In a hypothetical NFL draft held today, Caleb Williams would be the No. 1 pick on every big board. Fernando Mendoza continued his front-runner’s charge, with 13 votes. The former California quarterback has been the talk of college football since transferring. His productivity and efficiency this fall under coach Curt Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan has cast a spotlight on his talent.
Mendoza’s ascendance up the quarterback prospect rankings is a product of his impressive performance this year. He hasn’t ceased to amaze, showing tremendous natural ability, eliciting NFL scouts’ excitement over what he’ll accomplish at the game’s highest level. “He’s big, tough, athletic and smart. A lot of it coming because he’s a leader, can make off-schedule plays and change arm angles. He’s got the ‘It.’ I don’t know if I’ve ever said this, but I think he’s very, very gifted,” said one scout.
Mendoza’s success has caused other impressive signal-callers to fall a bit by the wayside in this draft class. Dante Moore, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 206 pounds, has made a splash this season, showcasing his talent with a sudden emergence that has caught the eye of many analysts. His performance has led many to question his potential draft trajectory.
On the other side, Ty Simpson is a name creating a lot of early heat with scouts. With 20 touchdowns and one interception on the season, Simpson’s production paints the picture of a potential star. In reality, last season he threw only eight passes, so it’s hard to overstate his emergence in 2025. He’s tossed for 19 touchdowns, posted a stellar 71.4% completion percentage and accumulated a mind-boggling 1,772 passing yards. Despite his impressive stats, speculation in NFL circles suggests that Simpson may consider returning to college due to not starting a game until this season.
Other quarterbacks who received votes in the first QB1 poll include LaNorris Sellers, Garrett Nussmeier, Carson Beck, Drew Allar, Sam Leavitt, Arch Manning, John Mateer, and Brendan Sorsby. Among these candidates, Sorsby has the chance to be a pleasant surprise, as he’s the most dynamic of the bunch, attracting attention with his ability to make plays.
Even after the hype, the prevailing mood about this year’s quarterback class is still wariness. As one NFL scout put it, “It’s not a great class. He acknowledged that there is some real bright talent, but overall, the pool might not stack up as deep as those past years.
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