negative is that it’s not always accurate when he does so. His biggest positive is the ability to understand what coverages give him and how to manipulate a defense to get it to his receivers. The biggest question for me when it comes to Simpson is the limited playing time. It’s his first year as a starter after he waited to get his shot to be the Alabama starting quarterback after sitting behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe.

3 – Dante Moore, Oregon

When asking who’s the most surprising first-round candidate for 2026 when it comes to quarterback, it’s Moore. He’s 6-foot-3, 206 pounds, and has the height, but not the weight, for the NFL. Like Simpson, my biggest question with Moore is his playing time. It’s his first full year of being the starter, and while he’s impressed, the questions of playing time will always be there. In his time, he has a real quick release to get the ball out in tight areas. He has arm talent, can layer the ball, and anticipates throws against certain coverages. Maybe his best trait is poise. He never wavers when he’s facing a challenging situation or when the odds are stacked against him. It showed against Penn State weeks ago and has appeared in numerous moments throughout this season. Moore struggles at times to push the ball down the field accurately. He’s shown accuracy on throws deep over the middle and on deeper concepts in general, but it’s not as consistent as you’d like to see it. Like Mendoza, Moore will hold onto the ball for too long at times in the pocket, leading to unnecessary sacks.

4 – Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati

The Big 12 always has a team that surprises everyone throughout the season, and this year it’s the Cincinnati Bengals with Sorsby being the spearhead. He has over 1,800 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just 1 interception. Sorsby has real NFL size at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. Now it’s not perfect with Sorsby. I don’t think he’s a first-round pick at the moment, but he’s knocking on the door of being one. There are inconsistencies with his footwork, mechanics, and wild accuracy from time to time. But he’s just a fun watch and has truly put this Bengals team on his back, leading them to a 5-0 conference record. He’s the best runner out of the bunch and is entertaining while doing it. He has the size and weight to sustain the hits he takes, and it’s evident with the toughness he showcases every week.

Honorable Mentions – Garrett Nussmeier, LSU, and LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina. Nussmeier and Sellers were the top three quarterbacks for me entering this season, and neither has truly proven to me they’ve taken the “next step.” Sellers doesn’t truly anticipate throws while in the pocket and is inconsistent while pushing the ball down the field, but man, he’s still a fun watch