Which QB should the Rams draft in the 1st Round next year?
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I can see McVay making a trade to the Bengals for Burrows.
LA -> Cinn. 1st round + Bennett + 5th round.
Cinn -> LA. Burrows + 6th round
LA -> Cinn. 1st round + Bennett + 5th round.
Cinn -> LA. Burrows + 6th round
You're dreaming if you think the Bengals are giving up Burrow for that deal. Burrow is a MVP-caliber QB when he's on the field. We'd have to offer far, far more than that. And I don't see why the Bengals would trade him.
Right. When Burrow is healthy, the Bengals are competitive. The Lions don't trade Stafford if they are in the playoffs regularly.
This Burrow stuff is serious crazy pills
Alas....
Not getting Mendoza, hoping there's a way to get Sellers
If the Duke kid comes out, he becomes #3 on my list
Alas....
Not getting Mendoza, hoping there's a way to get Sellers
If the Duke kid comes out, he becomes #3 on my list
“Turbo set!”
Pro Bowler
We aren't drafting a RB.
Snead seems to love to draft backs late and has had success with it.
Snead seems to love to draft backs late and has had success with it.
Concur here, Sellers needs to work on ball security & accuracy, but with the right coaching because he has had none at South Carolina, the ceiling is obvious, plus very bright and a great leader too.
If they take Mendoza, this will be blaring over the PA at SoFi:
View: https://youtu.be/dQsjAbZDx-4?si=0DPAH94LLkWeMMdN
View: https://youtu.be/dQsjAbZDx-4?si=0DPAH94LLkWeMMdN
duanevalle22
Starter
I still kick myself for not going to any of their concerts.... heard they were great. I was too much of a bullet headed metal fan.... though I did go to Prince's Purple Rain tour.
Never was embarrassed enjoying all music and I never hid from it, although driving to my bachelor party back in the summer of 1992 in my black IROC with the windows and sunroof open my soon to be wife had left a Cher tape in the cassette (even though all of you will think it was mine, but it wasn't) and I was singing to Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves and pulled into the parking lot, where a dozen of my friends were outside and I quickly turned off the music, but they had heard it and quickly asked "What in the hell were you listening to?"
I still kick myself for not going to any of their concerts.... heard they were great. I was too much of a bullet headed metal fan.... though I did go to Prince's Purple Rain tour.
The Snicker commercial, "You want to get away?" comes to mind.
duanevalle22
Starter
I get the same thing from my pals when I'm thumping Taylor Swifts "The Life Of A Showgirl Album"...... I became a fan when my wife made me buy two tickets for the ERAS tour..... I was actually blown away and started listening to all her works.
All that time I thought she was just a cheesy Country Artist.... lol
I have to agree with you. Well I don’t really have to.
But the GM would certainly be better off building around Ward. They need more pieces than another maybe at QB. And that 1st rounder would be very valuable at doing that.
Some secrets should be taken to the grave.
This is an interesting article if only because it contradicts what many here see, including myself:
The calendar just turned to December. But for a handful of NFL fanbases, draft season has already arrived.
However, unlike many other NFL Drafts, there isn't a clear and consensus No. 1 overall prospect as the college football season winds down. That might be a problem for the number of teams that'll need some quarterback help this offseason, as they debate whether to use a first-round pick on a quarterback in April or kick the can down another year. But with conference championship weekend here and the College Football Playoff on the horizon, there's still time for a quarterback to rise up and deem themselves as the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Which quarterback currently sits as the most likely to be picked first next April? Who could rise up draft boards? How do people around the NFL feel about the quarterbacks that could be selected in the 2026 draft?
FOX Sports NFL reporters Ralph Vacchianoand Eric D. Williams surveyed the league and got the answers to those questions.
But now that appears to have been a losing bet. A quarterback class that was once thought to include maybe a half-dozen potential first-rounders might only end up with two or three. Former sure things like Arch Manning (Texas), Garrett Nussmeier(LSU), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), Carson Beck (Miami), Drew Allar (Penn State) and Cade Klubnick (Clemson) all seem to have faded due to injuries, disappointing performances or, in some cases, both.
And yes, some quarterbacks have risen to take their places. But not many. And the hype just isn’t the same.
