byJohn Oehser&Bucky Brooks

JACKSONVILLEThe top is clear, with much unknown after that.

Fernando Mendoza is expected to be selected No. 1 overall. That much is essentially certain when discussing the 2026 NFL Draft's quarterback class.

After that, very little is certain at all.

Mendoza, the 2026 Heisman Trophy winner who led Indiana University to the College Football Playoff National Championship this past season, is widely projected to be selected by the Las Raiders No. 1 overall in next month's '26 draft.

While that's clear, just where Mendoza ranks among recent No. 1-drafted quarterbacks is less so. NFL Media Lead Draft Analyst Daniel Jeremiah said he graded Mendoza similarly to last year's No. 1 overall selection, Miami quarterback Cam Award, now with Tennessee Titans.

Mendoza, who played three seasons at California before transferring to Indiana for his final season, threw 41 touchdowns with six interceptions this past season and ran for 276 yards and seven touchdowns.

Brooks and Jeremiah each said the '26 quarterback class after Mendoza is less defined, with Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson a one-year collegiate starter considered a possible late first- or early-second round selection.

Also considered potential Day 2 Rounds 2 or 3 quarterbacks: Carson Beck of Miami, Garrett Nussmeier of Louisiana State, Drew Allar of Penn State, Cole Payton of North Dakota State and Cade Klubnik of Clemson.

"There are some intriguing guys," Jeremiah said, "I don't think it's what we saw two years ago with that group and the upper-echelon guys, with six coming off the board. I don't see that. But after Mendoza, Simpson there are intriguing guys.

Quarterbacks projected in Rounds 4-7 in the '26 draft include Taylen Green of Arkansas, Luke Altmyer of Illinois and Sawyer Robertson of Baylor with Brooks calling the class after Mendoza imperfect players who could contribute in the right circumstance.

HANDICAPPING THE JAGUARS

The Jaguars have no need here at starter, with quarterbackTrevor Lawrencein 2025 emerging as one of the NFL's top players at the position. Lawrence flourished in his first season inHead Coach Liam Coen's offense, passing for 4,007 yards and producing a franchise-record 38 touchdowns 29 passing and nine rushing. Where the '26 draft could be intriguing for the Jaguars at quarterback is in the later rounds, with the team potentially using one of its 11 selections on a developmental player who could serve as a multi-year backup moving forward.

CHANCE JAGUARS TAKE A QUARTERBACK ON DAYS 1-2 (ROUNDS 1-3)

Very, very slim.

QBs ON THE JAGUARS ROSTER

Trevor Lawrence(17 starts),Nick Mullens,Carter Bradley.

BUCKY BROOKS' TOP 5 2026 QUARTERBACKS

POSSIBLE FIRST-ROUND QUARTERBACKS

Mendoza, Simpson.

QUOTABLE

• Brooks on selecting quarterbacks in the NFL Draft: "A lot of times you'll start looking for the quarterback when you desperately need one and that makes you make bad decisions. So you overvalue, inflate who they are. The best thing [to ask] is, 'Are they legitimately Guys?' Because when you look around the league, first-round quarterbacks are the ones that play. As much as we love a feel-good story, the overwhelming majority of your quarterbacks are first-round quarterbacks, and the ones that are successful are the ones that legitimately had first-round talent."

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