The 2026 QB class is viewed as one of the weakest in recent memory at the top. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the clear QB1 and a virtual lock to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Alabama’s Ty Simpson is considered the favorite to be QB2, but a first-round selection isn’t guaranteed. NFL fans and draft evaluators hope the 2026 NFL Combine brings some more clarity to this QB class.
The QBs hit the field in Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 1:00 p.m. ET. Mendoza is not expected to throw, so the focus shifts to the rest of the group with the hope of solidifying a QB2 or finding a breakout star. Let’s break down the 16 quarterbacks scheduled to be in attendance at the 2026 NFL Combine.
2026 NFL Combine QB Preview
The No. 1 Pick
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Mendoza has checked every box required of a potential No. 1 overall pick. He operates with a high level of calmness under pressure, with a strong arm and a knack for making the key play in high-pressure moments. He’s got the desired frame for an NFL quarterback and only got better throughout his Heisman Trophy-winning season.
We won’t see much of Mendoza this week, but his 2026 NFL Draft stock remains unchanged; he’ll be the No. 1 overall pick.
Battle For QB2
Ty Simpson, QB, Indiana
Simpson's 2025 campaign was a bit of a roller coaster, but his tape (albeit limited) is loaded with NFL-caliber throws. He processes the game well and showed command of the Crimson Tide offense in 2025. He’s unafraid to challenge the entire field and fires darts into tight middle-of-the-field windows with anticipation and velocity. He suffered several mild-to-moderate injuries in the back half of his season, and his play caliber dipped as a result.
Simpson may be the passer with the most to gain at the 2026 NFL Combine. Sure, we want to see his measurables and throws, but can he nail the interview process? If he does, he’ll find his way into the first round. If not, he’s at risk of falling into day two. Remember, the difference between being the 16th pick and the 34th pick, for example, is roughly $9 million over the course of a rookie contract.
Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
A little more than a year ago, Nussmeier was in the conversation to be the top QB in the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, he’s fighting to be a top-100 pick in 2026. If you watch Nussmeier’s film over a two-year window, you see a player who’s got the arm strength, arm talent, and football intelligence to thrive. You also see a player who takes far too many risks with the football. One also has to wonder if his late-season benching has messed with his confidence.
Can Nussmeier use the 2026 NFL Combine to show what made him the talk of college football early in 2024? If so, he could work his way into the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Carson Beck, QB, Miami
Beck is a tricky evaluation. On one hand, he wins at a considerable clip while flashing high-level accuracy and arm talent with the ability to read and diagnose defenses. On the other hand, he can flush all that down the drain when under pressure and gets very streaky. When things go bad, they can snowball quickly.
The 2026 NFL Combine should display the best of what Beck has to offer. He looks the part and should excel in the passing drills on air. He’s in the top-100 conversation now, and I expect Beck to gain some of his hype back this weekend in Indianapolis.
Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
This is the dark horse. Payton may only be a one-year starter at an FCS school, but he sure has all the things you want in a potential NFL quarterback. He’s an elite weapon with his legs with high-end arm talent and ball placement that is exquisite. His throwing motion is wacky (even for a lefty), but if you watch the ball leave his hands, he’s got the goods.
While the interview process with teams will help, ultimately, Payton can’t silence his biggest concern: inexperience. Despite a solid showing at the Panini Senior Bowl earlier this month, Payton just doesn’t have much experience as a starter and even less against quality competition. But don’t be surprised if he gets some major buzz coming out of the 2026 NFL Combine, especially after on-field drills.
Don’t Forget About These Guys
Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
Allar’s NFL draft trajectory is basically a mix of Nussmeier and Beck above. There was a time, a little more than a year ago, when Allar was considered a potential first-round prospect. He went back to school in 2025 and it was a disaster for him and Penn State. Like Beck, Allar looks the part and flashes some high-level traits, highlighted by his arm strength. However, Allar is incredibly streaky, stares down his receivers, and appears to pre-determine his throws without accounting for post-snap defensive positioning.
The 2026 NFL Combine should show the best of Allar, and there’s a small chance he’ll regain some of the hype he had this time last year. However, his reputation is more tarnished than Nussmeier's or Beck’s.
Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
It was a year to forget for the Clemson football program and Klubnik. He’s got an NFL-caliber arm and is tough as nails, but there are some major warts to his game that didn’t get better with more starts. I don’t love his footwork or his pocket presence, two areas in major need of improvement before he can start a game in the NFL.
Klubnik’s high-end arm and rushing ability are quite intriguing, and the former should shine inside Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Sawyer Robertson, QB, Baylor
Robertson, a Senior Bowl participant, is a very different quarterback from the other two in this category. He was very productive in 2025, and his pocket presence and accuracy are positive attributes. He doesn’t have the arm strength to match either Allar or Klubnik, however. It’s the classic case of having a higher floor but a lower ceiling.
Robertson’s draft stock probably won’t change much externally after the 2026 NFL Combine, but he’s a name to watch in the third or fourth-round mix.
Day 3 Potpourri
Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
Green’s draft stock could go two very different directions after the 2026 NFL Combine. He’s tall and has a very strong arm. However, his accuracy and throwing mechanics are weaknesses. Will he showcase the best of his abilities during the throwing session or the worst of them?
Luke Altmyer, QB, Illinois
Altmyer is a developmental prospect who should showcase two of his more positive throwing qualities in Indianapolis: velocity and release. It’s hard to imagine him entering the top-75 conversation, but he could find himself as an early-day-three pick.
Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas
Daniels has a ton of experience and athleticism to offer, but accuracy and durability are a concern. I’m not sure the 2026 NFL Combine will showcase his best qualities for those watching on TV.
Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt
The most exciting part of Pavia’s 2026 NFL Combine experience is what we won’t see: the team interviews. He will be grilled about his post-Hesiman ceremony comments as well as his overall attitude and demeanor. Aside from his competitiveness and mobility, Pavia doesn’t have a lot of standout traits when it comes to projecting him to the NFL, so those interviews may determine if he gets drafted or not.
Joe Fagnano, QB, Connecticut
Fagnano is an older quarterback prospect who prides himself on making as few mistakes as possible. He recently got to showcase his talents at the Shrine Bowl. He’ll be fighting to prove he has a trait worthy of being drafted.
Joey Aguilar, QB, Tennessee
Aguilar is currently fighting to return to college football in 2026, but he’s hedging his bets by attending the 2026 NFL Combine. His desire not to go to the NFL this season will be the major talking point in team meetings.
Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech
King uses his legs to be highly productive, both in scramble and called QB-run situations. He flashes with his arm, but also has some brutal misses on throws that college quarterbacks should nail. He’s a developmental quarterback fighting to be drafted.
Behren Morton, QB, Texas Tech
Morton won’t be a fit for every NFL offense, but he has enough to his game to develop into a solid backup in a spread offense. He’s good at taking what the defense gives him underneath and has the short accuracy and velocity to zip throws into his receiver’s hands at or underneath the sticks.