Ranking the top 14 quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL draft

Editor’s note: The Union-Tribune’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 23-25). Here are his top 10 quarterbacks, plus “bonus” players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

1. Fernando Mendoza (Jr., Indiana, 6-foot-5, 236 pounds)

The former two-star recruit worked his way up the depth chart and became a two-year starter for Cal before winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record and the national championship. Mendoza wins with size, command, accuracy, red-zone efficiency and grown-man composure. The questions are valid — middle-of-field volume, under-center experience, and whether his game has enough improv juice when structure collapses — but the résumé is too strong to shrug off. Projected: No. 1 overall

2. Ty Simpson (Jr., Alabama, 6-1, 211)

Simpson was the third-ranked quarterback in the 2022 class and the No. 26 recruit nationally. Stuck behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe, he spent his first three years with the Crimson Tide on the bench before earning second-team All-SEC recognition in his only season as a starter. Simpson only has 15 collegiate starts to go off of, but the small sample size shows he is a poised, accurate, mechanically clean QB who wins with processing, rhythm and pocket control more than raw star-power traits. Recent history has not exactly thrown a parade for first-round quarterbacks with limited college reps, though. Trey Lance, Mac Jones, Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, Anthony Richardson and Mitchell Trubisky all had fewer than 17 career starts in college. Regardless, Simpson is a high-variance bet with a realistic starter path if the game slows down and he’s drafted by a Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay disciple. Projected: Rounds 1-2

3. Drew Allar (Sr., Penn State, 6-5, 228)

Allar was the fourth-ranked quarterback in the 2022 class and the No. 32 recruit nationally before becoming a three-year starter with the Nittany Lions. He looks the part, and the arm talent flashes like a guy who should go much earlier than he will. He can drive the ball vertically, hang in against pressure and make NFL-caliber throws from the pocket, but the senior-year ankle injury cut off a chance to stabilize his stock. The frame and arm will get him drafted, but the feel and consistency still lag behind. Projected: Rounds 3-5

4. Garrett Nussmeier (Sr., LSU, 6-2, 203)

After backing up Jayden Daniels for two seasons, the former four-star recruit earned his own first-round hype from NFL scouts and analysts with a breakthrough 2024 season. Nussmeier is a live-arm gunslinger whose tape comes with both NFL throws and self-inflicted headaches. If teams buy the 2024 tape as the truer baseline and view 2025 as injury-related turbulence, he has starter-level arm talent. A strong Senior Bowl showing has rehabbed his draft stock a bit. Nussmeier’s father, Doug, is currently Kellen Moore’s offensive coordinator with the New Orleans Saints. Projected: Rounds 3-4

5. Taylen Green (Sr., Arkansas, 6-6, 227)

After three mostly successful years at Boise State, the former three-star recruit truly blossomed in Fayetteville. Green is one of the most intoxicating boom-or-bust swings in this class. His 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the combine was just shy of Michael Vick’s 4.33 at Vick’s pro day. Green has rare traits (9.99 Relative Athletic Score), rare upside and there’s a very real chance he drives a quarterback coach slightly insane. The mechanics run hot and cold, the decisions can get reckless, and too much of his game still feels like controlled chaos instead of quarterbacking. He ranked No. 1 in the FBS in plays of 10-plus yards (315) and 20-plus yards (109) the past two seasons while also committing a combined 37 turnovers (20 interceptions, 17 fumbles). Projected: Rounds 4-6

6. Cole Payton (Sr., North Dakota State, 6-3, 232)

The former two-star recruit served as Cam Miller’s backup for three years before becoming the starter in 2025. Payton is one of the more interesting Day 3 quarterbacks because he is not just athletic (9.87 RAS), he was productive, tough and legitimately useful as both a passer and runner. The hang-up is whether a team sees a true developmental QB or a package player with Taysom Hill flavor. Projected: Rounds 4-7

7. Carson Beck (Sr., Miami, 6-5, 233)

Beck was the ninth-ranked pro-style quarterback in the 2020 class. After winning two national titles as a backup to Stetson Bennett, he earned second-team All-SEC recognition in his first year as a starter before an up-and-down 2024 with Georgia, including elbow surgery, led to him transferring in hopes of rehabilitating his draft stock. Beck earned third-team All-ACC honors and led the Hurricanes to the national title game. He looks like an NFL quarterback and generally throws like one when the picture is clean. The problem is that his anticipation can lag, his playmaking outside structure is limited, and for a passer with this much experience, the processing doesn’t always feel as advanced as it should. But he’s a winner, finishing 37-6 as a starter. Beck turns 25 in November. Projected: Rounds 4-5

