Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza Expected To Declare For 2026 NFL Draft; Dante Moore, Ty Simpson Likely To Return To School
It is looking increasingly likely that Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza will be the first college QB to hear his name called in the 2026 draft, and he bolstered his case on Saturday by leading the Hoosiers to a victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. Unsurprisingly, multiple sources have told Tony Pauline of EssentiallySports.com that Mendoza will declare for the draft.
In addition to the stellar season Mendoza is having, which has him firmly in the mix for the Heisman Trophy, several of the other top passers who are eligible for the draft appear headed back to campus in 2026. According to Pauline, there is an “overwhelming belief” that Oregon’s Dante Moore will return to the Ducks next season, where the 20-year-old has an eight-figure NIL package waiting for him. In addition to the money, Moore could use more time to continue developing and growing into the potential that his elite physical tools create.
Like Moore, Alabama’s Ty Simpson does not have a great deal of starting experience, and he could therefore stand to benefit from another year in college (where he will remain under the tutelage of renowned offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ryan Grubb). Although much can obviously change in a year’s time, Moore and Simpson project as early frontrunners for the 2027 Heisman, and Pauline hears that Simpson is also likely to forego the NFL draft for another season.
However, as ESPN’s Rich Cimini observes, Mendoza, Moore, and Simpson are the consensus top QB prospects for 2026, and ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid says there is a substantial drop-off between that trio and the next tier of signal-callers. So if Moore and Simpson do not declare, then Mendoza will essentially comprise a one-man class, which will make his decision to turn pro even easier.
It will also drive up the price to acquire the right to draft him. As of the time of this writing, the Titans have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, but they just selected Cam Ward with the top pick in 2025 and will continue to develop him in the hopes he can become their franchise QB. They could demand a hefty trade package for their top choice if teams like the Jets, Browns, Raiders, or Saints decide Mendoza is their guy.
We recently learned that evaluators are split on Mendoza’s professional ceiling, but the need to find a quality quarterback always leads to overvaluation of college passers. Plus, it’s not as if the California transfer has not earned the mantle of best QB in his class. He boasts a 71.5% completion percentage along with an FBS-leading 33 passing touchdowns (against just six interceptions) and 10.66 air yards per attempt. And while his stats in the Ohio State victory do not jump off the page (15/23, 222 yards, one TD, one interception), his mettle in leading the Hoosiers to victory in a championship game against an elite defense surely caught the attention of NFL front offices.
We know that Jets GM Darren Mougey has already scouted Mendoza in person – Mougey witnessed the 22-year-old engineer a dramatic comeback win over Penn State – and Mendoza will continue to be one of the most-discussed prospects in the run-up to the draft. The same could be true of South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, who is having a disappointing year but who is still viewed as a late first-round pick, per Pauline. Sources close to Sellers believe there is too much risk for him in returning to college and perhaps reducing his draft stock even further, so he may make the decision to declare.
New Names Emerging For Potential Day 1 QBs
Recent expectations that standout underclassmen quarterbacks Dante Moore (Oregon) and Ty Simpson (Alabama) will stay in college for at least another year have reduced the number of likely first-round quarterbacks in the class from three to one. With the value of quarterbacks tending to vary drastically in relation to the scarcity at the position and the demand in the league, new names are sure to rise. 
Dane Brugler of The Athletic released his updated prospect rankings about a month ago and gone from the top of the rankings were former projected prospects like Texas’ Arch Manning, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Penn State’s Drew Allar, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, and several others. Only Indiana Heisman-favorite Fernando Mendoza remained as a prospect widely considered to be a Day 1 pick.
Mendoza was joined by a new pair of names, though, as the two emerging new starters at the powerhouse programs mentioned in the first paragraph proved to be more productive than expected in their first seasons as starters. With Moore and Simpson no longer considered surefire 2026 prospects, Mendoza is the lone name atop the class with first-round considerations. Rarely does that stay the case as the pre-draft process goes on, though. Desperation for savior arms tends to elevate names considered worthy of later rounds to the early rounds based on scarcity alone.
