The quarterback class for the 2026 NFL draft went 10 players deep. While that's slightly fewer than the 13 who went off the board in 2025, the Class of 2026 is led by two first-rounders, including the first overall pick.
So how does every quarterback fit with his new team? We took a closer look at what's next for all 10 drafted passers.
NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid made sense of each player's scheme fit and how each QB could excel in the pros, while our NFL Nation reporters focused on each quarterback's expected role with his new team. And for early-round picks, Reid picked one area where each passer could lead the league in short order, while fantasy football analyst Mike Clay projected rookie-year stat lines .
Jump to: First-rounders | Middle-rounders Late-rounders First-rounders Fernando Mendoza , Las Vegas Raiders (No. 1) Why he fits in Las Vegas: Dating to his time at Cal and progressing through last season at Indiana, Mendoza has experienced multiple offenses.
When required to, Mendoza showed he is capable of operating a versatile scheme that demands exhausting multistep progressions where he can get to third and fourth options in passing concepts. So Mendoza fits well into Klint Kubiak's offense, which will require him to operate off play-action.
He finished 2025 with a 73.4% completion percentage on play-action throws. -- Reid How the Raiders can set him up for success: The Raiders have already made significant strides to set up Mendoza for success.
Outside of hiring Kubiak , they signed center Tyler Linderbaum and improved the defense through the draft and free agency . Another helpful element will be finding consistency in the running game after finishing last in the league in rushing yards per attempt in each of the past two seasons.
An uptick in production from Ashton Jeanty and fourth-round pick Mike Washington Jr . developing into a reliable second backfield option would help Mendoza's transition even more.
-- Ryan McFadden The area where he could lead the league in five years: Passing yards. Kubiak's scheme is expected to be wide-open, which could allow Mendoza to thrive as the Raiders build up his surrounding personnel.
Mendoza will have opportunities to exploit defenses and rack up passing yardage, as Kubiak's scheme has been a launching point for several passers in recent seasons. Mendoza could eventually reach that prolific level of success.
-- Reid Clay's 2026 projection: 3,066 passing yards, 15 touchdown passes, 10 interceptions (229 rushing yards, two touchdown runs). Ty Simpson , Los Angeles Rams (No.
13) Why he fits in Los Angeles: Simpson was one of the most shocking picks of Round 1 and won't be asked to play in the short term. Even though he had only 15 college starts , Simpson was given a lot of responsibilities at Alabama, such as setting protections, run checks and altering passing concepts pre-snap.
He's not ready to be an NFL starter right away and should get multiple seasons to learn behind reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford . That process, and working every day with coach Sean McVay, will give Simpson a first-hand education on how to operate the Rams' system.
-- Reid How the Rams can set him up for success: The Rams see Simpson as Stafford's heir apparent. The team expects Simpson to -- or at least hope he will -- get at least a year of practice reps before he plays in a meaningful NFL game.
Although the Rams believe in the rookie, McVay made it clear that Simpson's ascension to the starting job will come on Stafford's terms. But he'll have plenty of talented skill players to throw to in a system that's proven to work in the league.
-- ESPN The area where he could lead the league in five years: Completion percentage. Simpson is a highly accurate passer who completed 64.5% of his passes last season and can be effective in multiple schemes.
Simpson is able to fit passes into tight windows in all areas of the field, as his ball placement and decision-making ability are elements that can carry over to the NFL. -- Reid Clay's 2026 projection: 146 passing yards, one touchdown pass, one interception (5 rushing yards).
Middle-rounders Carson Beck , Arizona Cardinals (Round 3, No. 65) Why he fits in Arizona: Beck is a traditional pocket passer with a high floor and experience in multiple schemes but is best when allowed to be a quick distributor from under center.
His decisiveness and accuracy are A-level traits, making him an ideal fit in Mike Lafleur's offense. Beck has limited arm strength