NFL QB mock draft 2026: Where Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier could land

Fernando Mendoza is widely considered the best quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Las Vegas Raiders are almost certain to select him with the No. 1 overall pick.

What happens at the quarterback position after that is far less clear.

This year's draft isn't considered to be particularly strong at quarterback. Mendoza is the only sure-fire first-round selection, and the only other quarterback who has been regularly mentioned as a potential first-round pick is Ty Simpson.

If Simpson slides to the second round, that could have a ripple effect on the remainder of the 2026 quarterback class. Several other potential Day 2 quarterbacks – like Garrett Nussmeier and Carson Beck – could find themselves selected and could end up being third-round quarterbacks or even falling to the draft's third day.

Even so, plenty of quarterbacks will have their names called during the three-day draft. At least 11 signal-callers have been chosen in the last three NFL drafts, and the 2025 class – which was considered similarly weak at quarterback – had nine quarterbacks chosen on Day 3.

Could something similar happen in 2026? Here's a quarterback-only mock draft featuring a dozen passers coming off the board across the draft's 257 picks.

NFL mock draft 2026: Projecting all QB landing spots

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

• Team: Las Vegas Raiders
• Pick: No. 1 overall, first round

The Raiders have all but officially announced Mendoza will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner's accuracy, field-reading skills and ability to effectively navigate the pocket have earned him Joe Burrow comparisons and should allow him to quickly find success at the NFL level.

Mendoza completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions and led Indiana to an undefeated season and national championship in his lone season with the Hoosiers. Now, he will set his sights on beating Kirk Cousins for the Raiders' starting job in 2026.

Ty Simpson, Alabama

• Team: Arizona Cardinals
• Pick: No. 34 overall, second round

It's hard to find a clear-cut landing spot for Simpson in the first round. That could cause him to slip into Day 2, unless a team opts to trade into the end of Round 1, much like the New York Giants did with Jaxson Dart last season.

The Cardinals could end up being that team, as they need a quarterback of the future to groom behind Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew. Simpson could benefit from spending his rookie season learning behind the veteran duo after being just a one-year starter at Alabama, and he has the top-end accuracy and ball-placement skills needed to develop into a rock-solid NFL starter.

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

• Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
• Pick: No. 85 overall, third round

Nussmeier could end up going earlier than this. However, only seven quarterbacks have been second-round picks over the last 10 drafts combined and there hasn't been a year with multiple second-round quarterback selections since 2014 (Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo).

All that's to say that if Simpson slips down the draft board, Nussmeier could drop a bit too. The LSU product has an NFL-caliber arm, good anticipation and NFL bloodlines as the son of New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.

New Steelers coach Mike McCarthy employed the elder Nussmeier as his quarterbacks coach for three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys (2020-22). That connection could be enough to get Pittsburgh – which has a league-high 12 draft picks and three, third-round selections – to add the younger Nussmeier and have him battle Will Howard to become Aaron Rodgers' successor.

Carson Beck, Miami (FL)

• Team: Miami Dolphins
• Pick: No. 90 overall, third round

The Dolphins brought in Malik Willis to help replace Tua Tagovailoa, but that may not stop the team from adding competition for Willis, who has upside but has only made six career NFL starts.

Beck is an experienced, sixth-year quarterback who started 43 games with Georgia and Miami. He threw for at least 3,485 yards in each of his final three seasons and capped his career by completing 72.4% of his passes for 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and leading the Hurricanes to a national championship game appearance.

Beck has prototypical size (6-4, 220 pounds) and throws with good touch and anticipation. That said, there are concerns about his arm strength – which was merely average in 2025, his first season since having surgery on the UCL in his throwing elbow – and about his struggles under pressure.

Still, the Dolphins could take a shot on him, knowing he has a high floor as a strong backup quarterback, even if he doesn't blossom into a long-term starter.

Drew Allar, Penn State

• Team: New York Jets
• Pick: No. 103 overall, fourth round

The Jets could certainly consider taking a quarterback with one of their four, top-44 selections. If they wait, taking a swing on a prospect like the 6-5, 235-pound Allar would make sense.

Allar has prototypical size and excellent arm talent but struggled with consistency across his time at Penn State. He was in the midst of an up-and-down senior campaign before suffering a season-ending ankle injury six contests into it.

