Fernando Mendoza, Fernando Mendoza, Fernando Mendoza.

The Indiana Hoosiers quarterback highly expected to go No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders has been clear for some time now.

But that prompts the question: What other quarterback prospects are in this class? As draft days nears, the noise surrounding certain prospects will either grow or diminish.

Including Mendoza, the overall quality of the position in this class is on the weaker side. Late-round gems may also be difficult find. That’s not great news for one of the most important positions in any sport.

Besides Mendoza, here are some of the quarterbacks to know ahead of the draft who will look to become a gem:

Ty Simpson, Alabama

After Mendoza, the general consensus is Alabama’s Simpson is the second best prospect in the draft. The issue? He’s only played one full season as a starter. The 6-foot-2 Tennessee native is coming off a fourth year where he threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five picks. He is not a dual-threat profile, but maneuvers well in the pocket and can make plays outside of it. Simpson could go as high as the late first round if a team is desperate enough, otherwise a Day 2 gamble makes the most sense.

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

After Simpson, the next QB might not get picked until late in Day 2 at best or early Day 3. Another 6-foot-2 quarterback who isn’t a dual-threat option, Nussmeier has been a Tiger for five seasons, starting the final two. His 2024 year was his best, where he threw 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 picks on a 64.2% completion rate. But injuries limited him in 2025, so the tape is a bit more tougher to judge now. At best, his ceiling may be a reliable backup.

Carson Beck, Miami

Next comes one of the more polarizing options in the class. The Miami Hurricanes made the national championship game with Beck under center, but he falls into the tricky dilemma some athletes face: good enough to compete, but not at the tier to consistently win at the highest levels. After four seasons with Georgia, the 6-foot-5 Beck transferred to Miami where he threw for 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 picks on a 72.4% completion mark. His turnovers in big moments have been a negative, so it’ll be interesting to see where and when he goes.

Drew Allar, Penn State

The 2025 season was supposed to be the year Allar took the next step. But the Penn State product suffered a season-ending injury relatively early, thus denting his draft stock. Allar is also 6-foot-5 and made some improvements from his sophomore to junior seasons. He threw 24 touchdowns to two picks in his first year starting as a sophomore before increasing his completion rate by 6.6 percentage points. But he needs more time to develop some consistency with his accuracy, and also has a limited resume against elite competition. However, there could be a world in which he goes above the likes of Beck and Nussmeier, albeit unlikely.

Taylen Green, Arkansas

For fans of dual-threat quarterbacks, this class, as aforementioned, doesn’t have many options (including quality). It’s more for pocket passers and old-school profiles. The standout pick is Arkansas’ Green. Green spent three years at Boise State and two at Arkansas, showing the most dual-threat ability among this group. The quality is debatable, of course, as he hasn’t lit up the stat sheet consistently. He did, though, set multiple athletic marks at the combine and has some intriguing tools, but whether he can put it all together depends on his environment — think Anthony Richardson but without going No. 4 overall. A lot of work must be done.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt: A Heisman finalist in 2026, but measures too small and lacks elite athleticism to likely be an out-and-out starter. Still a known name to watch in the last few rounds.

Luke Altmeyer, Illinois: Likes to take risks and has gradually improved his numbers all five seasons (two at Ole Miss, three at Illinois). Could become a bargain backup find in the later rounds.

Here are the key dates to know for the 2026 NFL offseason, from free agency to the draft in Pittsburgh and training camp.