FINAL 2026 NFL Draft QUARTERBACK Rankings

You know how during tournament season there's always that one game you absolutely cannot miss,

whether it's a buzzer beater in the men's bracket or a massive upset in the women's tournament,

having instant access right when the action heats up is everything.

That's why Sling is so clutch.

Get instant access to the men's and women's college basketball tournaments,

starting for just $4.99.

You can catch all the action on TNT, TBS, and more.

So when the moments that matter happen, you're not scrambling the fine to stream.

And if you're thinking, I want even more hoops, you can add an extra pack to your subscription

for just $1.

Sling offers flexibility, no overpaying, no overcommitting,

their flexible passes subscription lets you watch live college basketball when you want,

and you can start watching in minutes.

It's tournament level excitement.

Just tournament so crazy, they'd be crazy to miss.

Sling makes it easy to watch the games you want when you want without locking into a full subscription.

Sling lets you do that.

Visit sling.com to learn more.

Getting everyone together to watch the game is fun,

until you realize you're running low on snacks halfway through the second quarter.

That's why I love using shipped on game day.

Whether I'm setting out a classic chip and dip spread or mixing a few healthier swaps,

I can order all my favorites for same day delivery and keep the party going.

And if that chip bowl is suddenly looking way too empty, no stress.

Just place another order and it shows up the same day.

Ship makes last minute hosting so much easier.

You can get snacks, party supplies, decorations, and more delivered from nearby stores.

I'm talking grocery runs from places like Safeway or Albertsons,

party decor from Michaels or even a quick target order,

all while you're getting ready for guests.

With a ship, you can order same day delivery on groceries, gifts, and so much more.

And shoppers are known for incredible attention to detail and care.

Plus, with an annual shipped membership, you get unlimited orders,

zero delivery fees on orders over $35, exclusive deals, and even the option to request

your favorite shoppers again. Download the app or order now at ship.com.

That's s-h-i-p-t dot com.

Welcome back in with the first pick today.

We're dropping our final pre-draft ranking for the 2026 quarterback class.

I didn't think there was a lot of controversy about QB1,

but because there's so much time between the end of the season and the draft,

that leaves the door open for both good faith debates and good old fashioned hot takes.

Either way, we're going to talk about any QB1 controversies real or can try

and then we'll work our way through the final with the first pick.

Consensus, QB rankings, I'm Ryan Wilson, that's former Titans GM,

Rand Carton, and Mr. Rand, there are 28 days into the 2026 NFL draft and Pittsburgh PA.

How you doing, good sir?

Man, I'm good, man.

You hadn't spun the will on there with the first pick monitor behind you with the days on.

I hadn't seen that in a long time. We need to get that back going.

Well, to continue, the joke you guys are making before,

I had to make some budget cuts so I could pay for my kid to go to college.

So that was one of the first cuts.

So we'll have to work our way through that.

All right, producers, Shiraah, before we get going here,

let's look back at our QB rankings from summer scouting where

things looked a little different, Rand.

Oh, Lordev Mercy, Archmanine, the name you see in red there,

all those young men returned to school, Niko Yamaliyaba,

Ulnar Sellers, Malik Murphy, and John Matier.

And Garrett Nussmire was our QB1 consensus.

We'll talk about him in a moment.

He will not be QB1 here.

Drew Aller suffered an injury over the second half of the season.

He's going to slip a little bit.

We'll mention him as well.

And look at their number four, Fernando Mendoza.

He is the main attraction as we head down the stretch here for the actual draft.

But we'll talk about, is he, in fact, QB1?

So we'll get to that in a moment.

All right.

Let's look at our individual rankings for the 2026 class now.

Rand and Ryan version, producer Sharon, there we go there.

So not a lot of diversity in terms of the way the list is set up.

We both agree for Nando's number one,

Ty Simpson and Alabama's number two, Carson Beck's number three.

We were just to that Miami pro day.

And we'll talk about that in a little more depth.

Everything's the same, except until we get to five,

Garrett Nussmire's four for both of us.

And then I have Taylor and Green at five,

an athletic big quarterback.

And Rand has an athletic big quarterback at five for him.

His name is Drew Aller.

So we will talk about all those guys as we get through this hour.

But let's start at the top.

Let's start with Fernando Mendoza.

Because Rand, there's been some some chit chat on these here,

internet streets about weather as you close your eyes and take a deep inhale.

It's Ty Simpson or

Fernando Mendoza.

And I'll just say this.

Look, at the end of the day, we don't know.

Ty Simpson get into being Hall of Famer and Fernando Mendoza

could play four years and be selling insurance five years from now.

I don't think that's going to happen.

But what do you, if we're sitting in the draft room,

let's start there.

And you're having the conversations as you go through the quarterbacks.

And you have some area scouts stand up and pound the table as they say for

Ty Simpson over Fernando Mendoza.

What questions are you asking in terms of figuring out how they got to that point?

No, I mean, honestly, I'm here for the disagreement.

You know, but I think at this point in the process, this always happens.

