One early 2026 NFL Mock Draft has wasted no time shaking things up as far as which top prospects go where in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Yes, the 2025 NFL season or college season hasn’t even kicked off, but it’s still fun to match some of the top projected prospects to teams based on need. The fact that those needs can change week-to-week as well as draft positions, its intriguing for draft enthusiasts to see how things play out as both seasons progress.
One of the top projections is that it will be a strong quarterback class that may have a couple quarterback needy NFL teams entering the tank-a-thon phrase by mid-season.
Whether projected top quarterback prospect Arch Manning declares for the 2026 NFL Draft or not, it will be an interesting QB class.
Bleacher Report has two quarterbacks going in the top 3
So, let’s say he declares. Bleacher Report’s initial 2026 NFL Mock Draft has the Texas quarterback going No. 1 in the draft to the New Orleans Saints. Not much of a surprise, right?
But it gets interesting immediately as the Cleveland Browns completely pass on a QB, which leaves the New York Jets setting at No. 3. Unless Justin Fields is amazing in 2025, B/R has the Jets selecting the next best quarterback, but it isn’t LSU's Garrett Nussmeier or Penn State's Drew Allar. It’s not even South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers.
With the No. 3 overall pick, the choice is Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
B/R’s Brent Sobleski writes:
“A top-three pick is the worst-case scenario for the New York Jets based on their current plans. Though it could be the best possible path forward for the organization, because it can reset at quarterback.
Fernando Mendoza has plenty to prove after transferring to Indiana from Cal. His projection as a top quarterback prospect is based on his traits and a higher level of production working in the Hoosiers' high-flying offense.”
With prototypical size (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) and natural arm talent, an interesting pick for the Jets at No. 3 and one that NFL Mocks disagrees with even with Mendoza being a favorite at NFL Mocks the second the 2025 NFL Draft was over, and attention turned attention to the 2026 NFL Draft prospects. Mendoza has the frame and skillset to be outstanding his first season in the Big 10, but he could also struggle given the increased competition.
In the second NFL Mocks way-too-early NFL Mock Draft, three QBs go in the top 3 with Manning going to the Saints, Cade Klubnik going to the Cleveland Browns and Allar to the Jets at No. 3.
Both B/R and Mocks agree that the Jets take a QB, but Allar may prove to be the sure bet once the season is over. Either way, the Jets select a Big 10 QB and perhaps it will come down to a showdown between No. 20 ranked Indiana and No. 2 ranked Penn State on Nov. 8 as the determinate of which QB prospect showcases the higher NFL ceiling.