Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky stunned ESPN host Mike Greenberg by admitting he would much rather take Alabama's Ty Simpson over Indiana's Fernando Mendoza ahead of the NFL Draft
12:21 ET, 23 Mar 2026
Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts after defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 to win the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
View 3 Images
Fernando Mendoza is likely to be the first overall pick, but he is not Dan Orlovsky's top signal caller in the 2026 NFL Draft class(Image: Getty Images)
Dan Orlovsky left his ESPN co-host, Mike Greenberg, stunned after the former NFL quarterback admitted he would rather take Alabama's Ty Simpson over the presumptive first overall pick, Fernando Mendoza.
While the NFL headlines this weekend were dominated by the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, which saw Tom Brady go up against Logan Paul, the premier event of the NFL offseason, the NFL Draft, draws closer. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the first overall pick and will almost certainly select Indiana quarterback Mendoza, fresh off his Heisman Trophy and National Championship-winning season with the Hoosiers.
Article continues below
However, speaking on ESPN's 'Get Up', former NFL quarterback Orlovsky has outlined his belief that he reckons Simpson is the best signal caller in the 2026 draft class. The Alabama quarterback starred for the Crimson Tide at the beginning of the 2025-26 college football season, but struggled down the stretch in part due to nagging injuries.
Article continues below
READ MORE: Tom Brady dodges Maxx Crosby trade question after dramatic Raiders collapseREAD MORE: NFL Draft prospect runs 4.47 40-yard dash and drills 70-yard FG in front of Eagles
The consensus heading into next month's draft currently has Mendoza as the number one quarterback in the 2026 class, with Simpson following behind in second.
Given the lack of top-tier talent at the quarterback position this year, it seems likely Simpson will hear his name called on the first night of the draft in April. And in Orlovsky's mind, the Alabama star is the best quarterback in the class, ahead of Mendoza, leaving Greenberg shocked.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Greenberg began by asking Orlovsky on 'Get Up', "Ty Simpson has been a fascinating person in this draft going back to the middle part of this season, where he seemed to be trending toward QB1, and then the season went on, and there became no question that Fernando Mendoza is going to be the first quarterback taken in this draft.
"Certainly, that is at least the conventional wisdom, and Ty Simpson could fall anywhere in the first round. You have looked at the tapes. What are you seeing?"
QB Ty Simpson #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass during the Alabama Crimson Tide versus Indiana Hoosiers College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game on January 1, 2026, at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA.
View 3 Images
Dan Orlovsky believes Ty Simpson is the best quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft(Image: Getty Images)
Orlovsky then replied with a lengthy answer, detailing why he believes Simpson is his 'QB1'.
"I think Ty Simpson is QB1," said Orlovsky. "I think Ty Simpson is the best quarterback in this class.
"I think that 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 would tell you that Ty Simpson is more consistent [at protecting the football] in that regard. There's not a ton of moments of panic out of Fernando Mendoza, and then there are moments where he immediately drops his eyes and becomes a runner; Ty Simpson is more consistent in that."
Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after defeating Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
View 3 Images
Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after defeating Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida.(Image: Getty)
That then prompted Greenberg to reply, "To be clear, this will get a lot of attention that you feel this way because you are at this point one of the people whose opinions on this stuff matter the most and everyone has their opinion and this is certainlty going to be an unconventional one, but you're comfortable saying if you had the choice between the two of them, you would take Ty right now?
Article continues below
"I would much rather have Ty," replied Orlovsky. "And I like Fernando Mendoza; this is not to slight Mendoza. I would rather have Ty Simpson at the 15 to 20 range than Fernando Mendoza at one."