Every year, when there's a guy that's been the consensus and there's no

father, so to speak at the top, there's always that I told you so,

guy that wants to come in and add their opinion and go opposite of everyone else.

And then when Fernando Mendoza goes number one and he has a great career,

that person comes back around, well, I always liked him.

You know, I always liked him.

I never said I didn't like him.

So I don't pay attention to any of that.

But from your to answer your question,

if the area scout was different from everyone in the room, you listen,

but you keep it pushing, especially if you, the person that's going to be responsible for taking

the pick and going to be held responsible for whether that pick is right.

Truly believe Fernando Mendoza is indeed number one.

Then that's what you do.

And the other thing to keep in mind, you know, you and I talked about this early in the fall

in October, Ty Simpson was slinging it.

And we talked at great length about how good he was on the short and intermediate passes,

how well he threw with anticipation, how he got through his reads.

The issue was a deep ball accuracy.

And that got worse as the season went on because as we later found out, he was injured.

The other issue when you start stacking these guys, Fernando is 6'5, Ty is 6'1.

And you had to start doing the math in terms of the physical attributes as well.

It doesn't mean that's who the player is going to be,

but it helps inform your decision going forward.

We know that Fernando didn't suffer any long-term injuries.

He's top. He would get knocked out for a player to every once in a while and be right back in there.

And Ty Simpson is also tough.

But I think the point is that when you look at the body of work,

over the career because Fernando played at Cal, we talked about that over the summer.

And he played under some not great circumstances in terms of the offensive line,

had a few playmakers around him, but nothing like Indiana.

And then the other issue is, and I'll ask you this, Ty Simpson is 23, his dad's a coach.

We talked to him about all that stuff in the combine, but he's also only made 15 starts.

So does that make you a little nervous when you're having a conversation about QB1 at number one?

Yeah, because that's that's kind of shown his head here in recent times.

Those QBs with, you know, a small number of starts are only one year starting.

Look, at the end of the day, Butter Pecan ice cream is my favorite ice cream.

That doesn't mean that I don't like strawberry, I don't like vanilla.

It's just that's my favorite flavor.

And that's what I want to go with.

And so I think everyone here now, especially when it comes to these quarterbacks,

that if you don't agree with them, then you don't know what you're doing,

or something isn't right.

Listen, like in the words of the great words, Smith, Ryan Wilson, don't overthink this.

We're getting to a point in the draft where you just got to put out your rankings,

believe what you believe, and then just keep it moving.

Because now things are going to get a little funny.

We're going to we're entering misinformation season.

So things are going to get a little crazy.

And then things will settle down two or three days before the draft.

And then the real will come out.

Yeah, 15 or fewer starts who were first round picks.

Going back last few years.

Anthony Richardson, who we're still trying to figure out what his plan is going to be

in terms of what the cults have for him.

You have Dwayne Haskins, of course, who was drafted by Washington,

coming out of Ohio State.

And then Mr. Trebuski, who was drafted really high by the Bears.

And fantastic athlete, hadn't played a lot of football at UNC.

And he is now a very good backup.

But that's not why he drafts the one with the top 10 pick.

The other thing I'll say is this.

And you talk about misinformation season.

Back into the 2023 draft.

You guys took Carson, excuse me, you took

Will Levis at the top of round two.

But you were trying to jockey for some of those other quarterbacks taken early.

And at the time, Bryce Young was the consensus QB1.

And we weren't sure about CJ Straub because he didn't show quite all the

athleticism that he is capable of, except for that last Georgia game.

And then the rookie seasons happened and everyone's like,

oh my gosh, what are the panthers doing?

And now they're a little closer.

So the other point I'm making here, Rand, is that it takes time to figure

who these quarterbacks are as well.

So talk about that 2023 class.

And I'll ask you here, knowing who you know now.

I think you were Bryce Young, number one overall guy back in the day.

But how much closer is it now three years in?

Yeah, I mean, well, we're playing right now with,

you know, with this forecast because even now,

look, everyone wants to push CJ Straub to the side.

All of a sudden, CJ Straub can't play.

Never mind him being, I think he was offensive rookie of the year.

He was a pro bowler, possibly his rookie season.

And now because he's had the season that he had,

or the way the season ended formed, the last couple games.

Now, all of a sudden, CJ Straub can't play.

How many people were saying, Bryce Young was terrible

that everyone in Carolina should be fired for draft and Bryce Young.

And then out of nowhere, although it was a losing record,

they won the division.

He made the playoffs.

And if you look at all of his statistical numbers every year of his career,

all of those numbers improved.

But to your larger point, it takes time.

We see it.

We've seen it with all these quarterbacks.

Now, all of a sudden, everyone wants to say Sam Donnell

is one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.

When a few years ago, when he was seeing ghosts,

everyone wanted to fire everybody at the Jets again.

So pump your brakes.

It all takes time.

It's okay if it's not figured out in year one.

It all takes time.

All right.

Richard Ron, he can mainly avoid the question.

If you got to start, you need one start to win a playoff game tomorrow.

CJ or Bryce?

