Bird's Eye View - QB Position Report
- John B. Everett
- 17 minutes ago
- 6 min read
The 2026 NFL Draft QB class appears to be one of the weakest group of signal callers to enter the league in decades. There is only one, true potential franchise QB in this year's draft - Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), the Heisman Trophy winner. Mendoza is locked in as the first selection in Pittsburgh on April 23rd but no other QB in the 2026 NFL Draft has earned a first-round grade. In fact, no other QB can safely be called a future starter with almost every other draftable QB prospect needing significant development before he is ready to start an NFL regular season game. Several QB prospects are unlikely to be a team’s regular starter but have characteristics that could make them reliable, long-term backups in the right situation.
Position Grade – D
SNS utilizes a tier system to break the log jam that typically forms during the evaluation and stacking/ranking of prospects in a position group. Tier I prospects are franchise players whose combination of measureables, athleticism, and college production warrant a high first-round draft pick. Tier II prospects are future starters who should at a minimum be solid contributors as rookies next year. Tier III prospects are players with starter traits but need additional development before they can be reliable starters. Tier IV prospects are marginal NFL prospects who are never likely to become starters, will need to prove themselves on special teams, and are likely to be battling for one of the final spots on a 53-man roster or practice squad.
Tier I
One prospect - Fernando Mendoza / Indiana
The 2026 Heisman Trophy winner led the Hoosiers to their first outright Big Ten title in 80 years, an undefeated season, and the National Championship as he proved to be the best QB in the nation and will almost certainly be the first selection in April’s draft. Mendoza, a transfer from California, possesses excellent size – tall, big frame, well-distributed mass. Mendoza has a quick release despite a slight hitch in his delivery. Very good arm strength when he can step into his throw. He is an accurate passer with good timing, touch, and flashes throwing with NFL-caliber anticipation. Surprisingly good mobility – can scramble and bust off long runs. Good foot speed and agility, considering his size, but is not especially smooth or agile. Physical and tough runner. Sound decision maker and very good field vision – reads coverages well. Rarely pressured or forced to alter his reads behind Indiana’s NFL quality offensive line and playing behind Las Vegas’ offensive line will prove to be much more challenging. Incredibly accurate when not under duress. Tough, can take a big hit, and deliver the pass. Inspirational team leader that teammates respond well to. Mendoza will be the first pick in April. The only thing to be decided if a team like the Jets make an offer that the Raiders cannot refuse.
Tier II
Zero prospects rate as likely future starters and this is where the general weakness of this QB class becomes apparent. Entering the 2025 college football season, several QBs looked like Tier I or Tier II prospects but for a variety of reasons, this class fell well short of expectations.
Tier III
Seven prospects – Ty Simpson / Alabama, Carson Beck / Miami, Fl, Haynes King / Georgia Tech, Garrett Nussmeier / LSU, Cade Klubnik / Clemson, Drew Allar / Penn State, Cole Payton / North Dakota State.
Simpson – Lacks experience starting only one season in Tuscaloosa but has displayed the poise, leadership, and athleticism to be developed into an eventual starter.
Beck – Very experienced college QB who has led teams at Georgia and Miami. Decision making is too often an issue and there are concerns about his arm strength - he has yet to fully recover from a torn UCL in his right elbow suffered in the 2024 SEC Championship Game and his passes lack the desired zip for the NFL.
King – King is coming off the best season of his college career after battling injuries during his time at Texas A&M and Georgia Tech. Displays good leadership skills and is a very good athlete with outstanding running ability. King has improved significantly as a pocket passer as his field vision really improved as a senior.
Nussmeier – Entered the 2025 season as a potential candidate to be the first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft but battled injuries behind a subpar offensive line and missed the end of the season. Smart, mature leader with smaller than desired hands (< 9”) but throws with NFL-level anticipation and touch.
Klubnik – A former 5-star recruit who started since he walked on campus and looked like a franchise QB as a freshman but he could not match that level of play as an upperclassman. Possesses enough arm strength, athleticism, and leadership skill to be developed into a starter.
Allar – Suffered a season-ending knee injury against Northwestern and had not elevated his performance prior to that injury. Allar is a classic pocket passer with a cannon for an arm. Field vision has improved but it is still not NFL quality and needs development before he can be relied on as a starter.
Payton – Very inexperienced with one year of starting at the FCS level. Big, strong, and fast, the southpaw has the arm and running skill to be developed. Will need some amount of time to acclimate himself to NFL speed.
Tier IV
Nine prospects – Mark Gronowski / Iowa, Joe Fagnano / UCONN, Diego Pavia / Vanderbilt, Sawyer Robertson / Baylor, Luke Altmyer / Illinois, Miller Moss / Louisville, Taylen Green / Arkansas, Behren Morton / Texas Tech, Jacob Clark / Missouri State.
Gronowski – The most experienced QB in NCAA history having started 58 career games at South Dakota State and Iowa, Gronowski is a sneaky good athlete with very good mobility, a live arm, and is a quality leader – all desired attributes for a long-time career backup in the mold of Case Keenum.
Fagnano – Slightly overaged (24 years old) but an excellent decision-maker who threw 25 TDs against only one INT last season. Possesses no special physical attributes and although his arm is strong, his passes sail when he cannot step into his throw. Worth a late round draft pick this spring.
Pavia – Gritty, tough, and a consummate winner, Pavia’s lack of size (5097) and lack of great arm strength makes him a marginal NFL prospect. Pavia’s game and skill set is perfectly suited for the CFL but he could earn a job as a team’s number three QB.
Robertson – Looks the part with NFL size and stature. Very good arm strength but lacks great mobility and athleticism. Needs to refine his accuracy – he is very streaky and has long cold spells where he cannot seem to find consistency.
Altmyer – Very athletic and is a legitimate running threat outside the pocket. Good leadership skills and enough arm strength to make every NFL pass in the route tree. Needs to improve anticipation and throw receivers open more consistently.
Moss – Has flashed moments at USC and Louisville where he looked like a potential NFL starter but consistency has been an issue. Offers good mobility and toughness but mechanics need refinement – when is feet are not set his accuracy goes out the window.
Green – Rare size and is a tremendous athlete with open field running ability like Cam Newton where he can run past or over you. Fantastic arm strength but poor footwork and accuracy make him a long shot to become an NFL starting QB.
Morton – An experienced and gutsy team leader with a quick release and NFL arm strength. Limited running ability and suffers from lapses of poor decision-making. Toughness makes him a potential, long-term NFL career backup QB.
Clark – Limited starting experience with the 2025 season being his only year of starting after performing as a backup for three years at Minnesota. Outstanding arm strength and size. Limited running ability and athleticism. Has traits worth developing as a likely UDFA.
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