Drafting First-Round QB Still On Table For Giants
DECEMBER 31: During his latest episode of Breaking Big Blue, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan notes no one around the NFL is operating with the belief Schoen is in danger of being fired. The team’s head coaching future remains unclear, but it increasingly appears as though no front office moves will be coming.
DECEMBER 28: At times this year, it seemed a low period for the Giants franchise was coming to an end and starting to head uphill as we saw early success with offensive rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo. Some of those opinions have waned as the season has worn on, to the point that some see the Giants utilizing their first-round pick on a quarterback for the second draft in a row. 
After the Giants tried and failed to move up to No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft to take Cam Ward, there was some speculation that they may attempt to trade back into the back of the first round for another quarterback option, perhaps Shedeur Sanders or Dart. The Saints had been tied to Dart, as well, but after he slipped by their No. 9 overall pick, all eyes were on New Orleans to trade back into the first round, as well. Ultimately, it was New York that pulled the trigger and landed Dart.
Expectations for Dart’s first season varied wildly. Some viewed a short leash for veteran starter Russell Wilson, while others thought Dart could hold a clipboard throughout his entire rookie campaign. After an 0-3 start to the season in which the Giants scored fewer than 10 points in two of those games, the team turned the offense over to the rookie, and Dart delivered, immediately, with a win over the playoff-bound Chargers.
The following week, Dart showed some vulnerabilities in a game that would give the Saints their first win of the season, but he rebounded with a big win over the division-rival Eagles in his third start. A playoff gauntlet that included trips to Denver, Philadelphia, and Chicago and a home matchup with the 49ers prevented any more wins from being added to Dart’s record, but the young passer continued to show strong abilities and impressive instincts in his first several starts under head coach Brian Daboll.
As Connor Hughes of SportsNet New York points out, though, Daboll’s firing led to some regression in Dart’s overall performance. After throwing 10 touchdowns to just three interceptions and rushing for seven more scores in his first seven starts, Dart has only thrown three touchdowns to two interceptions while staying scoreless on the ground up until today’s win over the lowly Raiders. Post-Daboll, the team’s designed usage of Dart was altered in a way that perhaps now lends some justifiability to looking into a new passer next year.
To that end, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that, before making any concrete plans for the future, the Giants will be fully evaluating Heisman-winner and projected QB1 of the 2026 NFL Draft Fernando Mendoza. While not boasting talent that commands surefire No. 1 overall status à la Joe Burrow or Trevor Lawrence, the Indiana-product (by way of Cal) has been billed lately as the top passing prospect in the coming draft. With the finalized holders of the top two picks in the draft both being quarterback-needy teams, there’s a high likelihood that Mendoza could be selected with one of those two picks.
If the team does decide to draft a new quarterback, the expectation is that they would try to trade Dart to another team searching for an answer at the position. Dart’s early promise and strong attributes could make him a strong option for many teams lacking at the position, but if the Giants grade Mendoza highly and like him more than they currently like Dart, the rookie’s concussion history and reckless play style could make him an expendable asset in the eyes of the team.
Part of these decisions will come down to the staffers making them, and while general manager Joe Schoen has been expected to be retained in New York, his position is hardly secure. In fact, while Rapoport didn’t speak to this point in his segment linked above, the banner showing as he discussed the Giants reported that Schoen was “likely to remain with (the) team for (the) draft.” It’s hard to believe New York would allow Schoen to have input on something as impactful as the team’s 2026 first-round pick — or their next head coach — if they didn’t expect to retain him past that, but NFL Network’s wording seems ominous, nonetheless.
We’re still months away from any solid answers on what the future will bring for the Giants. Next week could determine if they have the No. 1 overall pick. Several stages of the pre-draft process could determine if Mendoza will be the likely draft choice. Who the team drafts could easily determine the futures of both Dart and Schoen. Lots of variables remain up in the air for what is setting up to be a newsworthy offseason in New York.
Dolphins To Explore Trading Up For QB In 2026 Draft?
The Dolphins may have no choice but to retain quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in 2026, given the financial ramifications of a release and the presumed absence of a meaningful trade market. Even if that proves to be the case, Tagovailoa’s performance this season has led to his demotion and has forced the ‘Fins to at least contemplate moving on from their 2020 first-rounder.
During his weekly appearance on WSVN Fox 7, prominent NFL agent Drew Rosenhaus (who does not represent Tagovailoa) said he expects the Dolphins to explore a trade-up in the 2026 draft in an effort to land the southpaw’s successor (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). In that scenario, newly-minted Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza would unsurprisingly be a “likely target,” per Rosenhaus. If Oregon’s Dante Moore elects to turn pro – which would run counter to the most recent reporting on the matter – he would presumably be in consideration as well.