I'm going to CJ.

Okay.

It's not a question for me.

All right.

Fair enough.

All right.

Let us know in the comments if you're watching us on the old YouTube

machine here.

Who are you taking at QB1?

If you are the Raiders,

and maybe a better question might be to put it in a different light.

Let's say you're picking at 16.

And we're living in a universe where both Mendoza and Ty Simpson

are available.

And you're the Jets.

Who are you going to take there?

Just let us know.

I'm curious what you guys think.

All right.

It's like a quick break here.

We ain't come back.

We're going to get to number two on our consensus with the first pick list.

A young man whose name rhymes with Ty Simpson.

So we'll continue that conversation with him and what's the best fits

and what we should expect from him as a rookie and beyond.

We'll talk about that right after this.

Guys, by now you've heard me talk about Collars and Co.

Makers of the Dress collar polo.

They've already sold over a million of these amazing shirts.

Well, Collars and Co just came out with the new Maverick Performance Blazer.

This Blazer is sharp and wrinkle resistant so you can travel anywhere with it.

Just throw it in your bag and it will remain wrinkle free.

It even comes with security zip pockets, a sunglasses loop,

and an optional pocket square.

So visit collarsandco.com and use Co. Tiki for 20% off at collarsandco.com.

All right, Randall.

Let's continue our conversation with the with the first pick consensus quarterback rankings.

The final ones ahead of the 2026 NFL draft.

If you talk about Fernando and does the number one, we talked about any potential

battle between Ty Simpson and Fernando for that number one spot.

I don't think it's going to happen in the real world.

We'll find out together in three, four years who is a better quarterback.

But he is number two Ty Simpson is on our consensus list.

No real surprise here.

There isn't a lot of variation just because a lot of the guys went back to school.

The deep quotation marks quarterback class didn't quite pay it out.

Maybe next year's the year that the finally comes for fruition.

Ty Simpson to talk about earlier.

He's six one.

He has a pretty good arm.

I described him during the fall as a souped up Mac Jones and that he's a better athlete.

But it does things like throw with anticipation.

We're watching video here of him at his pro day.

And I'll ask you this.

I don't think it means much, but I'll ask you because you're the GM.

According to one report, only Ryan Poles was the only GM there.

Is that worth making note of or is that just a situation where Ohio State also had their pro day?

And maybe there there certainly are more players there that are likely to get drafted for the book as.

Yeah, I mean, it's because here's the things he may do some private workouts.

We don't know.

You know, he's going to go on 30 visits with a lot of these teams.

So the fact that there was only one GM in place and just so happens to be a GM

who's not in the quarterback market doesn't necessarily mean anything.

Okay, good to know.

So let's talk a little bit about Ty Simpson.

I gave a brief explanation of his 2025 season in the previous segment.

If he's healthy, and he said he was when he talked to the Combine, he had an abdominal injury,

I believe, that hindered his ability to push it all down the field.

What are you looking for when you bring him in on these 30 visits and you work him out to prove to

you that he can be a consistent deep ball thrower? Because in the fall, he was historically one of

the worst guys throwing the ball down the field more than 30 yards.

Well, honestly, I don't know that, I don't know that he could

necessarily show me anything right now that's going to change my mind on that because I'm sure

he was hitting deep balls in practice, right? So it's a different circumstance, you know,

you being able to have to slide one way in the pocket, torque your body to throw the ball down

field, and especially if it's in a bleak injury. So that's why I think he will end up doing some

private workouts, and people just want to see him in those stress moments, just see the

the velocity and the zip on the ball. But I don't know that there's anything right now he could do

to calm me, especially from a visit standpoint in terms of, you know, his lack of downfield accuracy.

Well, you have a deep role of decks of people that you know, throughout the league and in college.

What questions are you asking then if you're talking to the trainers, to the coaches,

whomever, area scouts that have had an intimate knowledge of Thai Simpson for more than just a

year to try to get to the bottom of, can we take him with a top 16 pick? No, if the number one

question is when did the injury happen? When did it happen? Was it a end game? Was it a practice

injury? How long did it linger? What was the plan for getting him through game day? He kind of

figured that part out. But then that would lead me back to watching deep ball, deep ball

completions or attempts prior to the injury then post. And then I would even go back and

depending on my resources at Alabama, I would ask for some practice tape. Let me see how he looked

during the week of practice. And I think that would tell me a lot. Yeah, I believe talking to

folks at Alabama, I believe you heard in the South Carolina game, which is at the end of October.