We saw this two years ago, when Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels were considered the only two first-round worthy passers of the class early on in the pre-draft process. When it became clear that several teams were looking to draft a top quarterback in the first round, other names quickly started climbing the board. Drake Maye, considered a late-first-rounder at best early on, elevated all the way up to No. 3 overall. Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix were all considered Day 2 or 3 picks early on, but all three ended up in the top 12 picks of the draft.
Last year, Cam Ward was widely seen as the only first-round passer in the class, though Shedeur Sanders was seen as a possible late first-round possibility. Sanders’ wildly unprecedented slide aside, Jaxson Dart found his way into the first round after spending much of the pre-draft process as a likely Day 2 pick.
According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, a name to look for in that same vein is Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby. Sorsby started his collegiate career at Indiana, serving as the main starter as a redshirt freshman in 2023. When then-head coach Tom Allen was fired, Sorsby made the move to become a Bearcat. Sorsby has just finished his third year as a full-time starter and his second in Cinci.
Sorsby showed promise starting for the Hoosiers, throwing 15 touchdowns to just five interceptions, but his accuracy left a lot to be desired. In his first year with the Bearcats, he improved his completion percentage but got a bit undisciplined throwing 18 touchdowns to seven interceptions. This season, Sorsby put up his most efficient campaign with 27 touchdowns to just five interceptions. He also has impressive mobility averaging about 500 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns in each of his two seasons at Cincinnati.
It’s far too early to call Sorsby a first-round prospect, but he’ll have plenty of time to improve his stock if he decides to declare after his redshirt junior year concludes. Plus, several other names are sure to emerge as teams dust off every possibility hoping to find a diamond in the rough. As names continue to drop out of first-round consideration for 2026, history has told us that others are sure to rise in their place.
AFC North Rumors: Browns, Burrow, Bush, Kent
Much of the focus of the Browns‘ 2025 NFL Draft class was on the excitement of the early-round rookie defenders and the novelty of being the only team in NFL history to have drafted two running backs and two quarterbacks in the first five rounds of the draft.
With some crystal-clear hindsight, Zac Jackson of The Athletic lamented that the Browns neglected to bring in any rookie offensive linemen as they came into the season with all four established starters playing on contract years, while the fifth starter had proven to be prone to injury. The Browns traded to acquire left tackle Cam Robinson from Houston back in September after the injury-prone starter, Dawand Jones, went down with injury, but Robinson, too, is playing on the final year of his current deal, meaning all five current starters should be headed to free agency at the end of the year.
Because of this, Jackson asserts with some certainty that the Browns “will be looking to draft a left tackle of the future” in the 2026 NFL Draft. Cleveland has two first-round picks in 2026 — their own and Jacksonville’s. They may use one to address the quarterback position, but the second one could certainly go to an offensive lineman. A surefire top offensive tackle has not necessarily been identified at this point in the pre-draft process, but names like Utah’s Spencer Fano, Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor, and Miami’s Francis Mauigoa could all be candidates to fill out a Browns offensive line that could feature five new starters in 2026.
Here are a few other rumors from around the AFC North:
- Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow‘s first game back from injured reserve was a mixed bag. He delivered a convincing win — thanks in part to a surprisingly dominant performance from his defense — while only completing 52.2 percent of his passes. Encouragingly, though, he was only sacked once and threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns — both season highs. While Burrow has made an impressive comeback, returning much earlier than many expected, it hasn’t come without its caveats. Per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the carbon fiber plate and orthotic in his cleat to prevent his shoe from bending is “not comfortable for Burrow,” causing the starter discomfort specifically while playing. When not on the field, he alleviates the pain by taking the cleat off and wearing a sneaker on the sideline. He’ll continue to manage his discomfort as the Bengals push with renewed vigor for a surprisingly open AFC North title.
- Our last update concerning the legal battles of Browns linebacker Devin Bush saw a jury trial scheduled for December 2. ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi reported on Tuesday that, instead, Bush’s case has been continued in the form of a non-jury trial that will now take place on December 16.
