Who could be the next Fernando Mendoza? 10 QBs who could rise in 2027 NFL Draft

Anyone on the hunt for the next Fernando Mendoza in the 2027 NFL Draft is likely to be left wanting. The Heisman Trophy winner enjoyed the kind of star turn at Indiana that might not be seen for some time. Not only did the eventual No.

1 pick put himself in a stratosphere all his own among college quarterbacks last season, he also guided Indiana to heretofore unseen heights for the program with a national championship title and 16-0 mark. But while the former two-star recruit enjoyed a unique ascent from the high-school ranks, he had put himself on the pro radar during his time at Cal prior to transferring last year. In 2025, he upped his performance from good to elite, pushing his way to the front of the quarterback class in the process.

Mirroring that leap exactly will be exceedingly difficult for any signal-caller in the fall. Even if a quarterback surges to close the gap on Arch Manning and Dante Moore, pulling even with – or ahead of – the top two prospects at the position might prove impossible. Still, 2025 No.

1 overall pick Cam Ward also saw his stock soar in his final season after being little more than an afterthought to the college football world when he first entered it. In a seemingly deep class for quarterbacks, another massive breakout campaign could alter the landscape at the position. Yet who even qualifies for consideration in this exercise?