Dan Orlovsky has stirred a major debate ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. On Monday, the ESPN analyst named Ty Simpson as the best quarterback in the upcoming draft, going against the consensus that favored Fernando Mendoza.
Speaking during an appearance on “Get Up,” Orlovsky noted he believes Simpson should be considered the QB1 of the draft, noting he has a better upside than Mendoza. He argues that the Alabama quarterback is more NFL-ready than his Indiana counterpart.
“I think Ty Simpson is QB1,” Orlovsky said. “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."
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Fernando Mendoza is widely considered the best passer in this draft following his historic season with Indiana. He led the Hoosiers to the national championship against the odds, while claiming a host of honors, including the Heisman Trophy.
However, there are concerns in some quarters about Mendoza's arm strength, athleticism, decision-making pace and pressure management. This hasn't stopped many analysts from ranking him far ahead of Simpson on the draft board.
Comparing their stats in the 2025 season, Fernando Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns against six interceptions. Ty Simpson, on the flip side, threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns against five interceptions
While Simpson was impressive in his lone season as Alabama's starting quarterback, his limited experience as a college starter has raised a lot of concerns. He only made 15 starts for the Crimson Tide, despite spending four years in Tuscaloosa.
