The quarterbacks take the field on Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine, giving teams their first true look at this year’s class in a controlled environment. While on‑field testing and throwing sessions will draw most of the attention, each prospect also arrives in Indianapolis with an established evaluation baseline.
We took the highest-graded players directly from the NFL’s official Combine tracker and listed them below. The only question left is, will the Steelers show any interest in the players listed?
Fernando Mendoza — Indiana (6.73 grade)
Mendoza arrives in Indianapolis as one of the most intriguing risers in the class after winning the National Championship this season. His game is built on poise, timing, and a natural feel for touch throws. Indiana’s offense asked him to operate on schedule, and he consistently delivered with efficient decision‑making and clean mechanics. He doesn’t have the biggest arm in the group, but his accuracy and command stand out.
Teams looking for a polished, system‑friendly passer will be paying close attention to how he tests athletically and how he handles whiteboard work. However, there’s little doubt he’s the top quarterback in this class — and could likely end up the top overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Ty Simpson — Alabama (6.28 grade)
Simpson brings a strong blend of arm talent and mobility, with enough athleticism to threaten defenses outside the pocket. His Alabama tape shows flashes of high‑end playmaking — quick release, confident deep shots, and the ability to extend plays — but also stretches of inconsistency.
The Combine is a chance for him to show improved rhythm and footwork while reminding scouts why he was once one of the most highly regarded recruits in the country. His tools give him one of the higher ceilings in this class, but only one full season as a college starter — 15 games — could also cause him to slide. He will need strong workouts to be considered before his peers, but with such a shallow class at the quarterback position, and many passer-needy teams, Simpson will make a case to be in the green room on draft night.
Taylen Green — Arkansas (6.15 grade)
At 6’6″ and 235 lbs., Green is the prototype in terms of size and athletic profile: long, powerful, and able to stress defenses with his legs. His arm strength jumps off the tape, especially on vertical concepts and deep‑out throws. The question is refinement — consistency, accuracy, and processing speed.
If he shows smoother mechanics and improved timing during throwing drills, he could be one of the biggest Combine winners. His raw traits are undeniable, and teams love quarterbacks with this kind of developmental upside.
Where Green lands is a crapshoot. NFL.com has him ranked much higher than competing sites at this time. (Pro Football Focus ranks Green 226 on their Big Board — yikes!) A strong Combine could see Green shoot up draft boards, and erase some doubts from a 2025 season that saw him regress from a standout 2024 campaign that highlighted him as a draft target entering last season.
Carson Beck — Miami (6.13 grade)
Beck is one of the most polished passers in the class, bringing veteran‑level poise and a strong command of structure. His footwork, accuracy, and ability to work through progressions make him one of the safer evaluations in the group. He’s not the most dynamic athlete, but he’s efficient, steady, and rarely puts the ball in danger.
With six collegiate seasons under his belt — including three as a starter — and 55 career games played, Beck is one of the more experienced passers in this class. Having thrown for over 11,239 yards, 82 touchdowns and 30 interceptions over those last three seasons will see some team calling his name.
NFL teams value quarterbacks who can run a pro offense from Day 1, and Beck fits that mold. His interviews and board sessions will only reinforce that reputation.
Diego Pavia — Vanderbilt (6.00 grade)
Pavia is a gritty, competitive quarterback who thrives when plays break down. His off‑script creativity is a defining trait — he’s comfortable throwing on the move, changing arm angles, and improvising when protection collapses. Vanderbilt helped him refine his pocket habits, but he’s still at his best when he’s allowed to play freely.
Listed as 5′ 9″ and 198 lbs., Pavia would have to overcome the stereotype of smaller quarterbacks to succeed at the pro level. Scouts will want to see how well he performs in a structured, scripted Combine environment. If he shows improved consistency, he could rise quickly.
Garrett Nussmeier — LSU (6.00 grade)
Nussmeier is a rhythm‑based passer with a smooth release and strong intermediate accuracy. LSU’s offense showcased his ability to distribute the ball efficiently and keep the chains moving. He’s not the flashiest athlete in the class, but he’s decisive and operates with confidence.
Undersized — though not as short as Pavia (Nussmeier is 6’1″), the LSU product will need to prove he’s durable enough for the pros.
Nussmeier has been compared to Drew Lock. With five college seasons and 40 games under his belt, and being the son of an accomplished former collegiate quarterback and offensive coach, will get his foot in the door with several teams.
His Combine performance will be about confirming what teams already see: a reliable, steady quarterback who projects as a long‑term No. 2 with spot‑starter potential.
Drew Allar — Penn State (5.98 grade)
Allar was poised to be the head of this class entering the 2025 college season. His Penn State Nittany Lions were among the preseason favorites to win it all, and then everything came crashing down, as the team dropped six straight games after winning their first three. Allar would suffer a season-ending ankle injury in their sixth game, ending any chances of improving his draft status.
Allar brings prototypical size and arm strength, with the ability to drive the ball into tight windows. His flashes are impressive — especially when he’s throwing deep or attacking the middle of the field. The challenge has been consistency: footwork, timing, and handling pressure.
He enters the Combine ready to participate in passing drills and improve his draft position. The Combine gives him a clean platform to showcase his raw tools without the chaos of live defenses. If he strings together a smooth throwing session, he can remind evaluators why he’s long been viewed as a high‑upside prospect.