Mendoza, Simpson or Beck: Which Rookie Will Start the Most Games in 2026?
Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, and Carson Beck, three rookie quarterbacks drafted by NFL teams, are expected to begin their careers with varying timelines for starting roles. Mendoza and Beck are projected to become full-time starters by 2026, while Simpson is likely to start only if Matthew Stafford retires or suffers an injury. The article predicts Mendoza will start the most games among the three in 2026.
- ▪Fernando Mendoza is expected to start 15 games in 2026, the most among the three rookies.
- ▪Carson Beck is projected to start 12 games in 2026, assuming he secures the starting role for the Arizona Cardinals.
- ▪Ty Simpson is likely to start only one game in 2026, pending an injury to Matthew Stafford or a late-season appearance.
- ▪The Las Vegas Raiders are investing their future in Mendoza, while the Cardinals may move on from Beck if they secure a high draft pick in 2027.
- ▪Mendoza and Beck are both expected to be starters by 2027, but Mendoza is predicted to start first.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
By Tyler ErzbergerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.When you look back at NFL Drafts, often the first three quarterbacks taken are grouped together forever, consistently compared with one another until the end of their careers.A decade ago, those three were Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, and Dak Prescott. While Wentz burned bright and fast, Goff and Prescott are still two of the most consistent signal-callers in football.Now, Fernando Mendoza (Las Vegas Raiders), Ty Simpson (Los Angeles Rams), and Carson Beck (Arizona Cardinals) will be linked throughout their careers.But heading into 2026, which of the three will start the most games?More news: Rams Asked Ty…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Newsweek.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Newsweek
