TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The 2026 NFL Draft board is officially locking into place. Over 300 prospects—including 63 underclassmen—are fighting for their professional lives, but the quarterback hierarchy is set. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the undisputed 1.01, practically walking into the Las Vegas Raiders’ facility. Right behind him? Alabama’s Ty Simpson, a polarizing, high-ceiling prospect who just turned his Tuscaloosa Pro Day into a throwing exhibition.
You could almost feel the tension in the air when the scouts held their breath. Simpson didn’t script an easy workout. He demanded difficult, off-platform throws to prove his mechanics translate to the Sunday speed. The 6-foot-1, 211-pound signal-caller finished his lone starting season for the Crimson Tide with 3,567 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. He started the year scorching hot but hit a late-season slump, eventually fracturing a rib during the College Football Playoff collision against Mendoza’s Hoosiers. Critics point to his limited experience—just 15 career starts. Simpson answered by putting absolute lasers on tape for dozens of key NFL decision-makers.
While Simpson fights to secure his first-round stock, Fernando Mendoza sits comfortably at the top. Mendoza didn’t just win the 2025 Heisman Trophy; he engineered a Cinderella 16-0 national championship run for Indiana. He threw for a nation-leading 33 touchdowns during the regular season, adding another eight in the CFP bracket. Beyond the numbers, Mendoza brings an undeniable human element to the field. His mother, Elsa, battles multiple sclerosis, and Mendoza’s drive to honor her fight galvanized his entire locker room. Teams don’t just see a 6-foot-5 quarterback; they see a mature leader tested by real-world adversity.
“Why not? Go have fun. Go sling it. You watch the tape of the pro day, there wasn’t any easy throws. I didn’t want to make it easy. I know whoever gets me is going to get a good player and a guy who loves football.”
— Ty Simpson, Alabama Quarterback
Mendoza goes to Vegas. That is a given. Simpson’s destination remains a chaotic guessing game. Here are the frontrunners to draft the Alabama prospect:
Expect a team in the back half of the first round to pull the trigger, betting big on his exceptional processing speed and raw talent.