At present, the Giants hold the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. They made signal-caller Jaxson Dart a first-round selection this year, and Dart has performed well enough in his rookie season to justify that choice and to solidify his standing within the organization. As Jackson notes, there has been some speculation from ESPN insider and former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum that Big Blue could draft Mendoza and look to trade Dart if they ultimately secure the No. 1 pick, but if the Giants or the Cam Ward-fronted Titans end up with the top choice, one would imagine either club would seriously consider dealing it to a QB-needy team.
However, the 2-13 Raiders and 2-13 Giants play each other Sunday, and the loser of that game will have the inside track on the top pick. Unlike the Giants, the Raiders do not have a player that resembles a franchise passer on the roster, so they may keep that pick for themselves and use it on a player like Mendoza or Moore. Another obvious barrier to a Dolphins trade-up is the fact that teams like the Jets, Browns, and Cardinals are also likely to consider drafting a QB and are slated to pick ahead of Miami, thus giving them a more valuable first-rounder to offer in a swap.
That said, the Dolphins still could finish with a pick as high as No. 7, and they have a high second-round pick and three third-rounders in 2026. They also control the rights to all of their future first-rounders, and their first-round selection in 2027 – which is projected to boast a deeper QB class – could be a high one, as Jackson posits.
In short, they may have the ammo to do what they tried to do in 2020, when they offered a package of four first-round picks to the Bengals to move up just four spots from the No. 5 pick to No. 1 for the right to select Joe Burrow (although three of those first-rounders were in the 2020 draft). Cincinnati rejected the proposal, and Miami settled for Tagovailoa.
Neither Mendoza nor Moore is the type of prospect that Burrow was, and depending on the results of the last several games of the current season, Miami’s first pick in 2026 may not come until No. 17. If that happens, this type of trade-up speculation would probably be moot. Still, Rosenhaus’ remarks serve as yet another indicator that the ‘Fins no longer believe Tagovailoa is their long-term quarterback.
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.
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.
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.
An Early Look At 2026 NFL Draft QB Options
2025 was a proclaimed down year for quarterback prospects in the draft. New Titans quarterback Cam Ward was certainly deserving of his first-round status, but no other passers really commanded a first-round grade. Jaxson Dart ended up slipping into the back end of the first thanks to a trade up by the Giants, but Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, and Shedeur Sanders all slipped down to later rounds in Green Bay. 
While the lack of elite talent behind Ward certainly contributed to lessened interest in reaching for passers in the first round, the potential quality of the 2026 NFL Draft class may have played a part, as well. This is especially apparent with teams like the Browns and Rams, who didn’t acquire first-round passers this year but did acquire 2026 first-round picks. Those two picks in 2026 will come in handy as Jeff Howe of The Athletic tells us that “personnel departments have been optimistic for months about the group” of passers that could declare for the next draft.
One of the main factors that could contribute to a strong quarterback class in 2026 is the status of Texas passer Arch Manning. Grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch’s tenure as the Longhorns’ starter has been highly anticipated as new Dolphins passer Quinn Ewers closed out his career.
Manning has shown plenty of promise in limited time. In 12 games (two starts), Manning has completed 66 percent of his passes for 939 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions, adding four more scores on the ground. It will be interesting to see if the youth comes out of school after only three years. Though the grandfather, Archie, came out of Ole Miss after only three seasons to go second overall in the 1971 NFL Draft, he highly encouraged Peyton and Eli to stay four years apiece at their respective alma maters. Enough hype off of a strong season may be enough to lure Arch out of Austin next year, but there’s always a chance he returns to campus and diminishes the 2026 class a bit.
Even without Manning, though, there’s still plenty of talent in next year’s class. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Penn State’s Drew Allar have consistently been billed as the next big NFL arms in college football, projecting consistently as future first-round picks. Unfortunately, the 2024 season did little to support either’s claim for a top draft spot.
After an impressive performance (395 passing yards, three touchdowns) in the Tigers’ bowl game victory over Wisconsin in 2023 (his first start), Nussmeier returned to Baton Rouge to start all 13 games in his redshirt junior season with plenty of hype. In some respects, he absolutely delivered. His 4,052 passing yards were second in the SEC this year behind only Dart (4,279), second in school history behind only Joe Burrow (5,671), and 10th in SEC history. Dart accomplished his number with 127 fewer pass attempts, though, while Burrow threw for 1,619 more yards on just two more attempts. Nussmeier also tied with Ewers and Carson Beck for the most interceptions (12) in the SEC last year. If Nussmeier can develop a more efficient passing game with more looks downfield while limiting turnovers, he may be able to retain his first-round stock next year. It would also benefit him to develop a bit more mobility; he currently has -96 career rushing yards (sacks count as negative rushing attempts in college).