- Two days ago, the Steelers opened the 21-day practice window for seventh-round rookie cornerback Donte Kent. The Central Michigan product had spent the first 13 weeks of his first year on IR but looked like he might just be able to get healthy in time to make his NFL debut as a rookie. Unfortunately, though, Kent suffered a new injury in his first practice back on the field. According to Steelers senior director of communications Burt Lauten, the injury is severe enough that he will miss the remainder of the season. No move to IR will be necessary. Instead, Kent will be too injured to be activated, and once his 21-day practice window officially expires, he will return to IR without the possibility of being activated again.
Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson Declares For 2026 NFL Draft
With the college regular season now in the books, some of the country’s best prospects are in line to begin declaring for the upcoming NFL draft. Friday has seen one of the top running backs from this season elect to turn pro. 
Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson announced today that he will enter the 2026 draft. As a redshirt junior, he had one year of NCAA eligibility remaining. Instead of staying with the Cornhuskers for one more season, he will turn his attention to preparing for the NFL.
“To Coach Matt Rhule, thank you for taking me into this incredible program and helping me grow off and on the field,” Johnson’s announcement reads in part. “You gave me everything I needed to stay ready. Coach EJ Barthel, the bond that we have built over your short time here has made me a lifelong player, coach…
“Lastly, to the Nebraska fans, the best in college football, your unwavering support has meant the world to me. After much prayer and reflection, I am officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft. Thank you, Nebraska. GBR forever!”
Johnson redshirted in 2022, but he has taken on an increasing role in Nebraska’s offense since then. This season saw him set new career highs across the board, including an average of 5.8 yards per carry and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Johnson added 370 yards and another three scores in the passing game.
With 1,451 rushing yards, Johnson led the Big Ten in that regard in 2025 and ranked third among all FBS players. It thus came as little surprise when he won the conference’s Running Back of the Year award. Johnson did not specify if he would play in Nebraska’s bowl game, but prospects who declare early often avoid doing so. His attention will now turn to preparing for the Combine in February before being selected (likely in the middle rounds) of the draft.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Week 12 saw the Giants become the first team in the NFL to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Based on Sunday’s results, another two teams from each conference saw their postseason chances officially come to an end.
The Titans, Saints, Raiders and Cardinals have now been eliminated as well. Attention in the case of those teams will increasingly turn toward the offseason. For some, questions about changes at the quarterback spot will be ongoing through the spring. Free agency is not expected to include many notable options, so the draft will be sought out in several instances as a means of finding a 2026 starter.
Of course, the incoming class of passers has largely underwhelmed this season. That has led to uncertainty regarding the ceiling for many of the top prospects at the quarterback position. Nevertheless, supply often outweighs demand at the top of the Day 1 order in the NFL draft. How things shake out over the closing weeks of the season will be key in determining which QB-needy teams find themselves in the best position to select a new QB1.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an early look at the first-round order:
- Tennessee Titans (1-11)
- New York Giants (2-11)
- New Orleans Saints (2-10)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
- Cleveland Browns (3-9)
- Washington Commanders (3-9)
- New York Jets (3-9)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
- Miami Dolphins (5-7)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)
- Carolina Panthers (7-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)
- Detroit Lions (7-5)
- Houston Texans (7-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (6-6)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
- Buffalo Bills (8-4)
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
- Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
- Denver Broncos (10-2)
- Chicago Bears (9-3)
- New England Patriots (11-2)
Jets GM Darren Mougey Has Scouted QBs Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore In Person; Latest On Team’s 2026 QB Plans
If the season ended today, the 2-9 Jets would hold the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 draft. Even if they do not end up with that pick – and it is certainly feasible they lose enough games down the stretch to find themselves even higher on the draft board – they should be in prime position to select one of next year’s top quarterback prospects.
To that end, GM Darren Mougey has scouted Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore in person, as ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes. Unfortunately for Mougey, the 2026 class of signal-callers, once viewed as a promising one, has seen its stock drop over the course of the 2025 season.