I haven't gone back and looked before and after in terms of the deep ball accuracy. But it wasn't,

he wasn't crushing at any point during the season. Let's talk about this. Just real quick,

real quick. You said it if it allegedly happened in the South Carolina game, well, the earlier part

of what I watched, the earlier part of the season prior to that, I watched the Florida State game,

I watched the Georgia game and I watched the South Carolina game. And just based off of those three

games, one of the things I said, I said he has the arm strength to push the ball down feel,

but in the three games view, I did not see him connect on any deep balls. There you go. So

injury, pre or post, there are still questions and you got to sort that out. And that does require

you to have some imagination about that. What looks like at the next level since they're done playing

football until the next time he steps on the field, it's going to be a preseason game in terms of

wearing pads. All right, let's talk about this. I mentioned in the previous segment that the Jets

could be a possibility. I think they, according to reports, they have a private 30 visits that

are with him or a private meeting, whatever you want to call it. They pick it two in 16, probably not

two. So they have him at 16. Let me ask you this. The Arizona Cardinals currently have to cohe

percent, Gardner mentioned you and Keaton slow with some roster. You're not taking, I don't think

you're taking tie at three, but are you thinking about taking them, maybe trading up into the first

round. They have picked 34. So you maybe trade up three or four spots. Is that a realistic possibility?

I think so. It going back and, you know, as I'm talking, can you pull up how many draft picks

there is on the Cardinals have? Because I think that'll kind of tip their hand into the possibilities.

But one of the notes, as we were preparing for today's show, one of the notes that I thought about,

they have seven picks. Yep, 34, 65. So it's still a possibility. Now, I know their GM. He

covered third round picks. He loves those. And so to go up that far, we'll see, because he could

leverage the future if they really believe in him that way. But as we were preparing for the show,

the one thing that I thought about is that probably one of the best system fits for Todd Simpson would

be that Shanahan slash McVey type system. That's rhythm, timing, being able to throw on the move,

and then they attack you in the middle of the field, right? They play the game within the numbers.

And so I was just thinking about that from terms of Arizona with Mikey LaFloor, who's the new

head coach there. He's going to run some variation of the Shanahan. Let's call it the Shanahan

slash McVey slash LaFloor system. He's going to run some variation of that. And I think Todd Simpson

would be a good fit. Yep. The Rams pick at 13. You talking about Shanahan McVey and that

offense and then what they do there, they moved on from their bottom of the first round pick to get

tripped McDuffey. So that pick is now with the chiefs. But the only other team that really needs

a quarterback in maybe next year or the Pittsburgh season of 21. So suddenly the the well may be

drying up in terms of teams looking for quarterbacks. So you have obviously the Raiders presumably

going to take Fernando Mendoza, then the Jets with the two first round picks. The Cardinals at three

and then 34 and you talked about what they may be thinking. You talk about the Rams, but they only

have one first round pick now. That's in the middle round one and the Steelers at 21. It feels like

to me, maybe Pittsburgh could be a prime landing spot if those other teams go in other directions.

If the Jets, for example, like someone named Carson Beck, and we'll talk about Carson Beck,

because he is number three in our consensus list. Just fresh off his pro day and we will do that

right after this. What if sports were traded like markets? Now you can put your sports IQ to work

in real time with Robin Hood prediction markets. It's not you against the house. It's you

participating in a live market. You can buy or sell your positions live all game long. You use your

sports knowledge in the moments that matter. Robin Hood prediction markets changes the game.

It's people moving the action. So when momentum shifts, you can move with it. I always knew the game,

but never had a dynamic way to apply that knowledge. Now I can actually take part live in a market

powered by people. You're no longer just a spectator play by play. You decide trade every play

with Robin Hood. Now available across the U.S. Download the Robin Hood app now to begin.

Futures and cleared swaps trading involve significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone.

Event contracts are offered by Robin Hood derivatives LLC, a registered futures commission merchant

and swap firm. Hey y'all it's Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair. Ever order furniture online and wonder

what if like what if it doesn't fit? Yep should have gone with Wayfair or what if it doesn't

hold up? That sofa was four days old should have ordered from Wayfair or what if it's that material

that makes that noise? It was a sofa I swear with Wayfair there's no what it just style you love

quality you can trust and furniture that actually fits your life. Visit wayfair.com or download the Wayfair

app. Wayfair every style every home. All right Ryan we just had a heated discussion in the

break with Baroosa Jaron who is a hard time U fan and he does not like our guy Carson back.

Carson back has grown we know he has a football player he's got a lot better in 2025 but I think

he's grown in terms of his leadership and making that transition after the the down 2024 season

in Georgia and I think he's going to be a day to pick I think he's going to be a second round pick.

The question is how high before we get to that I want you to and I think this is a great way to

frame it you talked about this on the podcast after the you pro day a few days ago. Let's have

the Tyler Schutt conversation that you like to bring in when you talk about Carson back.

Yeah I mean that's been and I always prefer sit by saying you know it's really a rhetorical question

just tell me the difference between you know Carson back in Tyler Schutt and I've asked scouts

that and you know everyone gets to hear me in harm for a little bit but then when they sit back

and they look at the the full picture it's a legitimate argument right so and I'm and by the way

man shout out to you Ryan for calling out Sharon and putting it on front street because now in a

couple years from now he can't go back and and say no no no I never said that it's on tape and

Ryan called you out on the Sharon so there you go. Sharon informs me that his comp for Carson

back is Mason Rudolph. Would you like to respond to that? No I don't. Sharon is Sharon.

