The quarterback class for the 2026 NFL Draft is talented, but with one week left in the college football regular season, it’s still unusually murky. Preseason projected top picks Cade Klubnik, Drew Allar, and Garrett Nussmeier have all had their senior season struggles and have faded from the conversation, making way for Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and inexperienced underclassmen, Dante Moore and Ty Simpson.
Mendoza has the inside track for the Heisman Trophy, and this early in the draft process, is likely to be the top quarterback off the board. While he and Simpson are both redshirt juniors, Mendoza has 28 collegiate starts under his belt to Simpson’s 11 and Moore’s 16.
Moore is draft eligible as a redshirt sophomore, but not a certainty to declare. For that matter, neither is Simpson. Still, the separation between the three in Saturday Blitz’s latest mock draft is major disrespect to Alabama’s superstar QB.
Ty Simpson slides to QB3 in latest Saturday Blitz NFL mock draft
Simpson was the third of three first-round quarterbacks, which is understandable. Some may have Simpson as their top passer, but with such a small sample size, he could easily fall behind Mendoza and Moore. The issue, then, is that Simpson is projected to be the 16th overall pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Mendoza and Moore are both top-five selections.
Again, you can choose your favorite flavor among the three quarterbacks. Mendoza is clearly the most proven of the bunch, showing flashes of excellence at Cal before transferring to Indiana and emerging as one of the main characters in college football. He’s a big pocket passer with mobility to create out of structure, but his biggest moments, fourth-quarter touchdown drives against Oregon and Penn State, both came after crushing interceptions.
Moore got his feet wet as a true freshman in 2023 at UCLA before leaving to sit and learn behind Dillon Gabriel at Oregon. He’s made incredible throws with good pacing and touch, and showcased a mature pocket awareness that has allowed him to lead the Ducks through the Big Ten. However, he hit a midseason lull and has leaned on a physical run game more than Mendoza and Simpson.
Simpson hasn’t always been the most pristine. His aggressive style came back to bite him against Oklahoma, the most opportunistic defense that he’s faced, and ball security in the pocket is a growing concern. Still, he throws with elite anticipation and accuracy and has made the most NFL throws of the bunch. Plus, with an anemic run game, he’s been asked to shoulder the greatest playmaking load of any QB in draft consideration.
Maybe Simpson does slide to the middle of the first round. Maybe he decides to return to Alabama for his final season. But right now, he’s clearly on the same tier as Mendoza and Moore.