ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller ranked Fernando Mendoza among first-round quarterbacks from 2021-2025 based on predraft evaluations. The Indiana transfer, who led the Hoosiers to their first national championship and won the Heisman Trophy, is projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Miller polled NFL scouts and decision-makers to stack 18 quarterbacks as if they were in the same draft class.

Caleb Williams tops the list after being selected No. 1 by the Chicago Bears in 2024. Despite concerns about his accuracy, Williams threw for 3,942 yards and led the Bears to the divisional round of the playoffs in 2025. Trevor Lawrence ranks second, having been the 2021 No. 1 pick by Jacksonville and throwing for 4,007 yards with 29 touchdowns in 2025. Jayden Daniels, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, placed third after his historic debut season with Washington.

Drake Maye (2024 No. 3 pick) and Bryce Young (2023 No. 1 pick) round out the top five, with Maye finishing second in MVP voting in 2025. Miller's rankings consider only predraft grades, not pro performance. Mendoza's position on the list remains undisclosed, though his 2025 season suggests he could rank among the elite prospects of the past five years.