So listen here's I'm with you because Tyler Schutt went 40th over all last year to the saints.

He went ahead and she'd heard saying as we all thought she'd heard it's going to be QB2 obviously

that did not work out but Tyler's last year Louisville was not as good as Carson's was in 2025

for the you they're similarly sized Tyler's probably a little taller but Carson's every bit of

six five two thirty thick lower half he's actually weighs more than Drew Aller which I didn't think

was was going to be a thing given how they looked on television but you see him in person and he's

thick not a top-end athlete but he can win with his lets be has to I mentioned all that to say this

the jets pick at 33 and they pick again at 44 I think he goes somewhere in that range between 33

and 44 especially assuming the jets go David Bailey at two and then McIle in his 16 for example they

take tie Simpson then it's off the board but give me the odds that you think Carson back here's

his name called before pick 44 I honestly you know I think it is going to come down to

how the receiver position shakes out yeah right and I think that's going to be interesting especially

you know one of the conversations I can't remember if we had well we didn't speak today

so a conversation that we had you know last night after you talked to some scouts about the

overall receiver market I think that's going to kind of differentiate when that run on receivers

is actually going to happen so I think I think he'll go I think he'll go after 44 if I'm

a guy to give you an answer I think he'll go after 44 just because I think there's going to be

some other positions that you're going to have a nice little run on that'll push

you know push that down very interesting I am a victim and I admit it freely after I see these guys

the pro day I they get bumped up an extra five to seven spots so maybe I'm falling prey to that

but we do know we talked to some folks that you pro day that are very high on Carson back not

first round high but perhaps higher than I thought let me ask you this before you go if you look

at the graphic on the bottom it says you saw his completion percentage increase from 65 percent

in 2024 to 72 percent in 2025 one of the things I have in my notes is from 2023 his completion

percentage was also 72 percent and that year one of the things I noticed was he was sacked only 11

times in 2023 and his sacks in 2024 went up so he was sacked seven more times that year in 2024

as well so and that was also coincidentally the year where I obviously at Georgia he had his

biggest struggles and ultimately got hurt so I think obviously the protection thing is going to be

real at Miami that 2023 season he had a really good offensive line at Georgia and then 2025 he

had a really good offensive line at Miami so for those teams that are picking in that round two

range I wonder how much that will affect his status with them and how they see him when he's

protected versus when he's not protected now those are good points while you were explaining that

Seron is spamming my email with statistical comps of Mason in college Oklahoma state and Carson

back in college this is a ride this terrain right over the right over the cliff and I'm here for

that let me say this just about the you talked about the situation he was in we talk all the time

about fit matters and the fit in 2024 was not great for Carson much better in 2025 how important is

facing adversity in a way that Carson has faced it for a quarterback coming into the league where

typically if you're expecting to play early on you're not going to a great situation and you were

going to face an adversity no I think I think that's what's really going to help him right he's a

six year senior he's a little older um he's faced like you said the adversity having to deal with

arm injury that could have potentially ended his career but also during that time of having to rehab

you transfer you go to a different school you have to learn a different system I know Seron's

probably in your ear making noises but he's dealt with the adversity of having to be on the move

learn a new system while rehab and luckily for him he's healthy now and so his next transition

is going to be learning a new offense in a new city perhaps and so I think you know I think he's

going to be well equipped to handle that and we we had a chance to interact with him and interact

with another team as they were talking to him and the one thing that they raved about was how smart

he was and how quickly he picked up on just a little bit they were able to spoon feed him in the

hour or so time that they had with him and you know Carson made the comment he was like well I really

didn't need to study you know I was able to regurgitate it right back because I had some carry

over so I think this is all going to be beneficial for him. Yeah again if he goes to a bad team and

has to play early it might not be pretty if he goes to a good situation I imagine will be better

that said I give Tyler Chuck a lot of credit and Kelli Moore the first year head coach last year

because I didn't think that pick was ever going to work I thought the situation wasn't great

because the Saints want to get football team and they've been smog I spent a rathler and Tyler

played good man Tyler did a good job they have some guys on that offense that are going to help

them they get trapped a few more guys we'll see if they do that in round one or not. Hey listen

on the comments how high you think Carson Beck goes where you are on Carson Beck after his what I

think is a bounce back year at the U and if you would take him on day two I think it makes a lot

of sense and I think that Tyler Chuck comp is a fair one. All right let's continue the conversation

after the break ran we're going to circle back to our guy down in Baton Rouge who was our QB1 over

the summer and is now by my count QB4 on our final with the first pick consensus list we'll talk

Garrett and us Meyer right after the break. Spring starts at the Home Depot and we are bringing the

heat to your backyard this season fire up the flavor with our wide variety of grills for under