Mendoza has been among the most impressive collegiate QBs and is viewed by many as the top prospect likely to declare for the 2026 draft. Although the game that Mougey attended featured Mendoza leading a dramatic, game-winning drive against Penn State, opinions are split on his ceiling at the NFL level. Moore, meanwhile, is only 20 and could benefit from another year of development in the college ranks.
If players like Moore, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, and Texas’ Arch Manning decide to stay in school for one more season, that will strengthen a 2027 class that is already set to include Florida’s DJ Lagway and Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola. We had heard one of the reasons Mougey was willing to accept a 2027 first-round pick from the Cowboys in this month’s Quinnen Williams trade was because of his belief that the ‘27 draft class offers more promise than its ‘26 counterpart. So, while the first-year GM is obviously doing his due diligence, he may wait another year to make a high-end draft investment in a QB (though Cimini says in a separate piece that there is “growing buzz” in league circles connecting Mendoza to the Jets).
Whether it is Mendoza or someone else, Cimini thinks the Jets will add a rookie QB in the 2026 draft, and he also believes Mougey will acquire a veteran passer. Despite the fact that Justin Fields’ 2026 salary includes $10MM in guaranteed money, Cimini indicates Mougey will likely release the recently-demoted signal-caller – which jibes with previous reports on the matter – and will not try to re-sign his replacement, Tyrod Taylor.
As per usual, the 2026 crop of free agents offers little by way of starting-caliber quarterbacks, and the one that does qualify as such, Daniel Jones, may not make it to free agency. Mougey could therefore look to the trade market to acquire a bridge passer, and Cimini names Kyler Murray, Mac Jones, and Kirk Cousins as potential targets (Murray and Jones, at least, could also be in the Vikings’ crosshairs).
UDFA rookie Brady Cook has spent most of the year on the Jets’ practice squad, though he has been elevated on several occasions to operate as a backup (he has not, however, seen any regular season game action). In response to a question about whether Cook would get into a game in 2025, head coach Aaron Glenn conceded it was a possibility, but he offered no guarantees.
WRs Starting To Emerge From 2026 Draft Class
In the days following the 2025 NFL Draft, early looks at the 2026 class had many excited about the potential options at quarterback. At this point of the year, though, many of the arms expected to have earned first-round buzz have made teams doubt whether they’re ready to come out of college altogether. According to Nick Baumgardner and Dane Brugler of The Athletic, another position has seen more success in emerging talented depth for next April.
While QBs haven’t fared well as a group thus far in the college football season, pass catchers have impressed. More notably, the position’s underclassmen have elevated what looked to be a lesser senior class of wide receivers. Asked to identify the prototypical X receivers in this year’s class, Baumgardner pointed immediately to the crop’s highest-rated WRs, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate.
At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Tyson has the frame of a pro wideout, and he’s logged monster production for the Sun Devils over the last two years. Last season, he put up an impressive 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. A hamstring injury has slightly reduced Tyson’s output this year, but he has still managed a line of 59-689-8 in eight games. There’s little lacking in his game as he excels in getting open and making tough, contested catches.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Tate is a bit longer and leaner than Tyson, but he doesn’t sacrifice any quickness or control with that length. Tate has established himself as a deep threat this season with crisp route-running and an ability to adjust his pace to find the ball or get open. It’s hard to shine in an offense that features sophomore star Jeremiah Smith (not yet draft-eligible), but Tate has found a way by establishing himself as one of the more sure-handed receivers in the country. He seems set to continue the parade of NFL-ready receivers out of Columbus, following in the footsteps of recent Buckeye success stories like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Emeka Egbuka, Terry McLaurin, Chris Olave, and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Other receivers generating buzz for later on in the first round include USC’s Makai Lemon, Washington’s Denzel Boston, Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion, and Louisville’s Chris Bell. At 5-11, 195 pounds, Lemon doesn’t possess great size, but he’s fast and can excel in roles outside of the slot when given the opportunity. Boston is the complete opposite, with a sizeable 6-foot-4 frame and the abilities to play both on the outside or as a big slot. Concepcion is a danger to score any time he gets his hands on the ball, and the Aggies have made sure to feed him as much as NC State did before he transferred.
