It is NFL draft season. Have you ever learn sufficient mock drafts but? They’re like multivitamins this time of 12 months — you want your each day dose.
The mock I’ve for you at the moment is completely different, although. As a substitute of specializing in a spherical or a crew, I am specializing in a place: quarterback. I attempted to search out the best touchdown spot for each single draftable quarterback on this 2026 class throughout all seven rounds — throughout the constraints of realism, in fact. And I tried to discover a completely satisfied medium between scheme/system match, crew want and complete draft capital, and I used to be aware of each short- and long-term team-building horizons.
It is not possible that I will get multiple choose precisely right (thanks, Fernando Mendoza), however the train is much less about precision and extra about investigation. What do groups worth in QB2s? What does improvement as a backup really appear to be within the NFL? It is not a very dense quarterback class, so I’ve 9 names for you. These are the quarterbacks I count on to be drafted and the place I might handpick them to be chosen. And I even included one commerce up the board to land one in all them.
Soar to:
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
Peak: 6-5 | Weight: 236 | Scouts Inc. rating: QB1
2025 stats: 72.0% completion fee, 3,535 yards, 41 TDs, six INTs (seven speeding TDs)
Mendoza would be the first choose for the Raiders, so there’s little use speaking by the precise dominoes that acquired him there. However in terms of match, there’s a query.
New Las Vegas coach Klint Kubiak closely depends on under-center alignment in his offenses, as evidenced by Sam Darnold’s 171 under-center dropbacks final season in Seattle. It isn’t simply the amount; it is also the worth: Darnold averaged 10.8 yards per try from beneath middle, which was second to solely Lamar Jackson.
Mendoza had two dropbacks from beneath middle this previous season with Indiana and three the earlier 12 months with Cal — it is merely not one thing he has performed in school. However I consider the problem is dramatically overblown. It is 2026, and we have been discussing under-center dropbacks for greater than a decade of NFL draft protection. I keep in mind sitting in my school dorm room and manufacturing concern when Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes and Mitchell Trubisky mixed for 3 shared under-center dropbacks within the 2017 draft class.
NFL groups know learn how to work round this difficulty. The foremost worries a couple of quarterback immediately operating an offense from beneath middle are twofold. First, will his footwork be clear and fast sufficient to get to extensive zone handoffs or land on seven-step dropbacks with applicable timing? Second, how effectively will he learn defenses when he wants to show his again on play-action fakes? If it would not come instantly, there are pitches, pistol alignments and rollouts to skirt the problem within the brief time period.
Mendoza is a notoriously shiny younger quarterback who built-in himself splendidly within the Indiana offense with only one offseason. He has wonderful pocket footwork from the shotgun and sometimes accelerated or shortened his dropback to work with the timing of Indiana’s RPO-heavy strategy. Once I search for guys who will shortly adapt to new alignments, that is precisely what I attempt to discover.
There’s additionally an opportunity — and that is important to look at — that none of that is actual. It was an enormous deal that J.J. McCarthy had pro-style expertise from beneath middle at Michigan; it was going to easy his onboarding course of to the Kevin O’Connell offense. It was 54 complete dropbacks, and it did not assist a lot. And Caleb Williams’ eight collegiate under-center dropbacks (and 84 NFL dropbacks in his rookie season) have been purported to restrict him in Ben Johnson’s offense come 2025. It was a rocky September, but by December, Williams was buzzing.
Completely different people battle with various things, and I’ve little doubt that some Air Raid quarterbacks of the 2010s found a bigger studying curve than anticipated once they lastly acquired beneath middle. Nevertheless it’s an evidently solvable downside, and Mendoza is an evidently reliable prospect to make the transition effectively. At this level, so few school QBs generate a big pattern of under-center dropbacks. Questioning about Mendoza in Kubiak’s offense however feeling assured in Ty Simpson’s 48 under-center dropbacks in, say, Sean McVay’s offense is making mountains out of molehills.
Mendoza is not pretty much as good of a prospect as some extremely touted first general picks, comparable to Williams or Trevor Lawrence. However he is greater than deserving of the highest slot and greater than able to becoming into an elite offense coached by Kubiak.