"I think this quarterback class was overhyped by the media from the start, and I think a lot of it had to do with Arch Manning," a college scout for an NFC team recently told me. "He’s a huge name, so it’s understandable, but I think most of us were pretty sure he wasn’t coming out this year. And the rest of the class was promising, but there were a lot of questions.
"It was never the slam-dunk, five-deep, franchise class that it was made out to be."
Maybe that’s true. It certainly wasn’t expected to match the Class of 2024 that saw six quarterbacks in the Top 12 picks, including the top three (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye). But it was definitely expected to be far superior to the Class of 2025, which included only Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart as first-rounders.
The Class of 2026 probably will end up with at least two first-round quarterbacks, given the number of teams that desperately need one, but the quality and the potential of the prospects aren’t very clear.
"I’m not sure I see a franchise quarterback in this group," an NFL scouting director told me. "Maybe one, but even that could be a stretch. It’s nothing like the class of 2024 when it was easy to see four or five. I’m not even sure it’s as good as last year’s group yet."
Added the NFC scout: "I’m glad my team doesn’t need one this year, because I don’t think I could find one."
Maybe that’s true. It certainly wasn’t expected to match the Class of 2024 that saw six quarterbacks in the Top 12 picks, including the top three (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye). But it was definitely expected to be far superior to the Class of 2025, which included only Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart as first-rounders.
The Class of 2026 probably will end up with at least two first-round quarterbacks, given the number of teams that desperately need one, but the quality and the potential of the prospects aren’t very clear.
"I’m not sure I see a franchise quarterback in this group," an NFL scouting director told me. "Maybe one, but even that could be a stretch. It’s nothing like the class of 2024 when it was easy to see four or five. I’m not even sure it’s as good as last year’s group yet."
Added the NFC scout: "I’m glad my team doesn’t need one this year, because I don’t think I could find one."
***
It is an important question because several teams currently expected to pick near the top of the draft appear to desperately need a new quarterback. The Las Vegas Raiders(currently picking 4th), Cleveland Browns(5th), New York Jets (7th) and Arizona Cardinals (8th) all seem to fall into that group.
So, is there anyone that a quarterback-needy team should consider with a top-10 pick?
I asked three scouts and two NFL executives that question, and the current consensus is that there's probably only one, maybe two, worthy of that high of a selection. All five mentioned Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza as a likely top-10 pick. Two added Oregon’s Dante Moore.
"He’s certainly got the size you want (6-5, 225). He’s smart and makes most of the right reads. He seems steady and calm in the pocket and poised under pressure," a college scout for an AFC team told me. "I’d put him in the good, but not great category, but he‘s probably the best that will come out. I just don’t get a ‘star’ feel from him, but I’m intrigued enough where I’d consider him."
Moore, meanwhile, might need some time to develop, but is really talented, a college scout for an NFC team told me.
"If I were him, I’d go back to school for a year. He’s still really young (20), but he’s got terrific dual-threat skills," a college scout for an NFC team told me. "I think with a little more development, he could be a star. But there‘s enough talent there where if my team needed a quarterback this year, I‘d grab him. I‘d just want him to sit behind a veteran for a year."
One scout said he could see a scenario where South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers goes in the first round, maybe even as a top 10 pick in the right situation, too. But he conceded that picking Sellers that high could be "a bit out of desperation."
Sellers was one of the reasons why this quarterback class was so overhyped, the scout said, but he ended up having a very disappointing year in which his accuracy issues didn’t improve.
"If you’ve been scouting him for a while, though, I could see where someone could be sold on his potential," the scout told me. "His performance is a bit alarming. But a team that doesn’t have a franchise quarterback might feel pressured to take the risk."
"If he doesn’t stay in school, or maybe transfer — which might be best for him," added an NFL executive, "I bet someone falls in love with him at the combine."
FOX Sports NFL Draft analyst Rob Ranghad three quarterbacks selected in the first round of his latest mock draft, with Mendoza, Beck and Nussmeier all being top-24 picks.
But more than a month has gone by since Rang's last mock draft. So, how does Rang view the quarterback class now? Here’s how Rang has the quarterbacks ranked at this point in the draft evaluation, with a little over four months until draft night.
1. Dante Moore, Oregon: First round
2. Ty Simpson, Alabama: First round
3. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana: First round
4. Arch Manning, Texas: First round
5. Carson Beck, Miami: Second round
6. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU: Second/Third round
7. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina: Second/Third round
"It is difficult to judge it fairly until we know who will be included in it," Rang said about the upcoming QB draft class. "The underclassmen are legitimately talented but are severely lacking in starting experience and — in the case of Moore and Simpson — are surrounded by a lot of talent, complicating their projection to the pros.