8. Sawyer Robertson (Sr., Baylor, 6-4, 216)

The former four-star recruit spent two years at Mississippi State before transferring to Waco. Robertson was one of seven FBS quarterbacks to throw 30-plus touchdowns last season and was No. 2 in the FBS in passing yards per game (306.8). He checks the size, athleticism (9.72 RAS) and production boxes with enough arm talent to challenge downfield, and the legs to keep defenses honest. His pocket awareness still needs work, though, and the occasional scattershot stretch pops up from time to time. Robertson was a finalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, called the “Academic Heisman.” Projected: Rounds 5-7

9. Cade Klubnik (Sr., Clemson, 6-2, 207)

Klubnik was the top-ranked quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class and the No. 6 recruit nationally after becoming the first Texas high school QB since Kyler Murray to go undefeated and win back-to-back state titles. He became a three-year starter for the Tigers and finished No. 3 in school history in career passing yards (10,123) behind Tajh Boyd and Deshaun Watson. Klubnik is a functional, experienced college starter with enough mobility and timing to keep an offense on schedule. What’s missing is a defining NFL trait. Projected: Rounds 5-6

10. Haynes King (Sr., Georgia Tech, 6-2, 212)

King was an Under Armour All-American and the fifth-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2020 class. After injuries derailed his time at Texas A&M, he joined the Yellow Jackets, and became one of the program’s most successful and decorated players. He was chosen ACC Player of the Year in 2025, and joined Calvin Johnson as the only two Georgia Tech players to finish top 10 in Heisman voting since 2000. King was also just the second three-time team captain in school history. He became only the second FBS player since 1956 to post at least 2,900 passing yards, 900 rushing yards, a 69% completion rate and 15 rushing touchdowns in a season. Jalen Hurts also accomplished the feat for Oklahoma in 2019. He is dangerous when things break down, but as a pure passer, he is still more improv artist than polished distributor, and he turned 25 in January. The athletic profile (9.61 RAS) gives him at least a puncher’s chance to make a roster. Projected: Round 7-PFA

11. Mark Gronowski (Sr., Iowa, 6-2, 226)

In four seasons as South Dakota State’s starter, the former no-star recruit led the Jackrabbits to three FCS national championship games (two wins) and set several school records before joining the Hawkeyes last season. Gronowski set an NCAA record, across all levels, with 58 career wins as a starting quarterback. His résumé deserves respect. He’s experienced (turns 25 in October), tough, mobile (9.60 RAS) and clearly understands how to guide a football team. His arm talent looks more serviceable than special though. The intangibles help, but the ceiling still feels modest. Still, Gronowski was a rare four-year team captain (three years at SDSU and his one season in Iowa City), and earned Offensive MVP honors in the East-West Shrine Bowl. I’ve learned not to count players (or people) like him out. He’s built like a linebacker, so if he can’t secure a backup role, perhaps he’ll make it on special teams. Projected: Round 7-PFA

12. Diego Pavia (Sr., Vanderbilt, 5-10, 203)

A former no-star recruit, Pavia spent two years at New Mexico Military Institute before transferring to New Mexico State where he led the Aggies to a 10-win season, including a victory over Auburn in 2023, earning Conference USA’s Offensive Player of the Year. He followed that up by taking Vanderbilt to new heights, becoming the first Heisman Trophy finalist in school history after leading the Commodores to their first double-digit win season. Pavia was also a four-year team captain (two years at New Mexico State, two at Vandy). He’s undersized, ultra-competitive and flat-out annoying for defenses when the play breaks down (or Heisman voters when he doesn’t win). He brings legitimate playmaking, toughness and edge, but the size and style create obvious durability and projection concerns. He’s easy to like on the field, but hard to slot. Pavia was an accomplished high school wrestler, which isn’t something many quarterbacks can say. As a senior, he won the 195-pound state title in New Mexico after finishing as runner-up his junior year. Projected: Round 7-PFA

13. Luke Altmyer (Sr., Illinois, 6-2, 210)

Altmyer was named a 2021 Under Armour All-American before spending two years at Ole Miss. In 2022, Jaxson Dart beat him out for the starting job, which led to the former four-star recruit entering the transfer portal. He started three seasons for the Illini, ranking No. 1 in program history in completion percentage (64.4) and No. 2 in TD passes (57). He’s efficient, generally composed and capable of operating within structure. The catch is that he lacks a standout physical trait, which makes the margin for error thin. Projected: Round 7-PFA

14. Jack Strand (Sr., Minnesota State Moorhead, 6-4, 243)

A four-year starter and three-time All-American for the Division II Dragons, Strand features a big frame, huge production, intriguing athletic profile (9.17 RAS) and a small-school mystery box appeal. However, Division II windows are not NFL windows, and he’ll need time to prove the processing and accuracy hold up against real speed, but the tools are good enough for teams to invest camp reps and see where it goes. Projected: Round 7-PFA