Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson are the consensus top two quarterback prospects ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Alabama Crimson Tide star has been rumored to be gaining momentum toward becoming the top pick.
Draft analyst Todd McShay compared the two quarterbacks and explained why the Indiana Hoosiers star is a safer bet.
Todd McShay Debates Fernando Mendoza vs. Ty Simpson in 2026 NFL Draft
Mendoza is coming off a spectacular college football season in which he accomplished about all that he could. He won the Heisman Trophy on his way to leading Indiana to an undefeated season and a national championship.
This is why many have him as the clear top pick in this year’s draft, but as it gets closer, some have shifted to preferring Simpson. McShay recently chimed in on the debate between the two prospects and compared their outlooks.
“If you’re watching the tape into November, Simpson is clearly better than Mendoza … It’s this juggling of my eyes telling me that Simpson is every bit as good as Mendoza, and in some ways even better and more NFL ready.
“But history, and general managers that have to assess risk, are saying that Mendoza is the safer pick. He’s in that range of starts and size, and he won the big games. That’s the debate,” explained McShay.
McShay made an interesting observation that, in his opinion, Simpson has the superior game tape, especially earlier in the season. He explained that Simpson declined later in the year due to several factors at Alabama, including a lack of rushing attack and poor pass protection.
“My eyes tell me Ty Simpson’s every bit as good as—in some ways better and more NFL-ready than—[Fernando] Mendoza.”@McShay13 talks about whether there’s a big gap between Ty Simpson and Fernando Mendoza. pic.twitter.com/GnttkVROPc
— The Ringer (@ringer) March 25, 2026
If Simpson could theoretically play in a better offensive situation in the NFL, his potential may be unlocked. This apparently still isn’t enough for him to surpass Mendoza as the more reliable prospect, given Mendoza’s proven success and a better profile of desirable physical traits at the next level.
McShay praised Mendoza’s clutch performances, calling him nearly “perfect” in late-game situations, while also pointing out his ideal build and athleticism for the position.
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Mendoza finished his final collegiate season ranked second overall in PFSN’s Impact Rankings, while Simpson came in as the 25th quarterback. They are even further apart on PFSN’s Big Board, ranked fifth and 43rd, respectively.
This justifies the general consensus that Mendoza is the safer option, though the overall ceilings of both players are fairly debatable.
