The NFL Scouting Combine always brings intrigue, but just as revealing is which prospects choose to participate. Some quarterbacks throw, others wait for pro day. Some skill players run the 40-yard dash; others pass. At the top of the 2026 NFL Draft, the two QBs drawing the most attention are taking very different paths into Indianapolis.
Fernando Mendoza Will Wait for Pro Day
Projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza has opted not to throw at the combine. ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported that decision on Saturday, noting that Mendoza plans to wait until Indiana’s pro day to showcase his arm.
“Projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza will not throw at the combine this week,” Schefter wrote. “He will throw at Indiana’s pro day on April 1st, when the school has multiple pass catchers that Mendoza wants to help showcase.”
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine begins Thursday, Feb. 26, and runs through Sunday, March 1. QBs are scheduled to throw on Saturday, Feb. 28, with workouts typically beginning around 1:00 p.m. ET alongside wide receivers and running backs.
Mendoza’s decision aligns with where his draft stock currently stands. League executives have increasingly believed that the Las Vegas Raiders, who hold the No. 1 overall pick, are locked into selecting the Indiana standout. If that projection holds, there is little incentive for Mendoza to expose himself to unnecessary risk in a scripted throwing session without his preferred receivers.
The Heisman Trophy winner led Indiana to a Big Ten title and national championship, throwing for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns against 6 interceptions last season. He added 276 rushing yards and 7 scores on the ground while posting a 93.3 PFSN’s CFB QB Impact score. With that résumé and a strong body of tape, Mendoza can afford to control the setting of his next evaluation.
Ty Simpson Set To Throw in Indianapolis
While Mendoza is staying on schedule toward April 1, Alabama QB Ty Simpson is taking the opposite approach. NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported that Simpson will participate in on-field workouts at the combine.
“Former Alabama QB Ty Simpson will throw at next week’s NFL combine, per source, an opportunity to solidify his status as a first-round pick,” Pelissero shared on X. “Simpson is the consensus QB2 behind presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, who has said he’ll wait and throw at pro day.”
Simpson’s situation is different. Though widely regarded as the second QB in the class, his draft positioning has been discussed with more variance. Some analysts have questioned whether he is a plug-and-play starter, citing his limited experience as a starter in Tuscaloosa.
Last season, Simpson threw for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, adding 93 rushing yards and 2 scores. He finished with an 85.4 score and ranked No. 25 in the PFSN’s CFB QB Impact Rankings during his lone year as a full-time starter.
For a prospect whose range spans the back half of Round 1, the combine represents an opportunity. A clean, confident throwing session in front of all 32 teams can help reinforce first-round value and quiet concerns about experience. Unlike Mendoza, Simpson benefits from maximizing exposure.
The contrast between the two quarterbacks reflects where each stands in the pre-draft process. Mendoza appears positioned to protect his status. Simpson is aiming to strengthen his.
