Here’s a breakdown of what each top signal-caller brings to the table, along with the areas they’ll need to refine at the next level.
For the full ranking of draft prospects, along with their three-year player grades and position rankings, click here.
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Mock Draft Simulator 2026 NFL Draft Big Board Big Board Builder NCAA Premium Stats SubscribeQB1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
PFF Big Board Rank: 1
Strengths:
- Adequate NFL frame (height and weight)
- Good velocity on short and intermediate passes
- Best back-shoulder passer in the class (NFL-caliber). Elite timing and placement
- Natural touch for sideline passes with extra air
- Knows how to be patient with progressions
- Excellent ball placement; highest plus-accuracy throw rate in the class (36.7%)
- Very smart player. Avoids negatives, reads coverages/leverage, plays calmly under pressure
- Good enough of an athlete to run some RPOs with effectiveness
- Long arms, but still a snappy throwing motion
Weaknesses:
- Good but not great arm. Can get in trouble if he's throwing fade-away passes or is late on reads
- Sack rate is on the higher side, but much improved in 2025
- Played only two snaps under center in 2025
Explore Mendoza's Draft Profile
Game grades, positional splits and high-level metrics.
Open Mendoza's Draft ProfileQB2. Ty Simpson, Alabama
PFF Big Board Rank: 34
Strengths:
- Decent athlete for RPO/QB power work
- Above-average arm talent for the NFL
- Can really rip some throws between zone coverages, including over the middle
- Good feel for progressions, including getting to backside routes, if he has the time
- Experience and success throwing intermediate passes to the middle of the field
- Not afraid to step up in the pocket
Weaknesses:
- Struggled under pressure down the stretch in 2025. Didn't always have quick answers for blitzes
- Consistently drops really far back into the pocket, even from shotgun
- Inconsistent pocket management. Moments of strong movement, and others where he makes a situation worse
- Issue with missing high on passes in 2025. Potentially correctable with higher follow-through
- Walks a fine line between a good tight-window throw and a turnover-worthy play
- High time to throw for a pocket quarterback (sometimes the right decision, but not always)
- Anticipation could be a tick faster. Likely stems from 2025 being his first year as a starter
QB3. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
PFF Big Board Rank: 68
Strengths:
- Outlier size for an NFL quarterback
- Ball velocity on short/intermediate throws is good despite his size
- Experienced and effective RPO point guard
- Escape artist in the pocket. Smaller size allows him to sift through pressure
- Good lower-body fundamentals to throw from a strong, balanced base
- Natural thrower on the run
- Loves to give receivers a chance on the outside against man coverage with touch passes
- Good natural touch on back-shoulder throws
Weaknesses:
- Small size, but doesn't look frail
- Has to swing his leg out when putting power on the ball
- Speed is adequate, but not to the level of a difference-making dual-threat quarterback
- Deep passes need a lot of air to reach their targets
- Has trouble seeing clearly over the line of scrimmage
- Can naturally lean toward keeping RPO reads, even if it's not the best choice
Explore Chambliss' Draft Profile
Game grades, positional splits and high-level metrics.
Open Chambliss' Draft ProfileQB4. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
PFF Big Board Rank: 81
Strengths:
- Better arm strength than expected for his stature (average for the NFL)
- Consistently confident thrower
- Not afraid to take a hit and deliver a great pass
- Doesn't need to see receivers open before throwing
- Good timing and cadence when going through progressions
- Strong pocket management to not take a lot of sacks. Quick time to throw also helps
Weaknesses:
- Very undersized for an NFL quarterback
- True ball placement was an issue in 2025
- Predetermines reads too often
- Doesn't have much escapability
- Will make risky throws to give his receivers a chance (for better or worse)
- High turnover-worthy play rate on intermediate throws over the middle
- Likes to push the ball and hit big throws, but the ball takes longer to get there
QB5. Carson Beck, Miami (FL)
PFF Big Board Rank: 94
Strengths:
- Slightly leaner frame, but good overall size for the NFL
- Clean, smooth fundamentals in his throwing motion
- Confident with intermediate layered passes between zones
- In 2024, was a confident touch passer
- Knows how to move defenders with his eyes
- Able to scan the full field for his reads
- Brings some experience under center
Weaknesses:
- Some tough, bad moments under pressure
- Average NFL arm strength. Didn't look the same after UCL surgery in late 2024
- Ball speed completely dies if his feet aren't set
- Poor PFF passing grade on throws of 40-plus yards in 2025