Still, Allar is just 22 years old and completed 63.2% of his career passes for 7,402 yards, 61 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for the Nittany Lions. The Jets could develop him behind Geno Smith and thrust him into the fire quickly if the 35-year-old veteran struggles in his return to New York.

Taylen Green, Arkansas

• Team: Green Bay Packers
• Pick: No. 153 overall, fifth round

Matt LaFleur helped develop Jordan Love into a strong starting quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers. Then, he turned Malik Willis into a $60 million free agent signing behind Love.

Green could be the next quarterback on whom LaFleur tries to work his magic. The four-year starter at Boise State and Arkansas has a cannon arm and elite speed and mobility for his 6-6, 230-pound frame. That could make him a tantalizing project for the backup-needy Packers, though he will need to iron out the mechanical issues that led to accuracy and turnover concerns during his college days.

Cade Klubnik, Clemson

• Team: Detroit Lions
• Pick: No. 157 overall, fifth round

The Lions have just one quarterback currently on their roster behind 31-year-old Jared Goff. That's Teddy Bridgewater, who will turn 34 during the 2026 NFL season.

As such, Detroit could use a young quarterback to develop behind its two veterans. Klubnik has the arm talent and mobility needed to develop into a quality quarterback but will need to improve his ability to consistently read the field and find open receivers to find NFL success.

Cole Payton, North Dakota State

• Team: Buffalo Bills
• Pick: No. 182 overall, sixth round

The Bills have cycled through Mitch Trubisky and Kyle Allen as their backups to Josh Allen in recent seasons. They could stand to add a younger option to serve as a long-term backup to the 2024 NFL MVP, and Payton – a dual-threat lefty who was a one-year starter at North Dakota State – would be an intriguing add.

Payton completed 72% of his passes for 2,719 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions while running for 777 yards and 13 scores on 136 carries. What he lacks in arm strength, he makes up for with his touch passing skills and mobility. He could start his career as a third-stringer with the Bills before eventually earning his keep as a solid NFL backup.

Jalon Daniels, Kansas

• Team: New England Patriots
• Pick: No. 191 overall, sixth round

The Patriots released Joshua Dobbs after he served as the backup to Drake Maye in 2025. Tommy DeVito figures to slot in as Maye's new backup, but the team will need to add a third quarterback to replenish the depth lost by releasing Dobbs.

Daniels spent six seasons at Kansas and enjoyed his best season in 2025, completing 62.1% of his passes for 2,531 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions while adding 404 yards and four scores on the ground. The 23-year-old showed well at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine and has met with the Patriots, so perhaps New England will use one of its three, sixth-round picks on him.

Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

• Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Pick: No. 229 overall, seventh round

Pavia enjoyed an excellent final season at Vanderbilt. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting after completing 70.6% of his passes for 3,539 yards, 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions while adding 862 yards and 10 scores on the ground.

While Pavia played well collegiately, his slight frame (5-10, 207 pounds) may limit him to a backup role in the NFL. The Buccaneers could be interested in adding him for such a role, as his toughness and edge could help him emerge as a dynamic backup to Baker Mayfield.

Luke Altmyer, Illinois

• Team: Los Angeles Rams
• Pick: No. 232 overall, seventh round

The Rams currently have just two quarterbacks on their roster: Matthew Stafford and Stetson Bennett IV. Los Angeles may not want to use an early resource on a quarterback, as it looks to capitalize on whatever remains of the 38-year-old Stafford's career, but using one of the team's three, seventh-round picks on a signal-caller could make sense.

Altmyer was a three-year starter at Illinois who lacks elite traits but was steady in Bret Bielema's pro-style offense. The 6-1, 210-pound quarterback completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,007 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions in his final college season.

Haynes King, Georgia Tech

• Team: Baltimore Ravens
• Pick: No. 250 overall, seventh round

Like the Rams, the Ravens have just two quarterbacks on their roster. They could add another behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley, and King has the dual-threat capabilities that make him an ideal fit.

King will be a 25-year-old rookie but is coming off a season during which he completed 69.8% of his passes for 2,951 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions while running for 953 yards and 15 scores. His athleticism could make him a versatile weapon at the NFL level.