"Simply put, there is not a slam-dunk franchise quarterback in this class. Even the most gifted are likely to struggle if asked to play immediately in the NFL. I envision the earliest picks performing similarly as Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart so far in 2025 -- providing enough flash plays to excite the fan base — but ultimately failing to generate many wins as a rookie."
"It’s subpar for top-ranked QBs," the scout told me. "Some don’t have the necessary college career snaps. Arch needs to play and not just be anointed."
The scout went on to say players like Oregon’s Moore and Manning should consider staying in school to get more reps and seasoning. While players like Mendoza and Simpson have shown they are ready to make the leap to the NFL.
"I don’t think Moore comes out since he’d be leaving a lot of money on the table at school and a chance to further develop as a younger prospect," the scout told me. "He has all the traits, but just needs time to become a better, more consistent processor.
"The NFL doesn’t really develop QBs anymore, and you can’t grow unless you play. He can get paid and develop in college. Mendoza is very ready. Simpson will be very much in the conversation on Day 1 and Day 2. Beck is ready. So is Nussmeier, but I think teams will want to think about getting them at lower picks than in Round 1 and 2 once we get through the entire process. [Drew] Allar would be a futures QB."
amp.foxsports.com
The calendar just turned to December. But for a handful of NFL fanbases, draft season has already arrived.
However, unlike many other NFL Drafts, there isn't a clear and consensus No. 1 overall prospect as the college football season winds down. That might be a problem for the number of teams that'll need some quarterback help this offseason, as they debate whether to use a first-round pick on a quarterback in April or kick the can down another year. But with conference championship weekend here and the College Football Playoff on the horizon, there's still time for a quarterback to rise up and deem themselves as the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Which quarterback currently sits as the most likely to be picked first next April? Who could rise up draft boards? How do people around the NFL feel about the quarterbacks that could be selected in the 2026 draft?
FOX Sports NFL reporters Ralph Vacchianoand Eric D. Williams surveyed the league and got the answers to those questions.
College scout: QBs in ‘26 draft class were "overhyped" from the start
Ralph Vacchiano: There was a time last spring when NFL teams (and fans) looked ahead to the 2026 draft and saw the potential for quarterback gold. Even a few teams seemed to punt on the shallow Class of 2025 in the hopes of better options in a deeper class one year later.But now that appears to have been a losing bet. A quarterback class that was once thought to include maybe a half-dozen potential first-rounders might only end up with two or three. Former sure things like Arch Manning (Texas), Garrett Nussmeier(LSU), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), Carson Beck (Miami), Drew Allar (Penn State) and Cade Klubnick (Clemson) all seem to have faded due to injuries, disappointing performances or, in some cases, both.
And yes, some quarterbacks have risen to take their places. But not many. And the hype just isn’t the same.
"I think this quarterback class was overhyped by the media from the start, and I think a lot of it had to do with Arch Manning," a college scout for an NFC team recently told me. "He’s a huge name, so it’s understandable, but I think most of us were pretty sure he wasn’t coming out this year. And the rest of the class was promising, but there were a lot of questions.
"It was never the slam-dunk, five-deep, franchise class that it was made out to be."
Maybe that’s true. It certainly wasn’t expected to match the Class of 2024 that saw six quarterbacks in the Top 12 picks, including the top three (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye). But it was definitely expected to be far superior to the Class of 2025, which included only Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart as first-rounders.
The Class of 2026 probably will end up with at least two first-round quarterbacks, given the number of teams that desperately need one, but the quality and the potential of the prospects aren’t very clear.
"I’m not sure I see a franchise quarterback in this group," an NFL scouting director told me. "Maybe one, but even that could be a stretch. It’s nothing like the class of 2024 when it was easy to see four or five. I’m not even sure it’s as good as last year’s group yet."
Added the NFC scout: "I’m glad my team doesn’t need one this year, because I don’t think I could find one."
Maybe that’s true. It certainly wasn’t expected to match the Class of 2024 that saw six quarterbacks in the Top 12 picks, including the top three (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye). But it was definitely expected to be far superior to the Class of 2025, which included only Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart as first-rounders.