$300 like the next grill for burner gas grill that's perfect for hosting your spring cookout

then set the scene and turn your outdoor space into the go-to spot the patio sets for every budget

bring it this season with grills that deliver flavor and patios that set the vibe from the Home Depot

starts your spring with low prices guaranteed at the Home Depot exclusive supplies at Home Depot.com

slash price match for details. All right Randles make everybody down to Baton Rouge where we were

very high on Garrett and us Meyer over the summer and understandably so I was glad he returned to

college after the 2024 season we got our first taste of of Garrett when he replaced Jane Dales

in the 2023 bowl game and he came out sling it and there were a lot of reasons for optimism there

his dad of course has formed a quarterback uh an OC and quarterback coach in the league so he has

those ties to his dad knowing ball forever and passing it on to him I'll say that see battle injuries

as well just like Tyson did he's undersized the quarterback standards has probably a little better

arm than Tyson's and not quite as athletic but the way he played at times last year I thought he

was trying to get bronchi fired because it was like he was doing some stuff just to see what would

happen like he was in the backyard throwing it around and if if interceptions happened they

happened that said we talked to him at the combine he's 100% healthy he owed up to everything that

went wrong said all the right things had a really good senior bowl practice where he also looked healthy

where are we on on Garrett and us mire and I'll just add this one thing according to reports he's

got a visit set up with the jets the Rams and the Colts and obviously the Rams make a ton of

sense uh the other two seem like potential backup situations maybe yeah and he's another one and

I don't want to try to always look at my man Rohan Davy shout out to you big row but um I don't

I don't want to keep throwing feeling like every quarterback will be successful in his uh McVay

Shanahan system but I think he fits that mold because he reminds me of Brock Purdy from a stature

standpoint from an arm strength standpoint there are times where you see some drive on the

football and I think it's more so because he has a quick release versus velocity on on the football

and so the one thing I wanted to keep in my mind um with him and they they did have a really bad

season and I think there'll be um there's a lot of things that will never know that occur within

in the program that's a good point in terms of you know on the field off the field there are

a ton of things I don't think will ever know or no one will ever care to share that I think

affected everybody uh within that program you I mean some of it we ought to talk about obviously

with the Bryan Kelly situation with the Kyron Lacey situation all of those were real things

that occur within that program that ultimately landed on these on these guys on the football field

but the one thing I never wanted to lose track of is what I saw in 2024

and you can't forget that and this is why Ryan why I always start with previous years film

and evaluate that first and then use current years film more so as an update did they improve

on the things that I had questions about did some of the things that I had questions about does

it still rear its head like those things to me that's the best way to surround these players

um to get a fully valuation right because sometimes if you come in just watching current years tape

you don't you don't have anything to compare to from uh from previous experience and so I just

wanted to make that note as it pertains to Garrett Nussmeyer now I think he can play I think the

best thing for him obviously is to be able to sit in year one and be able to get some time

under his belt and be able to learn you mentioned he's the son of a coach offensive coordinator

at that there were some concerns about the study habits at LSU again I don't have the full

character breakdown on him but because we always you know even me just saying just now he's

the son of a coach that doesn't always mean that they have the aptitude or the work ethic you know

to to succeed right and so I'm not saying that he does or he doesn't but we have to you know let

that be known but I think this kid um I'll just say this way he has enough of everything to play

at a functional level as a starter he's going to need obviously need to talent around him he won't

be the guy that you put everything on his shoulders and he'll be the reason why you win but you

can win games with him um and I think he has enough moxie and enough confidence in himself to get

those done he can make some wild throws just in terms of the placement and being anticipatory um

that will that will have to happen to make up for the lack of arm strength and velocity on the

football but I just think where he finished with 2025 I will just challenge everybody to go back

and watch some of 2024 and if you still feel the same fine but I think you saw a different guy

in 2024 versus 2025 you talked about uh that's coaching and sons playing did you play for your dad

oh I did and it was the worst experience of my football that's what I was thinking because sometimes

they just say you know they treat you differently because they know you a little better oh yeah and

he treated me a lot different and then it got to a point where I was starting to treat him different

and then like thank God for the coats and calling me back to put me on the active roster versus leaving me

um you know on the Cowboys practice squad at the time because I think that saved me

in my dad's relationship because he was going eventually end up getting beat up

oh okay who are the who are they running back to the top of the roster and like when you were

there and Dallas uh and Dallas uh Julius Jones it was uh it was uh because we were same draft class

so he was a second round pick that year Eddie George had just come over from the Titans uh

Richie Anderson was like a hybrid fullback running back uh he played fullback but then he was also

the third down back so it was it was a crowded room and that's why I was on the practice squad

yeah but I and you it reminded me of that when you're talking about just because your dad's a

coach doesn't mean suddenly you're you're gonna be a first round pick at a Hall of Famer there's

the family dynamics and a lot of stuff goes into it and it's funny because when we ask you asked

Garrett in particular what he was doing on draft night and you know was he gonna cry which

was your question and what would his dad be what do you have a chance to see his dad who'll be

in New Orleans and you know you got the sense that his dad probably coach him up a little hard to

give him his response uh maybe I'm just reading into it but that's a sense I got one last thing

