Ty Simpson has been gaining momentum as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. Rumors have recently surfaced that some teams may view him as the top quarterback prospect ahead of Fernando Mendoza. Respected draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. explained why he disagrees with this idea.
Mel Kiper Jr. Rejects Idea of Ty Simpson Passing Fernando Mendoza
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky recently shared that he believes Simpson is the best quarterback prospect in this class ahead of Mendoza. Mike Tannenbaum then followed up on the opinion by claiming several NFL teams feel the same way as Orlovsky.
Kiper is apparently one of the many who have Mendoza firmly ahead of Simpson on their prospect rankings. He explained why and also responded to Tannenbaum’s claim that some teams favor Simpson.
“That’s not shared by anybody that I’ve spoken to. Fernando Mendoza is at number one on my board, and Ty Simpson is at 25. If you’re wondering why, Mendoza is nearly four inches taller,” stated Kiper.
“Yeah, that’s not shared by anybody I’ve spoken to.”
—@MelKiperESPN responded to @RealTannenbaum concerning Ty Simpson in the 2026 NFL Draft ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/WZRFspE7cj
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 24, 2026
Mendoza is currently the heavy favorite to be the top overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. The franchise is in need of a quarterback, and for most of this offseason, the Indiana star has been the consensus pick as the best available player at the position.
It makes sense why so many are high on Mendoza, who is coming off an undefeated season in which he led the Hoosiers to a national title and won the Heisman Trophy. His upside is glaringly obvious, but apparently, some around the league favor Simpson’s upside instead.
The Alabama Crimson Tide star had a solid final collegiate season, finishing 25th among all quarterbacks in PFSN’s Impact Rankings. Mendoza ranked second overall, trailing only Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores.
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This likely plays a role in Kiper having Mendoza at the top of his big board, but he also noted the notable size difference between the two quarterbacks. Teams usually prefer taller quarterbacks so they can see the field better behind their massive offensive linemen.
Simpson’s height could be a concern, which is a factor in his current ranking of 43rd on PFSN’s Big Board, while Mendoza comes in at fifth overall. When it comes to the debate between the two quarterbacks, it’s really only the Raiders’ opinion that truly matters. They appear locked into the position with the first pick, so the choice is theirs.
