Overview
- Dan Orlovsky doubled down on his view that Alabama’s Ty Simpson is the 2026 draft’s top quarterback and said multiple NFL decision-makers agreed during a Tuesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
- Pat McAfee pressed him by citing Fernando Mendoza’s College Football Playoff run, and Orlovsky’s “what biggest games” retort and a wrong claim about the Big Ten title game score drew immediate fact checks.
- Coverage pointed to the Rose Bowl head-to-head, where Indiana routed Alabama 38-3 as Mendoza threw three touchdowns and Simpson exited with a rib injury after a 67-yard first half.
- ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. pushed back on talk that teams favor Simpson, keeping Mendoza No. 1 on his board and citing Mendoza’s size, 35 starts, higher completion rate, and ball security.
- Questions about shared representation with agency CAA surfaced, which Orlovsky denied influenced his stance, and in Las Vegas the expectation remains Mendoza goes first as RB Ashton Jeanty said the locker room will back whichever quarterback the Raiders draft.