I want to ask him before we uh get to uh the the number five guys on our list uh you talked about

the the Brock Purdy comp at least at and some level physically my notes on Garrett don't

aren't the same notes I had on Brock coming on Iowa State so I want to ask you how you reconcile

this sort of play from a quarterback who has a lot of potential poor decision-making sloppy footwork

sort of a lot of chuck and ducking the times it felt like and and not playing within the offense

how do you reconcile that with someone who also has so much good tape well I think you're thinking

about Brock Purdy as a pro and what he's become since a pro um because because I think a lot of

people had higher expectations of Brock Purdy the year before he came out right which obviously

led to him being one of the last or the last pick in the draft and so uh and I don't again I don't

know what Brock's I can't remember what Brock's footwork looked like but all I know from a physical

stature arm strength and they remind me a lot of each other I don't know Nusmire enough to say

about the mental but I know Brock is plenty smart and really sharp and with a good comprehension of

the offense but you would imagine that Nusmire will have a similar type aptitude all right let's

say another quick break here we come back here and this might be the most controversial names on

the list we have two guys tied for five and we'll talk about the two of the most athletic big arm

quarterbacks in this draft class and we even tell you they are grab this break

the world moves fast you work day even faster pitching products drafting reports analyzing data

Microsoft 365 co-pilot is your AI assistant for work built into word excel powerpoint and other

Microsoft 365 apps you use helping you quickly write analyze create and summarize so you

can cut through clutter and clear path to your best work learn more at Microsoft comm slash

and 365 co-pilot all right rain let's wrap this thing up here with uh tied for five on our list

and you and I were talking about this a few days ago this is wide open this could be anybody it could

be whatever a particular team is looking for so tailing green was my number five drew al or was

your number five two insanely athletic young men tailing six six drew al or six five they have big

arms they're athletic in terms of their ability to run in the open field I think tailing ran into

the four threes maybe at the combine however call correctly but as raw as raw can be and this has to

be a situation where they're going to be learning a lot by watching and holding a clipboard and then

I'll ask you this you can talk about drew or tailing since you don't get a lot of snaps once you

become an NFL quarterback who is not the number one or even the number two how do you improve

especially when you're this raw well you're going to become the king of the of the preseason

play a ton of snaps in the preseason and then you'll be running scout team now you know you'll

be running another team's concepts but you'll be running scout team against the starting

the starting defense now listen and the reason why I went drew al or here is keeping in my my

eval from his 2020 14 again it goes back to the point I just made with Nuss Meyer you I don't

want to forget that part of it but watching the film from this year obviously I didn't love it

felt the same way about tailing green and so I just remember Texan producer striker last night as

I was turning in my top five I was like hey man I may change you know my five I may change it

up and even till this morning I he texted me this morning like hey oh we locked in I was like hey

give me another hour and I was just watching a bunch of those guys in succession tailing green drew

al or cade club Nick Sawyer Robinson what's our guy in North Dakota state Cole Peyton

Cole Peyton I'm just running through all of these guys and I'm and I'm just like

it's to me that that fifth spot you can close your eyes and just point one and I think it really

the the fifth spot for me personally comes down between the two names on this board and cade

club Nick and I think it comes down to whatever your flavor is whichever one you like

I think you're given and it's just my opinion I think you're given drew Aller's athleticism

a little bit more of a knock I don't think he's in the same category athlete is tailing green

he's not he's gonna athlete though and I but I think you know tailing green because of the size

the traits you know you you automatic the one thing I was looking at him I was like man this guy

smooth when I was watching his stuff he's a smooth easy moving athlete kind of moves like like

Vince Young used to right but I don't think he's the passer that Vince Young was coming out

and so you watch him move smooth and I'm like well let me compare him to to rail prior do I

think he could you know maybe make the transition because of the elite traits in athleticism

and the testing numbers well watching him run with the football and when it comes to the point

of contact and seeing him kind of double over and cringe sometimes prior to contact I was like

I don't know that he has that in him to be able to make that transition to a wide receiver position

let's just say and so for me that's why I gave the slight nod to drew Aller because like you said

he is a bigger physical quarterback excuse me that can stand in the pocket deliver the football

but there was just a lot of moments where he was spreading the ball and I don't know man just

left a lot to be desired for me again this is why maybe a tie Simpson gets pushed up

and whether you like Carson back at three or Nuss Meyer at three this pushes those guys up I think

there will be a guy on the back half or a guy or two on the back half that we hadn't talked about

as much that I think somebody's quarterback coaches will like a little bit more than what we're

speaking about in the media that if we saw that person's name called on day three you may be shocked

but I think that's a indication of where they feel about this this class after four

so I have these guys based on potential in athleticism as mid day three guys and as you were

talking it reminded me a few years ago Spencer Rattler was the quarterback to win round five after

those top six quarterbacks when the first twelve picks last year Shadour Sanders win the top five

you like drew a little better than Taylor here but ranked those guys if you had to pick one quarterback

in the fifth round Spencer Shadour Taylor drew what do you got I mean I'm going Shadour Spencer

and again depending on my system if I was running a more traditional system I go drew than Taylor

okay yeah I think I might have a guy Spencer number one although going back on draft day

it would have been Shadour for sure all right let's look at the rest of my five through ten here

producer Sharam before we get out of here I have some questions for for Rand here Drew