Bell is the first senior mentioned and the only one sneaking into late-first projections. Fellow senior Germie Bernard, who plays for Alabama, is seemingly on the fringe at this point in the process. Bell shows impressive traits while still needing to polish several aspects of his game, but he possesses some uncoachable strength and explosive speed that should really benefit him at the next level. Bernard doesn’t impress much as an athlete, lacking ideal size/speed/strength attributes, but he does a lot of things right with a good all-around game.
The underclassmen are truly the gems of the group, according to Brugler, who placed Tyson, Tate, and Lemon among his top 20 prospects entering the season. All of those players have matched or exceeded the hype since then, Brugler notes. At this point, there’s little question about if they’ll get drafted high or whether they can play at the next level. The more important question will be whether or not they’re ready to declare this year.
NFL Evaluators Down On 2026 QB Draft Class
The 2024 NFL draft saw a record-breaking six quarterbacks selected within the first 12 selections of the event. Things were much different last year with Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart the only passers to hear their names called.
Ahead of the current season, many felt a rebound would be coming at the position. Based on how things have played out so far, however, that stance has shifted around the league. As Jeff Howe of The Athletic writes (subscription required), there are “serious concerns” about the 2026 class and its potential.
“I don’t love any of [the quarterbacks] right now,” one NFL executive said. “We’re trying to grasp onto somebody because there isn’t anybody, and it’s such a flavor of the week. Good luck right now.”
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza has been among the most impressive signal-callers of the college season so far. He is viewed by many as the top prospect set to declare for the 2026 draft as a result, although opinions are split on his ceiling at the NFL level. Ty Simpson has enjoyed a strong first season as Alabama’s starter, but in addition to a lack of experience he has generated concerns related to his physical traits.
Other highly-touted prospects like Oregon’s Dante Moore, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, and Texas’ Arch Manning are not guaranteed to turn pro in 2026. Moore and Sellers are still 20 years old and could benefit from another year of development at the college level. Manning, currently a redshirt sophomore, has long been expected to stay in school through at least the 2026 season.
That would strengthen a 2027 class that already includes Florida’s DJ Lagway and Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola, which will impact roster-building strategies over the next year-and-a-half. Few things are more important to an NFL team than finding a franchise quarterback, and time and time again, the draft has proven to be the best way of doing that.
Teams’ approaches will vary based on their timeline, draft capital, and need. The Jets and the Browns could certainly use an upgrade under center and have amassed a number of first-round picks that could allow them to acquire their desired prospect next spring. The Raiders, Rams, Steelers, and Cardinals could all be seeking new signal-callers in the next two years, but may stick with their veterans in 2026 with an eye on the 2027 draft.
There are also a number of familiar names in the 2026 draft like Penn State’s Drew Allar, Miami’s Carson Beck, and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik – all multi-year starters who never put it all together in college. And of course, quarterback prospects still have plenty of time to rise and fall in the rankings, especially those in the 2027 class.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.
‘Teams Split On’ Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza’s Ceiling
As usual, those “way too early” mock drafts and prospect rankings are looking drastically different six months later. Many of those players projected to take huge leaps to first-round stardom have been humbled at the college level, while relative unknowns have begun to make their case for being selected in the top 32. 
Our first look into the 2026 QB options focused mostly on existing tape, though a few inexperienced options were expected to shine. The one everyone will recognize is Longhorns passer Arch Manning. The NFL legacy got off to a rough start in his first season as a full-time starter, completing 55.29 percent of his passes for six touchdowns and three interceptions against Ohio State, San Jose State, and UTEP. He’s since put up some impressive performances against Sam Houston, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt but not without a few duds at Florida and Kentucky peppered in. As a result, scouting opinions on Manning as the potential QB1 of the class have seemingly cooled.
