Raiders, Rams Advised Not to Sign Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson by Ex-Scout

Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson are two of four rookie quarterbacks who haven't signed a contract with their respective NFL teams.

Raiders, Rams Advised Not to Sign Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson by Ex-Scout

Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson (Image via IMAGO)

A former scout is urging the Raiders and the Rams to avoid signing rookie quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson. From his perspective, Mendoza and Simpson are not first-round prospects, and both teams made a mistake by drafting them.

Simpson registered an 11-4 record with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He completed 64.5% of his passes for 3567 yards, threw 28 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.

Mendoza went unbeaten in his final college year. He led the Indiana Hoosiers to a maiden CFP final victory and became the first player in the school’s history to win the Heisman Trophy.

The Raiders selected Mendoza first overall, while the Rams shocked everyone by taking Simpson 13th overall. According to NBC Sports, Mendoza and Simpson remain the only two first-round draft picks yet to sign their rookie contracts.

Daniel Kelly, a former New York Jets scout, or better known by his Twitter name, the First Round Mock, warned both the Raiders and the Rams not to sign Mendoza and Simpson.

I recommend that the Raiders and Rams DO NOT sign Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson to their rookie deals. Save the money. Both were overhyped. Mendoza was a 4th round NFL value on his 2025 Indiana game film. Simpson was a NFL 3rd round value on his 2025 Alabama game film. Both of their careers have been framed with expectations they can’t meet since they both were overdrafted in the 1st round. Both are busts. Both have confirmed in OTAs that they are going to struggle in the NFL.

Kelly tweeted
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Matthew Stafford, the reigning NFL MVP, is the Rams’ undisputed QB1. All the chaos is about who will be Stafford’s backup in 2026.

Raiders, Rams Advised Not to Sign Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson by Ex-Scout
Ty Simpson (Image via IMAGO)

Simpson doesn’t have a clear shot at winning the QB2 position as he has to outperform Stetson Bennett IV. Bennett has been learning Sean McVay’s system for the past three years and could get the nod even though multiple outlets say he’s equal to Simpson, if not better.

Veteran NFL insider Jason La Canfora believes that McVay already knows the outcome of the QB battle and is choosing to keep it a secret.

The Rams face an incredibly daunting schedule overall, and this team is in Super-Bowl-or-bust mode… Which means that veteran backup Stetson Bennett, with years of experience in Sean McVay’s offense and who saw lots of reps in the past offseason when league MVP Matthew Stafford was battling injuries, could still emerge as their No. 2 quarterback this season.

La Canfora wrote

Bennett, a former fourth-round pick, has yet to attempt a single pass in the NFL. But he should be more familiar with McVay’s system by now. Unless Simpson outright surpasses Bennett during training camp, the former Georgia man should bag the backup job behind Stafford.

The Rams open the regular season with a matchup against the rival San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia (the first NFL game Down Under). Following the week two fixture at home against the New York Giants, the Rams have back-to-back away games.

As the Rams reached the NFC title game last season, the league has given them a daunting schedule. The combined win record of their opponent is 148-139-2, or 0.516. Despite that, the Rams have the best odds (+550) to win the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium in February.

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