All articles tagged with #quarterbacks
Kirk Cousins says the best player should start and has offered to mentor Fernando Mendoza, signaling Mendoza could be the Raiders’ future franchise QB if he outperforms in camp and earns the job.
A fresh two-round NFL mock draft with bold trades projects the Raiders selecting Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 and the Jets taking LB/EDGE Arvell Reese, followed by Arizona’s Francis Mauigoa at tackle and Tennessee’s Sonny Styles at linebacker, highlighting a thinner QB class and suggesting post-free-agency moves could reshuffle picks.
Sports Illustrated maps the 2026 QB class, with Mendoza projected to go No. 1, and the rest slotted from Day 1 to UDFA: Simpson 1–2; Beck and Nussmeier 3–5; Green 3–6; Allar 4–6; Robertson 4–7; Klubnik 5–7; and several others (Haynes King, Altmyer, Morton, Aguilar, Payton, Fagano, Pavia) in rounds 6–7 or undrafted, highlighting injury histories, arm strength, and pro-style versatility as the main decision factors.
Charlie Batch says Aaron Rodgers’ decision on returning to the Steelers hinges on money, with the team wanting him back but not at a $30 million price tag, while Rodgers’ camp reportedly seeks a higher one-year payday after last season’s roughly $14 million; Rodgers, who threw for 3,322 yards with 24 TDs and 7 INTs in 16 games, is 42 and market dynamics—and not just personal reasons—are shaping the timing, with no clear decision yet.
Amid a slow NFL off-season, ESPN's Dan Orlovsky sparked a heated debate over whether Ty Simpson or Fernando Mendoza is the better quarterback, a move described as fueling the endless 'take machine.' The piece argues that media outlets pad air time with contested opinions, highlights how agents can influence coverage ahead of the draft, and notes that only years of NFL performance will reveal the truth, with current chatter serving mainly to drive engagement.
As the NFL draft nears, debate over the QB1 intensifies: Indiana's Fernando Mendoza remains the favorite for the top pick in some circles, while analysts like Dan Orlovsky and Greg Cosell question Mendoza and spotlight Alabama's Ty Simpson as a potential top choice. The Raiders are widely expected to draft Mendoza first, but the Jets could target Simpson with the 16th pick given Geno Smith's arrival and the team's need at quarterback, making this a pivotal moment for both teams' draft plans.
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky argues Ty Simpson is the better NFL quarterback prospect than Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, saying Simpson's Alabama tape shows more NFL-ready throws and poise under pressure, while Mendoza has stronger college stats and height; teams are reportedly divided on the preference, which could influence draft positioning, though mocks largely differ on where Simpson lands.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. released an updated Top 10 QB list for the 2026 NFL Draft: Mendoza remains No. 1, Simpson and Beck hold 2–3, Allar rises to No. 4, Nussmeier slides to No. 5, with Green, Payton, Klubnik, Altmyer and Robertson rounding out the top 10 as scouts await the April draft.
The first wave of 2026 NFL free agency reshaped every team, featuring six quarterback moves and a broad spectrum of approaches—from rebuilds (Arizona, Miami) to draft-focused rosters (Baltimore) and big-splash signings (Chiefs, Bills—among others)—as clubs shore up defense, the offensive line, and depth while unsigned stars linger ahead of the draft and training camp.
Bucky Brooks updates his granular, position-by-position rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft, emphasizing a more specialized breakdown (e.g., WR vs. slot, DE vs. OLB) and noting Garrett Nussmeier’s rise to the QB ranks behind Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, with detailed top fives provided for every major position group.
NFL draft analyst Todd McShay says the Steelers won’t draft Ty Simpson at 21 and has heard them connected to Carson Beck, who met Pittsburgh at the Combine. Beck brings experience from Georgia and Miami but is seen as lacking elite arm strength and athleticism, making him a likely third-round target rather than an immediate starter. The piece notes Steelers also met with Beck, compares him to Simpson, and suggests the QB class is weak, with a cautious stance on pursuing a quarterback early and possibly waiting for a later-round swing or exploring other positions.
Baltimore pivoted from the Maxx Crosby trade to sign Trey Hendrickson and add value at guard and safety, while interior linemen drew top-dollar and quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa found fresh starts; Las Vegas, blindsided by Crosby’s reversal, overpaid for center Tyler Linderbaum and watched Crosby slip away, making the Raiders the early losers in 2026 free agency.
Steelers legend Rod Woodson says Pittsburgh should stop waiting on Aaron Rodgers to decide his playing future and move forward with its current quarterback group (Will Howard and Mason Rudolph) as Rodgers’ status remains unsettled. GM Omar Khan hasn’t ruled out a Rodgers return but offered no deadline. Woodson also criticizes the team’s 2025 draft approach, saying Pittsburgh should have taken QB Jaxson Dart instead of Derrick Harmon to address the future at QB.
Breer chronicles Kyler Murray’s path from being released by the Cardinals to signing a minimal one-year deal with the Vikings, framing it as a football-first choice to join Kevin O'Connell's offense with the potential for a longer stay. The piece also surveys a busy free-agent market, noting Colts’ aggressive roster moves, Jaelan Phillips’ big Panthers contract, Kirk Cousins's uncertain future, and Kansas City's strategic retooling, among other developments shaping the NFL’s early offseason.
One week into NFL free agency, a number of high-profile players across positions remain unsigned as spending cools and the market shifts toward the pre-draft period. Notable receivers such as Stefon Diggs and Deebo Samuel, plus other big names like DeAndre Hopkins and Keenan Allen, are still available, while top running backs (e.g., Nick Chubb, Joe Mixon), veteran defenders (e.g., Bobby Wagner, Jadeveon Clowney), and quarterbacks (e.g., Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins) are waiting for new teams to emerge. The Cardinals and Steelers appear to still be weighing QB options, signaling that the big-money wave has subsided even as teams begin to plot ahead for the draft.