Worrying OTA trend has given NFL teams ‘buyer’s remorse’ amid first round quarterback question marks
A former NFL scout believes two teams have ‘buyer’s remorse’ over their first-round picks.
Two months on from the 2026 draft, a couple of big-name rookies remain unsigned.
Fernando Mendoza, the first overall pick, is yet to put pen to paper on his Las Vegas Raiders contract.
Alabama prospect Ty Simpson also remains unsigned by the Los Angeles Rams.
While one NFL agent has claimed the signing bonus schedule could be holding up both deals, ex-scout Daniel Kelly has suggested something more sinister could be at play.
Raiders and Rams have ‘buyer’s remorse’ over NFL Draft
The self-proclaimed draft analyst, who had a stint on the New York Jets staff, has claimed he’s heard whispers that Mendoza looked like a ‘raw developmental project’ in offseason practice.
“I think the Raiders and the Rams are having ‘buyer’s remorse’ with Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson,” Kelly, who runs the ‘First Round Mock’ X account, wrote.
“This is why I believe they remain unsigned.
“Some of the things I hear and read coming out of Raiders OTAs make Mendoza sound like a joke.
“They make him sound like some sort of raw developmental project.
“Reportedly, he’s running mostly with the 2’s and 3’s (struggled with the 1s), and he’s learning how to take snaps under center — something most children learn how to do when they first start playing quarterback.
“At this point, they are preaching ‘patience,’ which is the diplomatic way of handling it.”
Kelly added that Rams head coach Sean McVay had already made his feelings clear on Simpson, in clips that went viral from draft night.
He continued: “Sean McVay did not look or sound like he was on board at all with the Simpson pick when they showed his initial unrehearsed reaction.
“The Rams are built to win now.
“I can’t imagine internal excitement about the prospect of a rookie quarterback being the backup and putting their 2026 chances in the hands of a rookie if Matthew Stafford gets injured, and I can’t imagine a team wanting to pay big money to a third string quarterback.”
Kelly’s suggestion, in reality, feels far-fetched.
The Raiders made Mendoza the No.1 pick, and in the buildup to the 2026 draft, stressed they had done months of work on the quarterback who many assumed was a lock.
Las Vegas views the Heisman Trophy winner as a future franchise signal caller, even if he doesn’t start Week 1 of his rookie season.
Veteran Kirk Cousins has also joined the quarterback room, and could keep the ship steady until the team believe Mendoza is in the best spot to play.
The Rams, similarly, would not have selected Simpson on a whim at No.13 — and certainly not without McVay’s input.
Los Angeles became the first team to have a quarterback win MVP then select a signal caller in the first round of the subsequent draft since way back in 1967.
It was a massive moment, and one that would have been thoroughly thought through.
Regardless of the whispers around how ‘raw’ Mendoza might be in Raiders practice, the expectation is that he will soon put pen to paper on his four-year, $57.27 million deal.
Simpson will no doubt do the same with the Rams.
Stay up to date on all things NFL across our talkSPORT platforms – subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest news, opinion, exclusive interviews and our daily unfiltered, unscripted show ‘The S* Word, from 8am ET.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
