The 2026 NFL Draft is one month away, and the hype continues to build for Fernando Mendoza. The Heisman-winning QB led the Indiana Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 season and a historic National Championship last season, and is now widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in next month's NFL Draft.
Indiana fans absolutely loved watching Mark Pope melt down in real time vs Iowa State
Just about every single mock draft out there has Mendoza going 1st overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, but not everyone appears to be sold on the Hoosier gunslinger.
Dan Orlovsky rips into Fernando Mendoza NFL Draft hype
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky is casting major doubt on Mendoza being the top quarterback in the 2026 draft class. Last week, Orlovsky stated that Ty Simpson's tape was just as impressive as Mendoza's. Now, Orlovsky is taking his opinion a step further by claiming that Simpson is the real QB1 of the 2026 draft class.
“I think Ty Simpson is QB1,” Orlovsky said on GetUp on Monday morning. “I think Ty Simpson is the best quarterback in this class. I think when you look at the body of work and what was asked of these two quarterbacks, you have to start with the question, who needed to do more to carry their football team to play well? Ty Simpson, and it’s not close. Between those two quarterbacks who took more games over throughout the course of the season? Ty Simpson, it’s not even close."
“I think Ty Simpson is the best quarterback in this class.”
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 23, 2026
—@danorlovsky7 makes a strong claim ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Kgj0Z9Rgtc
Furthermore, Orlovsky added that he has more faith in Simpson's ability to make NFL-caliber throws than Mendoza.
“I would tell you that Ty Simpson is more consistent in that regard. There’s not a ton of moments of panic out of Fernando Mendoza. And then there’s moments when he immediately drops his eyes and becomes a runner. Ty Simpson, more consistent in that ‘what the guy was asked to do.’ More NFL throws. When I say NFL throws, I’m talking 15, 20, 25 yard in-routes, crossing routes, deep corner or sale routes."
Fernando Mendoza is overwhelming favorite to be No. 1 overall pick
This past season, Simpson threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns with five interceptions. Mendoza threw for just about the same number of yards with 3,535, had more touchdown passes with 41, and just one more interception with six on the season. Furthermore, Mendoza's completion percentage of 72% far out-paced Simpson's completion percentage of 64.5%.
Simpson has been one of the most polarizing prospects in this draft cycle, and with the draft now one month away, his stock continues to rise. Simpson is projected to be a First Round pick, but exactly when he will hear his name called remains up in the air.
Mendoza's draft projection is much more clear cut, as just about everyone expect him to be the No. 1 overall pick. In fact, with odds of -20000, Mendoza is the overwhelming favorite to be the 1st overall selection on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Simpson has all the tools needed to be a franchise QB in the NFL, but let's pump the brakes on calling him QB1 of his year's draft class right now. Given his elite body of work and historic 2025 season, that title belongs to Mendoza entering next month's draft.