Ranking Ty Simpson, 9 other QBs picked in NFL draft by fit with new teams
Ten passers were selected during the 2026 NFL Draft, however not all seemed to be glove-in-hand fits with their new clubs.
The over/under on available franchise quarterbacks entering the 2026 NFL Draft was probably around 1½ – though Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay is most definitely taking the over … just don’t tell league MVP Stafford . Please. Yet all told, despite the perceived deficit of high-grade passers on the board this year – and with a bumper crop seemingly forming ahead of the highly anticipated 2027 draft – 10 signal-callers ultimately heard their names called prior to this draft’s conclusion on the evening of April 25.
How well do this year’s rookie quarterbacks ultimately dovetail with their new employers? Let’s rank all 10 by fit, from best to worst: 1. Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders (Round 1, 1st overall) Whether or not he is actually the best player in this draft is immaterial.
Whether or not his potential maxes out at a Matt Ryan-adjacent ceiling – and, hey, Matty Ice was a league MVP – is immaterial. Mendoza may not be John Elway or Peyton Manning, but the position he plays rendered him the presumptive top pick of this draft from the moment the calendar flipped to 2026. And the Silver and Black have been desperate for stability behind center since the 2022 organizational decision to pull the plug on Derek Carr – and even he never managed to notch the playoff victory Raider Nation has awaited for more than 23 years.
Mendoza’s ability and demeanor – un-Raider-y as he is compared to, say, Kenny Stabler – seem just about optimal as GM John Spytek continues to rebuild this operation around him. And having veteran Kirk Cousins on hand, reasonably allowing Las Vegas to slow-track Mendoza into the QB1 role, is another plus. 2.
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