Spherical 1, No. 31: Arizona Cardinals (projected commerce with NE)
Peak: 6-1 | Weight: 211 | Scouts Inc. rating: QB2
2025 stats: 64.5% completion fee, 3,567 yards, 28 TDs, 5 INTs (two speeding TDs)
When will Simpson go? I feel he is a Spherical 2 participant, comparable in grade to the place I had Tyler Shough and Jaxson Dart final 12 months. After all, Dart ended up moving into Spherical 1 with a small commerce up for the Giants in order that they might safe the fifth-year possibility — a important 12 months of additional contract management for a big-money place. The identical may and certain will occur with Simpson, particularly in a skinny QB class. To maneuver from No. 34 to No. 31, it ought to take solely a fourth-round choose or so, and the Patriots could be smart to focus on a 2027 choose (which they might then flip as a part of a package deal for Eagles receiver A.J. Brown).
Simpson has an especially likable sport. He will get by his choices briskly and with nice footwork. He is all the time loaded and able to throw, which permits him to attach on deep-breaking routes with anticipation. Strain can draw out the worst in Simpson, as he short-circuits into dangerous scrambles or huge accuracy sprays. However he additionally has moments of fearless supply into huge hits and nice throws off platform. In that he is solely a 15-game starter, it is affordable to consider he’ll spherical right into a extra dependable performer on pressured dropbacks as his profession continues.
0:55
Why Mel Kiper Jr. sees an enormous hole between Mendoza and Simpson
Mel Kiper Jr. explains why he disagrees with the notion that Ty Simpson is closing the hole on Fernando Mendoza forward of this 12 months’s NFL draft.
For a inexperienced quarterback, Simpson’s pre-snap recognition and command on the line of scrimmage is spectacular. The son of a longtime Division I coach, he clearly has good movie room habits, which can profit him within the NFL even when he would not begin instantly. With Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew rostered, the Cardinals would not really feel rushed to play Simpson, which is all the time optimum.
Simpson does want some extra improvement. He merely is not as correct as you want for a quarterback who’s going to be a distributor from the pocket, and he is already a bit of restricted by his peak in that regard. Touchdown in a Mike LaFleur offense is a comfortable match, because the Playing cards’ new coach can crib a lot of what Kyle Shanahan has performed for Brock Purdy to make the system work with a shorter quarterback within the pocket. However Purdy has great creation potential on the transfer, and Simpson is not as harmful a scooter.
However Simpson does present the mix of anticipation and decision-making to be the purpose guard within the trendy iteration of the Shanahan/McVay scheme. The Cardinals’ cross catchers may not be able to run it, as they want higher secondary choices to emerge behind Trey McBride and Michael Wilson (taking a look at you, Marvin Harrison Jr.). LaFleur, who struggled to get improvement from Zach Wilson when in New York, may not have all of the solutions for Simpson. Nevertheless it’s simpler than ever to get practical play out of rookie-contract quarterbacks within the league, and Simpson has greater than sufficient expertise to clear that bar.
As soon as the Cardinals have a rookie-contract starter, they will begin the lengthy strategy of spending their method into competition with the Seahawks, Rams and 49ers with whom they share their division. Taking the leap on Simpson is step one.
Peak: 6-2 | Weight: 203 | Scouts Inc. rating: QB3
2025 stats: 67.4% completion fee, 1,927 yards, 12 TDs, 5 INTs (one speeding TD)
The connection between the Steelers and Nussmeier is apparent. When Mike McCarthy was the top coach in Dallas, Nussmeier’s father, Doug, was his quarterbacks coach. Doug Nussmeier has stayed within the teaching tree, too, following Kellen Moore to the Chargers, then the Eagles after which the Saints. In that the Steelers want a developmental QB2 with extra legs than 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard, Garrett Nussmeier could be an possibility it doesn’t matter what. The household connection solely helps.
Nussmeier is not the largest quarterback, which could be a concern for AFC North play within the uncovered Acrisure Stadium. He is 6-foot-2 with 9⅛-inch fingers. However over 1,804 profession snaps at LSU, Nussmeier had solely seven fumbles, which is a testomony to his ball safety. Nussmeier is a robust pocket navigator who can purchase an additional half-second whereas setting as much as throw, and he has a wily arm that layers the ball effectively in intermediate home windows. He has loads of polish on his sport and needs to be referred to as a pro-ready passer for his post-snap acumen.