The Class of 2026 probably will end up with at least two first-round quarterbacks, given the number of teams that desperately need one, but the quality and the potential of the prospects aren’t very clear.
"I’m not sure I see a franchise quarterback in this group," an NFL scouting director told me. "Maybe one, but even that could be a stretch. It’s nothing like the class of 2024 when it was easy to see four or five. I’m not even sure it’s as good as last year’s group yet."
Added the NFC scout: "I’m glad my team doesn’t need one this year, because I don’t think I could find one."
***
Scouts, execs: There might be only 1 QB worth using a top-10 pick on in 2026
Vacchiano: So, who's No. 1, at least among the quarterbacks in the 2026 class?It is an important question because several teams currently expected to pick near the top of the draft appear to desperately need a new quarterback. The Las Vegas Raiders(currently picking 4th), Cleveland Browns(5th), New York Jets (7th) and Arizona Cardinals (8th) all seem to fall into that group.
So, is there anyone that a quarterback-needy team should consider with a top-10 pick?
I asked three scouts and two NFL executives that question, and the current consensus is that there's probably only one, maybe two, worthy of that high of a selection. All five mentioned Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza as a likely top-10 pick. Two added Oregon’s Dante Moore.
"He’s certainly got the size you want (6-5, 225). He’s smart and makes most of the right reads. He seems steady and calm in the pocket and poised under pressure," a college scout for an AFC team told me. "I’d put him in the good, but not great category, but he‘s probably the best that will come out. I just don’t get a ‘star’ feel from him, but I’m intrigued enough where I’d consider him."
Moore, meanwhile, might need some time to develop, but is really talented, a college scout for an NFC team told me.
"If I were him, I’d go back to school for a year. He’s still really young (20), but he’s got terrific dual-threat skills," a college scout for an NFC team told me. "I think with a little more development, he could be a star. But there‘s enough talent there where if my team needed a quarterback this year, I‘d grab him. I‘d just want him to sit behind a veteran for a year."
One scout said he could see a scenario where South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers goes in the first round, maybe even as a top 10 pick in the right situation, too. But he conceded that picking Sellers that high could be "a bit out of desperation."
Sellers was one of the reasons why this quarterback class was so overhyped, the scout said, but he ended up having a very disappointing year in which his accuracy issues didn’t improve.
"If you’ve been scouting him for a while, though, I could see where someone could be sold on his potential," the scout told me. "His performance is a bit alarming. But a team that doesn’t have a franchise quarterback might feel pressured to take the risk."
"If he doesn’t stay in school, or maybe transfer — which might be best for him," added an NFL executive, "I bet someone falls in love with him at the combine."
How one draft expert ranks the 2026 QBs
Eric D. Williams: The consensus from scouts and league executives I spoke with is that the 2026 quarterback draft class is not as deep as in 2024, when six quarterbacks went in the first 12 picks, and more like the QB class from 2025.FOX Sports NFL Draft analyst Rob Ranghad three quarterbacks selected in the first round of his latest mock draft, with Mendoza, Beck and Nussmeier all being top-24 picks.
But more than a month has gone by since Rang's last mock draft. So, how does Rang view the quarterback class now? Here’s how Rang has the quarterbacks ranked at this point in the draft evaluation, with a little over four months until draft night.
1. Dante Moore, Oregon: First round
2. Ty Simpson, Alabama: First round
3. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana: First round
4. Arch Manning, Texas: First round
5. Carson Beck, Miami: Second round
6. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU: Second/Third round
7. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina: Second/Third round
"It is difficult to judge it fairly until we know who will be included in it," Rang said about the upcoming QB draft class. "The underclassmen are legitimately talented but are severely lacking in starting experience and — in the case of Moore and Simpson — are surrounded by a lot of talent, complicating their projection to the pros.
"Simply put, there is not a slam-dunk franchise quarterback in this class. Even the most gifted are likely to struggle if asked to play immediately in the NFL. I envision the earliest picks performing similarly as Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart so far in 2025 -- providing enough flash plays to excite the fan base — but ultimately failing to generate many wins as a rookie."
Scout: Dante Moore, Arch Manning should wait to declare, but a few other QBs are NFL-ready
Williams: A longtime NFL national college scout intimately familiar with the quarterback evaluation process agreed with Rang’s assessment — there is not a can’t-miss prospect this year."It’s subpar for top-ranked QBs," the scout told me. "Some don’t have the necessary college career snaps. Arch needs to play and not just be anointed."
