Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a wise decision to avoid reaching on a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, choosing to fortify the roster in other key areas. With the organization starving for long-awaited postseason success and without a viable long-term option on the roster, they figure to be major players in the arms race next offseason. Luckily for the Steelers, this next crop of passers in the 2026 NFL Draft offers more optimism than its predecessor, specifically as it relates to both traits and theoretical upside.
Over the last month, I’ve spent a significant amount of time combing through the top draft-eligible prospects, gathering my thoughts, and coming up with a preliminary ranking list based on the guys that intrigue me the most as future NFL starters.
Notably absent in this exercise is Arch Manning from Texas. Why? Because for as tantalizing as his 108 career dropbacks have been, the sample size is still far too small to appropriately gauge, and by all accounts, he’s not planning on leaving Austin anytime soon. Six months from now, this list will almost assuredly look different as certain players rise, others fall, and unexpected newcomers burst onto the scene. Think of this more as a watch list, as these are my top five quarterbacks entering the 2026 college football season. Without further ado, here we go!
After two solid seasons on the west coast, the Cal transfer is heading east this upcoming fall, and there’s a lot to be excited about with his scouting profile. Mendoza has very good size at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds and a real howitzer for an arm. He’s capable of driving the football into tight windows, throwing guys open with eye-popping velocity that delivers an audible thud on contact. Beyond the impressive physical attributes, Mendoza is advanced for his age from a mental processing standpoint. He’s hyper aware of complex pre-snap defensive looks and is a quick post-snap processor that looks to punish teams for bringing additional rushers to the party.
My favorite thing about Indiana transfer QB Fernando Mendoza is his ability to shred the blitz with quick post-snap decision making. The numbers back it up as well…
-9 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
-8.7 yards per attempt
-2.56 time to throw3rd & 19 conversion at PITT… pic.twitter.com/xraIW4zj25
— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) April 30, 2025
Mendoza shows the requisite desire to play from within the pocket, operating on time with the ball frequently coming out before the receivers break. He’s not just an accurate passer but a precise one, with consistent ball location that stands out on film. My favorite thing about his tape was how often his best reps seemed to come in high-leverage situations such as long down & distance situations. He’s certainly comfortable operating in the RPO world and meets the athleticism threshold for the position. There will hopefully be even more dropback opportunities in...