Scouts hoped LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier would continue to put up big numbers while, preferably, lowering his propensity for throwing interceptions; he had a touchdown:interception ratio of 11:7 before becoming a starter and a ratio of 29:12 last year. Nussmeier has failed to fulfill such hopes, going 2-4 in SEC play while throwing seven touchdowns and four interceptions in those games. This past weekend, Nussmeier was benched against the rival Crimson Tide in hopes that Mississippi State transfer Michael Van Buren Jr. could breathe new life into a struggling offense.
In Happy Valley, once promising five-star recruit Drew Allar has also faced a brutal 2025 campaign that could really harm his draft stock. Once lauded as the second quarterback in FBS history to throw for 25 or more touchdowns and two or fewer interceptions, albeit while only completing 59.9 percent of his passes, scouts hoped Allar would finally be able to put it all together with accuracy, production, and strong performances against difficult competition. Allar unfortunately wasn’t able to deliver on these hopes before suffering a season-ending ankle injury.
Of the other college QBs that we mentioned back then, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik has similarly regressed along with his struggling Tigers. South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers has looked like a shell of himself since sustaining an injury in a home loss to Vanderbilt. Nico Iamaleava‘s transfer to UCLA has not resulted in dividends equal to his NIL deal. At Ole Miss, Jaxson Dart‘s successor Austin Simmons lost the starting job to Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss. Lastly, Oklahoma’s John Mateer hasn’t quite captured the magic his fellow Washington State transfer Cam Ward did last year at Miami.
The quarterbacks who have mostly delivered on the expectations placed on them thus far have been the Big 12 trio of Sam Leavitt at Arizona State, Sawyer Robinson at Baylor, and Avery Johnson at Kansas State and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. In fact, Mendoza hasn’t just met expectations under Curt Cignetti, he’s exceeded them.
According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, Mendoza has “clearly established himself as the top quarterback in the 2026 class.” Miller cites the redshirt junior’s pocket poise, arm talent, and ability to make big plays in crucial moments. Jordan Reid, Miller’s peer at ESPN, tried to temper Miller’s praise based on competition that could still push Mendoza for QB1 honors, but he also lauded the Hoosier’s ideal size and experience as a starter.
The two prospects with potential to unseat Mendoza are redshirt sophomore Dante Moore at Oregon and redshirt junior Ty Simpson at Alabama. Both passers are shorter and lighter than Mendoza. Moore is getting his first starting opportunity since getting benched as a true freshman starter at UCLA in 2023. Simpson’s only starts have come in the nine games he’s played this season.
Simpson’s inexperience as a starter doesn’t show in his gameplay, though. Completing 66.9 percent of his passes for over 273 yards per game and 21 touchdowns to only one interception, Simpson has shown impressive processing and decision-making abilities in an extremely small sample size. Moore’s play isn’t quite so clean, as his inexperience still shows here and there, but he’s made significant leaps since his days as a Bruin.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic released some midseason draft rankings yesterday, listing only four quarterbacks in his top 50 prospects: Simpson at No. 2, Mendoza at No. 7, Moore at No. 12, and Sellers at No. 15. The lack of starting experience of Simpson and the continued need for development of Moore and Sellers have many believing an additional year of college could be best for all three.
Brugler’s analysis of Mendoza seems to mirror the ambivalence of the ESPN duo as he claims “NFL teams are split on (Mendoza’s) ceiling as a pro.” The 22-year-old has made a significant leap in his move from Berkeley to Bloomington, but some believe he may not develop much further than he already has under Cignetti. That being said, those scouts are still “very encouraged by his floor,” as Brugler puts it, thanks to a high football IQ, strong accuracy, and an even-keeled demeanor.
There is still a month left of college football before bowls and playoff games begin, so there’s still plenty of time for several of the above-mentioned passers to stake their claim as the most-deserving arm. At the moment, though, there are at least some teams who have Mendoza at the top of a currently muddy QB board.