0:36
Garrett Nussmeier’s NFL draft profile
Try a few of the prime highlights from LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier.
However he is additionally uber-aggressive. Nussmeier pushes the ball downfield on early downs when straightforward, dependable checkdowns can be found and throws into visitors from unbalanced platforms late within the down. He has sufficient of an arm on the whole, however for such throws, he wants a spectacular arm within the NFL. This disposition is pleasant on late downs, when excessive dangers are well worth the excessive rewards: 47.4% of Nussmeier’s third-down cross makes an attempt in 2024 went for first downs, fifth within the nation. However on early downs, the juice is not well worth the squeeze on these low-percentage downfield tries. He’ll need to discover ways to dwell for second-and-10 within the league.
To this finish, Nussmeier would significantly profit from a while behind Aaron Rodgers, ought to the veteran return because the beginning quarterback for the Steelers. Rodgers is a outstanding threat supervisor who makes use of his elite pre-snap course of and speedy decision-making to keep away from turnover-worthy performs whereas nonetheless discovering downfield alternatives. I am assured that Nussmeier is a pointy quarterback — sharp sufficient to run McCarthy’s gun-heavy, dropback-heavy offense — however he wants some calibration within the threat administration division. Rodgers, ought to he present any curiosity in creating a younger quarterback behind him, would assist there.
Nussmeier’s 2025 season was marred by a core damage that impacted his velocity, and it is honest to throw a lot of that movie out. His 2024 movie appears like that of a Day 2 quarterback, and if he falls late into Spherical 3, it’s going to be due to issues round that damage at his dimension. A 12 months sitting in Pittsburgh provides him an extended runway to restoration and no expectations for fast manufacturing, ought to he find yourself taking part in some in reduction of Rodgers.
Peak: 6-5 | Weight: 228 | Scouts Inc. rating: QB6
2025 stats: 64.8% completion fee, 1,100 yards, 8 TDs, three INTs (one speeding TD)
Allar is a troublesome nut to crack on this draft class. He has been named the toolsy developmental prospect of favor … however he is not whilst toolsy as North Dakota State’s Cole Payton or Arkansas’ Taylen Inexperienced, who will seemingly go later. He has the normal peak, weight and arm expertise of a dominant pocket passer, however the deterioration of his play from 2024 to 2025 places a hiccup in his developmental projection. (Allar was restricted to 6 video games after a season-ending ankle damage final season.)
Regardless of a robust arm, Allar by no means actually pushed the ball downfield in Penn State’s offense. In his three seasons as a starter, his most aggressive season (2024) noticed an air yards per try of 8.2, beneath the nation’s common of 8.4. That is significantly worrisome as a result of Allar loved a low stress fee (21% in 2025, second to solely Carson Beck) and very long time to throw. But he nonetheless did not discover alternatives or success throwing downfield.
Allar could make anticipation throws into tight home windows towards the sideline or to the center of the sector, and that is powerful to show. Successful with arm expertise on rhythm throws from the pocket is how C.J. Stroud excelled for Bobby Slowik with the Texans in 2023 and 2024, and that is how Allar will discover success within the NFL. The Dolphins are invested in Malik Willis for 2026 and even into 2027, given his contract ensures, however utilizing an early-Day 3 choose on Allar would permit him to beat out Quinn Ewers for the QB2 job and problem for QB1 reps in 2027 if Willis struggles.
The Dolphins have so many draft wants that they may cross on quarterback totally. However additionally they have so many picks (three third-rounders) that taking the leap on a falling Allar would not affect their rebuild and will even speed up it if he hits.
Peak: 6-5 | Weight: 233 | Scouts Inc. rating: QB5
2025 stats: 72.4% completion fee, 3,813 yards, 30 TDs, 12 INTs (two speeding TDs)
The QB2 job is up for grabs in Dallas, with incoming Sam Howell battling incumbent Joe Milton III for the correct to again up Dak Prescott. This isn’t a very thrilling QB2 battle. Milton is an inexperienced developmental QB who excites together with his highlights however can’t be trusted for dependable play. Howell is a one-time starter who was traded twice final season because the Vikings and Eagles tried him out as a backup earlier than transferring on.
