The Best NFL Team Fits for 2026 Rookie QBs! NFL Draft Podcast EP. 16

Jagger May and Andrew Mott break down best NFL fits for the 2026 rookie quarterback class, starting with the easiest call on the board and then working through a tier of prospects where development path matters more than immediate upside. They land on a clear QB1 destination, debate the most polarizing “where should he go?” fit, and round out the show with Day 3-style swings that need patience, structure, and the right staff to have any chance of becoming more than backups.

They kick off with Fernando Mendoza and make it simple. The Raiders are the best fit, and it is not close. They like the structure around him, the offensive environment, and how clean the transition feels from a roster-building standpoint. If there is one quarterback spot that feels locked in before draft night, this is the one.

From there, the conversation shifts into “who can actually develop” territory. Garrett Nussmeier gets framed as a top-three quarterback in the class, with a preferred fit that allows him to sit and grow rather than getting forced onto the field too early. The show also spends time on the biggest fit debate of the episode with Ty Simpson, with Andrew pushing the Rams as the ideal landing spot for a year or two of development behind a veteran, while Jagger defends a more aggressive “teams will trade and take their guy” view of how the first round can unfold.

They also place Carson Beck in the bridge-quarterback lane, and talk through why the right coaching environment could matter more than raw traits for Drew Allar, Cole Payton, Taylen Green, Cade Klubnik, and Diego Pavia, where the realistic goal is often “earn a roster spot and get time to develop” before anything else.

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00:17 Fernando Mendoza

02:11 Garrett Nussmeier

09:03 Join the #NERDHERD

10:07 Ty Simpson

17:10 Carson Beck

21:28 Drew Allar

26:24 Cole Payton

30:15 Taylen Green

34:31 Cade Klubnik

37:04 Diego Pavia

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