After the college football season, it seemed like Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza settled the debate on who the best quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft class is. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 pick and have a need at quarterback.
Every mock draft since the end of the season has them taking Mendoza with the top pick. However, in recent weeks, there has been a push for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, mainly led by ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky.
Some have suggested that Simpson is the top quarterback in the 2026 class. Former Raiders defensive back and NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks gave his thoughts on the debate.
“Time will tell which one is better, but it possible the football world might be too high on Mendoza as a No.1 overall pick and too low on Simpson as QB2 (2nd round). The truth lies somewhere in the middle with each QB,” Brooks wrote on X in reference to Orlovsky’s reverence for Simpson.
“Mendoza doesn’t have a lot of ‘take over the game’ contests on his resume, but he does have a collection of franchise QB moments. He also played for a play designer who routinely scripted ‘winners’ utilizing creative concepts. His IQ, toughness and ‘clutch’ genes stand out as strengths, but he is more managerial than transcendent in his play, which is ok. It’s just not typical of some over viewed as QB1 or the No.1 player in the class.”
Brooks Gives Thoughts on Simpson
Simpson wasn’t considered competition for Mendoza until recently. The two faced off in the College Football Playoff, and Mendoza dominated the matchup.
Plus, Simpson is small and inexperienced. He also doesn’t boast elite athletic traits. Bucks thinks there are red flags with Simpson, but does like a lot about his game.
“Simpson plays like a clinician from the pocket,” Bucks wrote. “His footwork and mechanics are polished, and he flashes plenty of precision in his play. However, his inexperience (15 starts) is a major red flag, based on recent history. Additionally, he lacks prototypical size, which makes his 2025 injuries raise durability concerns. With his slump at the end of season also raising red flags after a sizzling start, it is fair to wonder if he is a ‘flash in the pan’ or a budding star who simply needs more time to develop.”
Raiders Likely Already Have Mind Made Up
Though the draft is still a month away, this might all be a moot point. The Raiders seem set on selecting Mendoza.
He’s not the most athletically gifted quarterback to ever go No. 1, but he’s big, accurate and a great leader. Minority Tom Brady is going to have a big say in the decision, and he was never a quarterback who won because of his athletic ability.
It’s easy to see him falling in love with the football IQ and leadership that Mendoza brings to the Raiders. Perhaps if Simpson were more athletically gifted, it would be a debate, but he doesn’t seem to be a better athlete than Mendoza. The Raiders aren’t going to overthink this decision.
Ex-Raiders DB Gets Honest on Fernando Mendzoa-Ty Simpson Debate