Dallas would not want so as to add a 3rd physique to that battle. However with three picks within the fifth spherical and an in any other case deep roster, why would not the Cowboys take an opportunity on a QB ought to one fall into their lap?
Beck was thought-about a possible Day 1 riser over the course of his school profession, however his time within the Faculty Soccer Playoff with each Georgia and Miami has made his limitations clear. His accuracy and his arm expertise are each solely common, so he must be an impeccable decision-maker so as to thrive. However protection rotations and stress each bait him into poor decisions, and it is unlikely these habits will go away within the NFL for a participant with a lot expertise already.
When saved clear, Beck performs effectively inside himself. He throws with anticipation and decisiveness, and he can flash high-caliber precision to tug receivers away from protection when working between the numbers. Beck may be very a lot a rhythm/confidence thrower who lets his errors compound, however he may get right into a pocket and throw with NFL timing and zip. It is a trait he shares with Prescott, who appears just like the league’s greatest quarterback when he is sizzling within the pocket.
Some insiders report that Beck will go sooner than this, as he trades on a excessive recruiting standing and loads of postseason soccer beneath his belt. I stay doubtful, because it’s powerful to discover a cardinal trait for Beck to hold his hat on as a beginning NFL quarterback. However Beck has maturity and big-game expertise, and the Cowboys’ previous couple of forays into QB2 improvement have been closely listed on traits (Milton, Trey Lance) — it is time to zag again to the Cooper Rush facet of the aisle.
Peak: 6-6 | Weight: 227 | Scouts Inc. rating: QB4
2025 stats: 60.7% completion fee, 2,714 yards, 19 TDs, 11 INTs (eight speeding TDs)
Determining the vary for Inexperienced may be very difficult. He was a traditionally athletic quarterback on the mix, with a 4.36-second 40-yard sprint, a 43½-inch vertical bounce and an 11-foot-2 broad bounce. It is easy to attract comparisons to quarterbacks comparable to Anthony Richardson Sr. and Cam Newton, however they’re simply recalled as a result of each additionally had the movie to go in Spherical 1. Inexperienced would not.
His throwing mechanics are extraordinarily tough, making him extra paying homage to Colin Kaepernick than Richardson or Newton. Inexperienced’s accuracy is predictably scattershot, and his inconsistency hitting layups makes it powerful to construct a dependable passing sport round him. As such, any offense fielding Inexperienced would wish to rely closely on the QB operating sport; he ought to see 10-plus carries in any sport he performs, a league-leading fee.
Underneath Matt LaFleur, the Packers have massively prioritized athleticism on the QB2 spot. The outgoing Malik Willis is likely one of the league’s greatest dual-threat quarterbacks, however even QB3 Clayton Tune was the most effective testers at his place. Behind Jordan Love are Desmond Ridder (one other nice tester) and Kyle McCord, so the QB2 job is extensive open.
0:30
Taylen Inexperienced recounts record-breaking mix efficiency
Arkansas’ Taylen Inexperienced, a top-10 quarterback prospect, recounts his record-breaking NFL mix efficiency.
Inexperienced would possibly go two rounds earlier as a real developmental starter (suppose Jalen Milroe, whom the Seahawks took at No. 92 final 12 months). However my guess is he finally ends up being an extended dart throw who goes in the midst of Day 3, and the Packers are the form of crew that likes to take these probabilities.
Peak: 6-3 | Weight: 232 | Scouts Inc. rating: QB7
2025 stats: 72.0% completion fee, 2,719 yards, 16 TDs, 4 INTs (13 speeding TDs)
I’m uncertain that the Jets will make an early funding at quarterback on this draft. Maybe they actually love one of many non-Mendoza quarterbacks and wish to take the swing on Simpson, Nussmeier or Beck. Given the persistence normal supervisor Darren Mougey has exhibited up to now on the helm, I feel a beginning job for Geno Smith and an exploratory, late-round stab at a developmental QB make way more sense.
One other learn I’ve on the Jets: Coach Aaron Glenn likes quarterback mobility. His defenses have traditionally struggled with cellular QBs — defensive coaches gravitate on offense towards what provides them bother on protection — and he was fast to advocate for Justin Fields as the primary stopgap possibility in New York. Payton was a Taysom Hill-like playmaker for North Dakota State over his school profession, speeding 84 occasions for 13 touchdowns in 2023 in sub packages behind starter Cam Miller.
