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Rookie QBs Redshirted: NFL Draft Class Stays on Sidelines
28 Oct
Summary
- Ten quarterbacks drafted in 2026 have not started a game yet.
- Jalon Daniels is the only rookie QB to start, filling in due to injury.
- Fernando Mendoza may become the first No. 1 QB to start fewer than half his games since 2016.
In the 2026 NFL season, the highly touted rookie quarterback class is largely remaining on the sidelines, with none of the ten drafted signal-callers having started a game through Week 7.
The only exception is Buccaneers' Jalon Daniels, an undrafted player who started three games due to an injury to Baker Mayfield. This lack of playing time for top prospects like Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders' No. 1 overall pick, prompts discussion about the current development philosophies for young quarterbacks.
Mendoza is on pace to become the first top overall quarterback to start fewer than half his team's games as a rookie since Jared Goff in 2016. While some teams are prioritizing veteran stability, others are facing pressure to evaluate their future at the position.
Several other drafted quarterbacks, including Carson Beck (Cardinals), Cade Klubnik (Jets), and Cole Payton (Eagles), are nearing potential opportunities to showcase their abilities in the latter half of the season, as their teams consider long-term solutions.
