Draft Analysis

2026 NFL Draft · Quarterback Class

Sleeper QBs to Watch
Beyond Mendoza & Simpson

The 2026 quarterback class is widely considered below average, with Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson occupying the top two spots by a comfortable margin. But beyond the headliners, there are three signal callers who could outperform their draft position and give teams a long-term answer under center.

Draft: April 23–25, PittsburghQB Class Strength: Below Average#1 QB: Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)

Every draft cycle, quarterback-needy teams look beyond the consensus top prospects for value picks who can develop into starters. This year's class is uniquely thin, which means Day 2 and Day 3 QBs could generate more interest than usual. Here are three names to watch as we approach Pittsburgh.

Combine Highlights

40-Yard Dash4.36sQB Record
Vertical Jump43.5"QB Record
Broad Jump11'2"QB Record

College Production

5 college seasons (Boise State, Arkansas) — 9,662 passing yards, 59 passing TDs, 2,405 rushing yards, 35 rushing TDs across his career.

Scouting Report

Taylen Green may have surprised casual fans with his record-shattering combine performance, but NCAAF fans have long known about the talented signal caller. At Arkansas, he flashed tantalizing upside as both a runner and a passer, routinely making jaw-dropping plays off-script against SEC defenses.

The combine turned Green into a household name. His 4.36 forty stunned the crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium, and when he followed that up with a 43.5-inch vertical (obliterating Anthony Richardson’s record of 40.5 inches) and an 11’2 broad jump (also a record), it became clear: this is possibly the most athletic quarterback prospect to ever test at the combine.

But athleticism alone doesn’t make an NFL starter. Green’s throwing session at the combine revealed the same issues that kept him a Day 3 projection all along — when things speed up, his mechanics break down and the ball doesn’t go where it needs to. An NFL coaching staff will need to rebuild his throwing foundation almost from scratch.

The comp that keeps coming up is Anthony Richardson, and it’s apt. Like Richardson, Green has freakish physical tools and a cannon arm but needs years of development to become a reliable passer. The question for drafting teams: are you willing to invest that development time on a Day 3 pick, knowing the ceiling is genuinely sky-high?

Strengths

  • +Generational athleticism at the QB position — his 4.36 forty is the fastest by a QB since Michael Vick’s 4.33 in 2001 and his vertical and broad jump both shattered combine records for the position.
  • +Elite physical dimensions at 6’5⅞, 227 pounds — the kind of frame NFL teams dream about molding.
  • +Legitimate dual-threat ability — rushed for 2,405 yards and 35 TDs in college. He’s not just fast in a straight line; he makes defenders miss in the open field.
  • +Flashes of powerful arm talent, particularly when throwing off-platform and on the run. When he lets it rip downfield, the ball jumps out of his hand.
  • +High football IQ on designed runs and RPOs — Georgia Tech and Arkansas both used him in creative run-pass option packages that translate to modern NFL offenses.

Concerns

  • Mechanical inconsistency is the biggest red flag. When his process speeds up, his arm and feet stop working together and throws sail or come out late.
  • Decision-making needs significant development — 20 interceptions over his final two seasons at Arkansas, including 11 in 2025 alone.
  • Passing accuracy is streaky — completed just over 60% of his passes at Arkansas, which doesn’t cut it at the NFL level without improvement.
  • A true project at quarterback. He’ll need a patient coaching staff and time to sit behind a veteran before seeing meaningful snaps.

NFL Comparisons

Anthony RichardsonJosh Allen (pre-development)Michael Vick (athletically)

Potential Team Fits

Pittsburgh SteelersDallas CowboysCleveland BrownsArizona Cardinals

The Verdict

Green is the ultimate boom-or-bust prospect. If a team can harness even 70% of his athletic gifts and pair them with improved mechanics, they’ll have a franchise-altering weapon. If they can’t, he’s a wildcat gadget player. Either way, he’s the most electric athlete in this draft class regardless of position.

The Bottom Line

This isn't a draft where you'll find a franchise quarterback on Day 3 and know it immediately. All three of these prospects carry significant risk. But they also carry the kind of tools and traits that NFL teams have historically developed into quality starters.

Green has the most explosive physical ceiling. Nussmeier has the highest floor as a passer. King is the most balanced and complete prospect of the three. For quarterback-needy teams that miss out on Mendoza and Simpson, these are the names to circle.

Think you know where these QBs will land? Make your picks in our 2026 NFL Mock Draft and see how you stack up on the leaderboard.

Sources: ESPN, NFL.com, CBS Sports, PFF, Bleacher Report, The Ringer. Combine data and scouting assessments current as of March 2026. The 2026 NFL Draft takes place April 23–25 in Pittsburgh.