As the 2026 NFL Combine wraps up in Indianapolis, quarterbacks are leaving Lucas Oil Stadium with evaluations that are anything but unanimous. This year’s class has sparked more debate than most in recent memory, particularly behind presumed QB1 Fernando Mendoza. After him, it’s a wide-open race, and one former NFL veteran just poured gasoline on the fire.
Carson Beck’s Case As QB2 in 2026 NFL Draft
Former NFL and LSU defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko didn’t hold back with his bold assessment on social media:
“Don’t know if y’all are ready for this but Carson Beck is the clear cut QB2 in this draft class. He’s worth taking a flyer on in the early second/third round if you’re a Pittsburgh, Jets, Arizona, and Colts fan.
“Kids got really good tools. 6’4 225 with a massive arm.”
Don’t know if y’all are ready for this but Carson Beck is the clear cut QB2 in this draft class. He’s worth taking a flyer on in the early second/third round if you’re a Pittsburgh, Jets, Arizona, and Colts fan.
Kids got really good tools. 6’4 225 with a massive arm.
— Breiden Fehoko (@BreidenFehoko) March 1, 2026
That statement immediately raised eyebrows and, in many circles, left Ty Simpson as the odd man out.
Carson Beck certainly checks the measurable boxes. At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds with prototypical arm talent, he looks the part of an NFL quarterback. After undergoing elbow surgery prior to the 2024 season, Beck rebounded with a stronger 2025 campaign, showing improved velocity and confidence pushing the ball vertically, but still not his full self.
However, the numbers tell a complicated story. Beck’s production dipped from his early breakout seasons at Georgia, and draft analysts remain split on his projection. According to the PFSN consensus big board, he sits at QB14 and 258th overall, a staggering range for someone being labeled “clear cut QB2.” That discrepancy highlights just how volatile evaluations are at the position this year.
Fehoko’s take leans heavily on traits: size, arm strength, and experience. For quarterback-needy teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, or Indianapolis Colts, betting on tools in the second or third round could be appealing. But is he truly a tier above the rest?
The Ty Simpson Question
That’s where Simpson enters the conversation or, depending on your perspective, gets left out of it.
Simpson had a strong 2025 season at Alabama, throwing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns while posting an 85.4 PFSN CFB QB Impact Score (25th nationally). The production was there. The poise was evident. The arm talent flashed.
Still, doubts linger.
Simpson has just 15 career starts across four seasons in Tuscaloosa. Was 2025 the beginning of his ascent, or simply a one-year wonder in performance? Scouts are wrestling with that question. Limited sample size can be a red flag, especially when projecting quarterbacks into complex NFL systems.
Fehoko’s omission of Simpson as QB2 suggests he may view Beck’s experience and physical profile as safer traits to bet on. But when it comes to quarterback development, “safe” is often subjective.
A Volatile QB Class
The uncertainty doesn’t stop with Beck and Simpson. Prospects like Drew Allar and Cade Klubnik entered the season with high expectations but delivered uneven performances, further muddying the hierarchy.
That’s what makes this class so fascinating and unpredictable. After Mendoza, there’s no clear consensus, and evaluations come down to preference: do you value traits over tape, production over projection, experience over upside? There may not be a universally “right” answer this year, only the fit a team believes in most.
Fehoko calling Beck the “clear cut QB2” is bold, and perhaps premature, but it underscores the broader theme of this draft cycle: volatility.
Simpson’s supporters will argue his 2025 breakout showed tangible growth and command of a high-level offense. Beck’s backers will point to his size, arm, and experience in a pro-style system. Both arguments carry weight.
One thing is certain: as draft boards finalize and pro days conclude, quarterback rankings will continue to shuffle. For teams in need of a franchise passer, this won’t be a year of consensus; it will be a year of conviction.
Buckle up.