Allers my QB seven by the way and you see they're Kate club because my QB six after

Carson Beck everyone else is day three Garrett Nussmeyer I think he could go late day two maybe

early day three and then you see Taylor and Green Kate clubbing Drew Aller Sawyer Robertson

I love him but he is gonna not gonna go as high as I potentially thought back in January

Cole Payton out of North Dakota State you mentioned there and then Luke Altmeyer

So you watch Cole Payton I'm interested what you think because we know he's a good athlete

he can win with his legs rush for over 900 yards last season but he told us of the combine

he ain't a guy from New Orleans take some hill he wants to be known as a drop back passer who's

just a good athlete the question for me with Cole who throws left handed is the arm strength

did you see anything that changed your mind about that and the other concerns about him potentially

getting drafted in the top 100 no Sharan can you put up that graphic again with Ryan's rankings

because this is my first time seeing the this top 10 but it kind of it right it we just said

when we talked about the five how you can and I'm that's why I kind of smiled when it's

went up because five through nine were all the names I just said that depending on what you like

you know all five of those got all those guys can make an argument for being number five now

to ask you a question on Cole Payton um you know and I don't know maybe it's because it was

the lefty but I saw you know some of the similar mechanics uh I thought maybe it was a little

better but I saw some of the similar mechanics as a Tim Tebow um you know that kind of little

wind up whipping motion I thought the footwork and everything were uh kind of all over the place

uh a little bit and so uh I immediately once I saw him with the ball in his hands I did

immediately see what you were saying would take some hill and you know whether he wants to be known

as a drop-back pastor if he's giving the option I'm sure uh I remember the first year I really

watched take some hill was in green van the preseason and they used him primarily as a drop-back

pastor and you saw flashes uh of the athleticism enough to the point where my pro department at the

time was myself uh AJ high smith and RJ Gillan we had take some hill as a potential guy for us to

claim at that position for the 49ers at the time uh because we had um we had just taken what was

our quarterback from Iowa uh that we had we took the quarterback from Iowa I'm blanking on his name

right now that we took him in the third round of that year's draft um and we just had a need at

quarterback uh let's let's just say that we had a need at quarterback and uh again never saying

that we saw take some hill becoming what he became I think only Sean Peyton had that type of

vision for him but we thought he was solid enough to kind of add to our roster in some form or

or capacity so uh our guy from North Dakota state right now I he just feels to me if you want to

roll the dice on him you know in the seventh round that'll be fine but he kind of fits more in that

range to me uh again depends on what you like him and what your plan is for all right uh producer

Sean let's see that graphic one more time because I don't have a test for ran before we get out of here

so we know that the top four guys are going to probably go in the top 100 or so Garrett and us

Myers going to be QB4 unless something changes let's a team like some better than Carson Beck uh but

at QB five uh take some hill and that takes some hill tailing great excuse me uh does he get drafted

because there's a situation where maybe he doesn't yeah I just think the I think the the athlete um

I think the athlete the the size I think is just too good to pass up on okay excuse me because

because again we'll see maybe I'm wrong I don't you know maybe he does develop the ability to take

a hit and you know and and move on and play another position but I think he will become so

expensive uh as an undrafted free agent that I think you'd be better rolling the dice using

the seventh round pick six round pick whatever to get him on your football team all right give me

a yes or no on these before we get out of here I think you are of the opinion of true out of

guess draft or like a club neck who whose season didn't go the way he he had helped so he

roverson no he is going to be close gosh oh yeah and the cold pain you said maybe seventh round

did you get chance to watch luke all my ready to annoy no but I watch him as soon as we get off

but right now yeah he may be seventh for uh for uh cold but I don't I don't I don't think it happens

and it's if that's going to be a conversation too because uh again fantastic human being we talk

to him has a lot of impressive David North Dakota state did play the FCS level the arm shrink was

a question for me he is incredibly athletic but if he wants to lean more to being the quarterback

I get that I don't know if he wants to hear Tim Teebo comp 28 days before the draft but that's where

we are from mr. Rand there look at somebody somebody took somebody took Tim Teebo in the first round

so yeah and that somebody wasn't the head coach uh not long thereafter so it's a it's a two way

three you got to be careful uh luke all my day Illinois by the way uh consistent player a little

under size had a good senior bowl I I think he'll be a guy who has a chance to get drafted later on

day three but that's it for us here now at with the first spick our 2026 cubic consensus rankings are

in the books you can check out the podcast wherever you get your podcasts your scheme at QR code and

check back off and because we are busy little bees from now until the actual NFL draft see you guys later

you

monster energy everybody knows white monster zero ultra that's the OG it kicked off this whole zero

sugar energy drink thing but ultra is a whole lineup now you've got strawberry dreams blue Hawaiian

sunrise in vice guava and they all bring the monster energy punch so if you've been living in

the white can branch out ultra's got a flavor for every vibe and every single one is zero sugar

tap the banner to learn more