Topic / Subject
With top QB Fernando Mendoza not doing field work, the combine throwing sessions became a live audition for the next tier of quarterbacks.

TL;DR
Sporting News graded Ty Simpson as its top combine passer, with Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier right behind. The QB order after Mendoza is still fluid and pro days will reshuffle it.

Key Details

• Sporting News gave Ty Simpson its top QB workout grade (A), citing accuracy and consistency.
• Sporting News had Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier next (A-), with Cade Klubnik also graded highly (A-).
• Sporting News slotted Carson Beck next (B+).
• SI noted Mendoza was not expected to do field work, which opened the spotlight for everyone else.

Breakdown
This combine setup was simple: Mendoza did not throw, so everybody behind him got a bigger stage.

Sporting News’ grades are not an official ranking, but they show which throwers looked cleanest in a setting designed to test rhythm, timing, and deep-ball comfort. Simpson coming out on top in that specific lens is a real headline for the “who separates” debate.

The important reminder is that this is only one checkpoint. Pro days bring better chemistry, team interviews shift boards, and draft order often comes down to who fits what a team is building.

What to Watch Next

• Pro day throwing sessions, especially for QBs who skipped or were limited at the combine.
• Whether NFL teams start leaking a clearer “next QB after Mendoza” preference.
• How the top passers test in interviews and board work, because that can swing Day 1 value fast.

Sources
Sporting News — NFL Combine QB results: Grading all the 2026 quarterback workouts, from Ty Simpson to Diego Pavia
CBS Sports — NFL Combine 2026 live updates (QB workouts)
Sports Illustrated — 5 Most Intriguing Quarterback Prospects at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine

Comment
After what you saw at the combine, who would you take second among the QBs, and why?