Penn State QB Drew Allar Out For Season
The 2026 NFL Draft is still far off into the future, but an injury yesterday may have made a big impact on how things will turn out next April. Often viewed as a potential first-round pick, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar may not be able to reach the heights many expected for him after suffering what looked to be a season-ending ankle injury in a loss to Northwestern on Saturday, per ESPN’s Field Yates.
Despite being the backup to Sean Clifford in his first year with the Nittany Lions, Allar saw plenty of garbage time snaps as a true freshman. Former head coach James Franklin‘s statement that the injury will end Allar’s season comes six games into his senior year. An injury redshirt is only available to a player who has appeared in four or fewer games, and because the team decided to burn his redshirt with 10 garbage time appearance in his freshman year, the injury will also end Allar’s collegiate career as his runs out of eligibility.
Allar came out of Medina HS (OH) as a consensus five-star quarterback. 247Sports listed him as the top passer of the Class of 2022, but other recruiting sites lauded recruits like Cade Klubnik, Conner Weigman, and Ty Simpson over Allar. Allar committed to Penn State in March of his junior year and never wavered on his commitment. Ohio State, a program a short two-hour drive away, offered to keep him in his home state just before his senior year, but Allar stuck with the Nittany Lions and went to a school twice as far from home.
Following what could’ve been a redshirt season, Allar took over as the starting quarterback for his sophomore campaign. Allar was lauded for his poise as a young starter. In his first full season, he delivered an impressive 25 passing touchdowns to only two interceptions. While the mistake-free football is a trait to be desired, his offense often lacked efficiency and explosiveness. A completion percentage of 59.9 and a yards per attempt of only 6.8 help underline why Allar barely managed to eclipse 200 yards per game.
He was able to improve on both numbers as a junior, completing 66.5 percent of his passes at 8.4 yards per attempt, but his increase in risk-taking led to a less desirable touchdown to interception ratio of 24:8. In six games this year, Allar seemed to regress in those key metrics. Though he was still completing 64.8 percent of his passes this year, he was only on track for 16 touchdowns through a 12-game season and had already thrown three interceptions. With his yards per attempt dropping back down to 6.9, Allar only averaged 183.3 yards per game as a senior.
Another criticism on Allar was his effectiveness in big games. His three losses as a sophomore were all against teams ranked 11th or higher. In those games, he completed only 45.2 percent of his passes for 185.3 yards per game. As a junior, Penn State lost to the only top 10 team they faced, lost the Big Ten Championship game, and after two playoff victories, lost to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff’s semifinal round. Even the two playoff wins didn’t help Allar’s case as, over those five games against strong competition, he completed only 54.3 percent of his passes for six touchdowns and four interceptions while averaging 161 yards per game.
Allar only got a shot at one big game this year, losing to a sixth-ranked Oregon team. Despite the game going to two overtimes, Allar only amassed 137 yards while completing 56 percent of his passes for two touchdowns and an interception. Instead of using this final season to make a statement for deserving to be selected early in the draft, Allar’s shortened senior year displayed more of the same with two losses to unranked UCLA and Northwestern teams adding insult to injury.
The draw for Allar comes in potential. At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, the 21-year-old has prototypical size for the position. Though it wasn’t on display a ton, he has a strong arm and a pretty good deep ball that saw success when utilized at Penn State. His knack for avoiding turnovers is a huge draw, and he can move pretty well for his size.
His inability to put up big numbers could be attributed to a lot of outside factors — the talent of Penn State’s running backs and offensive line during his tenure shifting focus to the run game, playcalling, an underwhelming group of receivers. Regardless, we’ve seen plenty of scouts in the past fall in love with athletes who lacked production but oozed potential. Those scouts will also have to look past this most recent injury, but that will be easier to do when more information has come out.
Penn State has produced a decent number of quarterbacks over the past 10 years, but Christian Hackenberg, Trace McSorley, and Clifford have done little to set a good precedent for the school in the NFL. Allar’s focus will now shift towards being the one to buck that trend as he attempts to find success in the NFL. Over the next several months, we should get a clearer idea of how scouts are viewing Allar as a prospect following these developments.