I actually like Payton as a Day 3 possibility accordingly. He supplies short-yardage worth as an possibility quarterback, with a cumbersome body and nice tackle-breaking potential. Most QB runners are lengthy striders who keep away from contact, however Payton can really run by it like a goal-line again. As a one-year starter, the lefty confirmed an excellent willingness to check intermediate and downfield home windows. Payton has an enormous dip in his throwing movement, and retooling his launch right into a faster movement would assist make up for common ball velocity. He is not prepared for a full dropback menu proper now, however there is a legit ceiling right here for a man who has flashed pro-style throws in restricted alternatives.
Payton is unlikely to see sufficient sport motion (or produce sufficient if he does) to discourage the Jets from investing early in a 2027 draft class QB1. If he does hit, he has a excessive dual-threat ceiling profile within the mildew of Jalen Hurts. Of all of the gambles a crew may tackle Day 3, Payton is my favourite.
Peak: 6-2 | Weight: 207 | Scouts Inc. rating: QB11
2025 stats: 65.6% completion fee, 2,943 yards, 16 TDs, six INTs (4 speeding TDs)
The Panthers traded away their longtime QB2 and useful spot starter Andy Dalton this previous offseason, leaving solely Kenny Pickett behind Bryce Younger. As such, I may see them including a QB2 candidate a lot sooner than the sixth spherical. However I will follow the late-drafted, (comparatively) native child in Clemson product Klubnik.
An ex-five-star recruit, Klubnik has a fantastic arm with strong throwing mechanics. His greatest throws come on his deep ball, which he may ship effectively on the transfer, and his fast upfield stride takes loads of linebackers abruptly. Klubnik is a basic “give a receiver an opportunity” form of quarterback — he’ll hold loads of catchable balls on excessive trajectory throws, and his accuracy falls off when pressured to drive breaking routes between home windows.
Klubnik would profit from supersized receivers comparable to Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker (an enormous slot), as they’re capable of win downfield with boxout positioning. He is not a one-to-one model match to Younger, however having a backup who performs equally to the starter is an overrated benefit. When Klubnik performs on time, he jogs my memory of Dalton, who did not play very like Younger anyway.
Struggles with timing and anticipation have marred Klubnik’s movie at occasions, however coach Dave Canales has traditionally succeeded at getting quarterbacks (Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield) to play a faster model of soccer. The wedding may work for Klubnik as a rookie contract backup.
Peak: 6-2 | Weight: 210 | Scouts Inc. rating: QB8
2025 stats: 67.4% completion fee, 3,007 yards, 22 TDs, 5 INTs (5 speeding TDs)
In a category like this, it is simple to speak oneself into a couple of Day 3 dart throws. Altmyer is a type of easy sells. An ex-four-star recruit who initially dedicated to Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin, Altmyer is not missing for bodily expertise. He has a zippy launch and extremely dependable accuracy within the fast sport and on RPOs. Throwing on the transfer would not affect his accuracy a lot, and he’s an environment friendly scrambler (66.7% success fee final season).
Most significantly, Altmyer is hard as nails. He’ll take a brutal shot to get a throw off or put his shoulder all the way down to make the first-down marker. He makes his greatest performs on late downs or within the closing quarter. After all, that willingness to carry the ball results in a worryingly excessive sack fee, which can restrict his ceiling within the NFL.
A lot of Altmyer’s strengths and weaknesses are much like these of Dillon Gabriel popping out of Oregon, whom Kevin Stefanski helped draft in 2025 with the Browns. Now with the Falcons, Stefanski already has two potential starters in incumbent Michael Penix Jr. and veteran signing Tua Tagovailoa. However neither represents a considerable funding for the brand new teaching workers or entrance workplace, and the QB3 job is open for grabs above veteran Trevor Siemian, who was a apply squad participant with the Titans over the previous two years.
The Falcons needn’t add a QB3, in fact. However Altmyer is a stylistic match, and any crew with as open a contest as Atlanta’s is a candidate so as to add a quarterback to the room.
