Evaluating quarterbacks has never been easy, but in the Transfer Portal Era it has potentially become an even more difficult proposition.
A long time ago players who transferred were at risk of being looked down upon.
Now, such players are seemingly everywhere.
Presumptive first overall pick Fernando Mendoza played two years at California and one at Indiana.
Carson Beck, another of the perceived top prospects at the quarterback position, spent five years at Georgia and one at Miami.
Of the 16 quarterbacks invited to the Combine, nine played at more than one NCAA institution.
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, 6-5, 225 lbs –No one ever drafts a player first overall on the basis of one play. But if anyone ever did, Mendoza’s dash into the end zone with the national championship hanging in the balance against Miami, Fla. would qualify as such an impactful snap. Mendoza is a lot more than just that, obviously, but his package of desirable characteristics includes intangibles.
2. Ty Simpson, Alabama, 6-2, 208 lbs. –At midseason Simpson was perceived at the NFL level as one of the four best quarterback prospects available. The way things played out he might be No. 2 by default. With just 31 career games and 15 career starts under is belt Simpson lacks polish. And by the end of what was mostly an impressive 2025 campaign Simpson was limping to the finish line (he started but didn’t finish Alabama’s 38-3 loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl due to a rib injury).
3. Carson Beck, Miami, 6-4, 225 lbs. –Beck also lost to Indiana with the aforementioned national title at stake. But unlike Simpson, Beck has played 55 career games for the Georgia Bulldogs and the Hurricanes. He excelled at times for both, but threw double-digit interceptions in each of the last two seasons (12 and 12). He’s not a slam dunk, but he’s done some attention-getting stuff.
4. Drew Allar, Penn State, 6-5, 235 lbs. –He has the size teams are looking for at the position. But Allar regressed in 2025 and lost to Oregon, UCLA and Northwestern in succession before missing the rest of the season due to injury. Assuming he checks out medically, Allar might wind up being a value pick for a team that’s not in immediate need at the position and is willing to patiently emphasis the “development” aspect of the draft-and-develop equation.
5. Cole Payton, North Dakota State, 6-3, 233 lbs. –You want a dual threat? Payton’s your guy. He completed 71.9 percent of his passes for 2,719 yards, with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions, and also rushed for 777 yards, averaged 5.7 yards per carry and scored 13 touchdowns on the ground. He’s trying to follow Carson Wentz (second overall, Eagles, 2016), Easton Stick (fifth round, Chargers, 2019), Trey Lance (third overall, 49ers, 2021) and Cam Miller (sixth round, Raiders, 2025) from NDSU to the NFL. It can and has been done.
Sleeper: Joe Fagnano, Connecticut, 6-2, 223 lbs. – He’s played at Maine and Connecticut, which is a little different than having played at Georgia and then Miami, Fla. But Fagnano threw 28 touchdown passes and one interception at Connecticut last season, and for 20 touchdowns with just four interceptions the season before that. His career totals in seven seasons are 94 TDs and 18 picks. If you need a QB and find someone better upon which to take a late-round flier, by all means take it. If not, Fagnano may end up being well worth such an investment.