At one point a five-star recruit and the top quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class, according to 247Sports, Allar has, so far, failed to live up to the hype in Happy Valley. After appearing in 10 games as a true freshman, Allar became the Nittany Lions’ full-time starter as a sophomore in 2023. He only completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,631 yards that season, but he became the second quarterback in FBS history to throw for 25 or more touchdowns and two or fewer interceptions after Hendon Hooker did so with 27 and two, respectively, in 2022. Allar improved his completion percentage (66.5) and passing yardage (3,327) in 16 games in 2024 (only a slight rise in yards per game), but his 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions indicated a step back. He does boast some rushing ability, though, with 560 yards and 11 touchdowns in three years. Penn State hasn’t been known for big passing numbers as they’ve transitioned from Trace McSorley to Sean Clifford to Allar, but one would expect Allar’s five-star talent to elevate the passing attack a bit more than it has. If he continues to put up lackluster numbers, he’ll still likely hear his name called in the draft, it just may not be in the first round.
One passer who may have passed both Nussmeier and Allar with his 2024 performance was Clemson’s Cade Klubnik. Another five-star recruit, and the second-ranked quarterback under Allar in the 2022 recruiting class, Klubnik was incredibly underwhelming in his first two years with the Tigers. Last year, though, Klubnik passed for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns, and only six interceptions while rushing for 463 yards and seven more scores. His performance led Clemson to an ACC Championship and a College Football Playoff berth. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded Klubnik as the eighth-best passer last season in the NCAA, over both Nussmeier (23rd) and Allar (32nd). 
Another name drawing plenty of first-round interest is South Carolina dual-threat quarterback LaNorris Sellers. Like Manning, and unlike Nussmeier, Allar, and Klubnik, Sellers will only be a redshirt sophomore next season, but he showed flashes of serious star potential in 2024 that has scouts licking their chops. Barely registering any time as a true freshman, Sellers entered this past fall as the Gamecocks’ starter. Missing a game and a half with injury, Sellers put up a 65.6 percent completion rate, 2,534 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while rushing for 674 yards and seven more scores. He got off to a slow start, but starting with the team’s seventh matchup of the year, Sellers blew up, averaging 249 passing yards per game and 65 rushing yards per game while scoring 18 touchdowns (14 passing, four rushing) and throwing only three picks. The team ended the regular season on a six-game winning streak before losing its bowl game.
Two other names that scouts are dog-earring early are Nico Iamaleava and Fernando Mendoza, who have both transferred to new schools for 2025. Iamaleava is heading to UCLA after two seasons in Tennessee. Becoming a full-time starter for the Volunteers as a redshirt freshman, Iamaleava helped Tennessee win 10 games. His passing numbers (2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns, five interceptions) and rushing numbers (358 yards, three touchdowns) were only small contributions, though, for a team that was carried by a strong run game and defense. Still, Iamaleava’s ball security should be valued on a Bruins team that saw Ethan Garbers throw 11 interceptions in a disappointing senior campaign last year.
Mendoza is heading to Indiana after nearly two full years as the starter at Cal. Mendoza took over as the Golden Bears’ starter in the sixth game of the team’s 2023 campaign and started every game for the rest of the year. He started 11 games for Cal in 2024, averaging 273.1 yards per game for 16 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He also displays some decent mobility out of the pocket. Mendoza and former Indiana passer Kurtis Rourke will essentially switch cities with Rourke landing with the 49ers in the draft. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, Mendoza could have a breakout year with the Hoosiers.
And these are just the preseason names marked with first-round potential. At this time last year, Ward was considered a likely Day 3 option. Howe notes options like Ward’s successor at Miami, Beck, Dart’s successor at Ole Miss, Austin Simmons, Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, Baylor’s Sawyer Robinson, and Kansas State’s Avery Johnson all as names that could skyrocket up the board with strong 2025 campaigns. Another one of Ward’s successors, John Mateer, who followed Ward as the starter at Washington State last year, is primed to be a contender, as well, in 2025 after transferring to Oklahoma.
For now, this is a ton of speculation. With the nature of the draft and transfer portal, so many of these quarterbacks’ teams will look extremely different in 2025, and it could really affect their performances as a result, potentially making 2026’s quarterback crop as thin as 2025’s. Small school or FCS passers could force their way into the conversation, as well. Or any number of these players could defer to the 2027 NFL Draft and make that year’s class even stronger. Regardless, teams like the Browns and Rams, with extra first-round picks next year, are feeling much more optimistic about the quarterback depth of the 2026 NFL Draft.