Three options at QB if Saints retain No. 1 overall pick

By Ross Jackson

The path for rookie quarterback Tyler Shough to land the starting job in 2025 is now clear. The New Orleans Saints have appointed him the quarterback for the team’s Week 9 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, but it’s no mystery that the intent is for him to perform well enough to hold the job for the remaining nine games of the season. 

Beating three key opponents down the stretch could help to solidify the rookie’s chances for next year. But if things don’t pan out, New Orleans could find themselves back in the quarterback market with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Should that happen, while the 2026 crop of signal callers may have turned into a disappointing one, there are some intriguing options at the top of the draft. 

With names like Texas quarterback Arch Manning and LSU passer Garrett Nussmeier currently being considered later-first or non-first round picks through college football’s season so far, new names have leapt to the top of the passer pool. 

Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza

Mendoza is the  clear-cut No. 1 overall selection for now until the “Pre-Draft Industrial Complex” gets a hold of the conversation. He has NFL size at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds. He has a live arm and moves very well, has strong leadership qualities and hails from a pro-style offense run by one of college football’s best head coaches in Curt Cignetti. 

Mendoza has so far thrown for 1,923 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns and just three interceptions. He’s completed 72.9% of his passes this year. 

Oregon QB Dante Moore

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning isn’t the only Duck with the potential to end up in Louisiana, as the flashy but consistent Moore is an intriguing prospect himself. Having completed 71.9% of his passes through the 2025 season thus far for 19 passing touchdowns and just four interceptions, Moore has shown a propensity for good decision making and precision in the passing game. 

He has plus movement ability in the pocket and can easily extend plays. The question is whether or not the wide-open college scheme he plays in will allow for a quick enough adjustment to the NFL. With a limited amount of time on task as a starter in his career, it’ll take a strong showing to close out 2025 before he challenges at QB1 in the class, but he’s currently the No. 2 guy behind Mendoza. 

South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers

While the biggest names of the 2026 class have underwhelmed thus far, the upside around Sellers could wind up being too enticing to pass up on for some teams. Sellers may be a better fit for a different team with the No. 1 overall selection, but the way he can impact the game in many ways could be seen as one of those “super powers” head coach Kellen Moore used to often discuss. 

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound dual-threat passer isn’t blowing people away with his stats so far this season. He’s thrown just six passing touchdowns to three interceptions so far this season, adding a pair of rushing touchdowns. But his recent, resilient performance against Alabama is going to re-ignite the conversations of his ceiling. That could be enough to push him over the top for some teams come the draft.