The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off next week in Indianapolis. Quarterbacks are always a focus of attention at the annual scouting extravaganza, and this year will be no exception.
The top of the class is carved in granite, but after the top dog, there are a lot of question marks.
Entering the Combine, I have draftable grades on eight quarterbacks. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the only prospect who grades as a first-round talent, but the laws of supply and demand don’t always mesh with scouting grades.
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Alabama’s Ty Simpson could find his way into the first round, with some others plausibly hearing their names called on Day 2.
These eight quarterbacks earned draft-worthy grades from me ahead of the Combine.
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
There’s a reason Mendoza is the universal projection to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. The Heisman winner is blessed with several outstanding traits that the NFL covets in a quarterback: accuracy, poise, leadership, toughness, and panache.
Mendoza won’t grade as highly for most as recent No. 1 overall quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence or Caleb Williams, but he’s an easy choice as the top QB prospect in 2026.
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2. Ty Simpson, Alabama
A one-year starter with limited experience, Simpson wins with timing and placement on anticipatory throws. He’s a decent athlete with real upside as a passer, but a lot of bad habits and youthful mistakes pockmark his prospect profile.
Simpson appeared to stop trusting his eyes late in his one year as Alabama’s starter, and his trust and confidence in his reads had been a real strength. The “good” Simpson is a good NFL starter; the key is getting the good out of Simpson consistently.
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3. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Klubnik entered the 2025 college season regarded as a potential No. 1 overall pick, but neither he nor Clemson had a great year. A good athlete with a big arm, the 6-foot-2 Klubnik possesses easy, natural mechanics and best-in-class play-action fakes.
Questions arise under pressure and when facing more complex defenses, where his slower eyes can force late decisions and mistakes. A very good Shrine Bowl week helped Klubnik separate himself from his inconsistent final season at Clemson, and the NFL hope rides on that being more of who the former five-star recruit will be at the next level.
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4. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
A strong 2024 in his first year as a starter heightened expectations for Nussmeier, but he fell flat in 2025. An oblique injury that clearly impacted his arm strength played a role, but the undersized (6-1, 205) Nussmeier also struggled with discretion, making some ponderous decisions with the ball.
His touch and zip on intermediate passes (when healthy) are impressive, and Nussmeier uses his eyes to move defenders well. When he’s healthy and in rhythm, Nussmeier looks like a potential NFL starter. Teams will have to parse through his clear limitations around those times.
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5. Drew Allar, Penn State
Allar looks the part of the old-school, strong-armed pocket passer. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Allar offers great arm strength and the willingness to attack all over the field. An ankle injury ended his final season at Penn State early, perhaps mercifully so.
Much better in 2024 than 2025, Allar struggled badly with unforced accuracy issues and rushed decisions under pressure. Adding consistency to his oft-erratic mechanics can flesh out Allar’s potential as a not-quite-Joe Flacco type of prospect.
6. Luke Altmeyer, Illinois
Altmeyer earned the rep of being a gamer and a leader at Illinois, where he transferred after starting at Ole Miss. He’s got a strong arm and a savvy blend of touch and zip, throwing catchable balls to all zones of the field.
Decently athletic, he can buy time and convert scrambles into first downs. The biggest issue for Altmeyer is his rather alarming tendency to freeze and hold the ball too long in the pocket, as well as not anticipating pressure well. He’s a good fit for timing-based and West Coast-style schemes on Day 3, preferably to a team with a good interior OL.
7. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
A well-built, dual-threat athlete who steadily improved in his two seasons at Baylor after transferring from Mississippi State, Robertson works well both in and out of the pocket.
The 6-foot4, 230-pounder has nice mechanics and footwork, though he lacks accuracy–especially on anticipatory throws. More of a “need to see it” before throwing type of passer, Robertson is lethal when his first read is open. My scouting report on Robertson reads similarly to that of NFL journeyman Mitchell Trubisky in the present tense.
8. Carson Beck, Miami
Beck was once viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, back in his Georgia days. A strong year at Miami, where he led the Hurricanes to the CFP national championship game, has helped revive his fledgling draft stock. An elbow injury at Georgia that sapped his arm strength remains a major concern, unfortunately.
He did show poise, leadership, and solid accuracy on shorter throws that allowed his receivers to work well after the catch. He’s got toughness and savvy, but the subpar arm zip and inconsistent accuracy when forced off his spot are real limitations for his NFL prospects.
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