The scout went on to say players like Oregon’s Moore and Manning should consider staying in school to get more reps and seasoning. While players like Mendoza and Simpson have shown they are ready to make the leap to the NFL.
"I don’t think Moore comes out since he’d be leaving a lot of money on the table at school and a chance to further develop as a younger prospect," the scout told me. "He has all the traits, but just needs time to become a better, more consistent processor.
"The NFL doesn’t really develop QBs anymore, and you can’t grow unless you play. He can get paid and develop in college. Mendoza is very ready. Simpson will be very much in the conversation on Day 1 and Day 2. Beck is ready. So is Nussmeier, but I think teams will want to think about getting them at lower picks than in Round 1 and 2 once we get through the entire process. [Drew] Allar would be a futures QB."
NFL Confidential: Scouts, Execs Not Too High on QBs in 2026 NFL Draft | Fox Sports
Who is QB1 in the 2026 NFL Draft? How should they be ranked? We asked NFL execs and scouts those questions.
That would be Southwest Airlines.
You're not yourself when you're hungry is snickers.
Yeah, I'm that guy.
I went to the play "Mama Mia". I know I know - the play didn't actually have any of the ABBA performers.
I still kick myself for not going to any of their concerts.... heard they were great. I was too much of a bullet headed metal fan.... though I did go to Prince's Purple Rain tour.
Still, it wasn't a bad play. However, the movie made the mistake of having Remington Steele as one of the fathers. He can't sing.
He is right that this class was overhyped. But what he misses is that every class is overhyped two years out due to hopefulness of the options developing. They are looked at in that two year window in a best-case light with high expectation.
Same thing is being done right now. But some of them may go the route of Sellers and not develop. And you are then left with diagnosing the how and why it occurred with each player, and predicting where their future lies if those elements change.
So this always comes down to your ability to project. You are in essence betting on the player with the QBs because who they need to be at the NFL level is a long fucking road away from who they are when they are drafted. Whereas with players at other positions there is going to be a lot less projection.
I wouldn't take Sellers early round 1. His film is really rough. So unless you absolutely love the kid in the whiteboard and interviews, it's best to take him closer to where he will end up on your board. Which is going to be round two range. However with QB it is wise to take them late round one if you believe they will develop, because the 5th year option is enormously valuable. So if McVay loves the kid and jives with him in the whiteboard sessions I could see the Rams taking him with the last pick of the first round and redshirting his ass. And this all assumes, of course, that he comes out. As I mentioned prior if I were his agent I'd be pushing him to use the portal and hook up with a program that will protect him up front and provide good quality weapons to throw to.
The single biggest problem with this class is the preponderance of short fucking QBs. Waiting for them to measure in, so some of this is assumption. But it feels like a lot of these guys are going to be under that limiting height range for the position at the NFL level. And that means most of them are gonna be QB2s at best, statistically speaking. Also I will say again that I expect the minimum height for the NFL in the future is probably going to prove to be taller than 6'2" due to the height of the linemen. Used to be your interior dudes were shorter and that benefitted the QB seeing, with the monsters on the edge having that reach and ranginess. But now there are a ton of very tall interior OL. So if you are 6'2" or 6'1" you're doing the same thing, which is seeing the field between their shoulders.
Still when you look at the list of top QBs it is rare for the shorter QBs to excel. Guys like Brees are a rarity. Now we could say that McVay is smart enough to utilize a shorter QB. But he's going to be limited at some point. So for this reason I tend to use that height range (below 6'2") to indicate that most likely that player is a backup at this level.
I disagree with the idea that there’s no clear cut 1. Mendoza will be that guy. QBs go at the top. Especially without some rare non QB prospect like we have with this group this year.
If Moore comes out, there is a chance someone falls for him and prefers him over Mendoza. More likely he goes somewhere in top 3-5 (if he comes out). But if it happened, then, it’ll be 1 & 2 (Mendoza 2). That’s the NFL these days.
If Moore comes out, there is a chance someone falls for him and prefers him over Mendoza. More likely he goes somewhere in top 3-5 (if he comes out). But if it happened, then, it’ll be 1 & 2 (Mendoza 2). That’s the NFL these days.