If the Steelers are going to make the 2026 NFL draft their next big shot at finding a franchise quarterback, they’ll need to keep a close watch on the potential quarterback class and how several different prospects develop. Throughout this season, we’ll keep tabs on the players who project to be part of the 2026 class and how they look week to week.

The following rankings reflect our projections of where each prospect would rank if they enter the 2026 NFL draft:

1. Fernando Mendoza (Last week: No. 1)

Indiana, redshirt junior, 6-foot-5, 225 pounds

Week 12: 31-7 win vs. Wisconsin; 22-24, 299 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT, 5 sacks, 6 carries, -24 rushing yards, 0 rushing TD

Season: 11-0 record, 203 of 278, 2,641 yards, 30 TDs, 5 INTs, 15 sacks, 62 carries, 216 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs

Mendoza

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