Mel Kiper Jr. offers passionate response to Dan Orlovsky, Mike Tannenbaum about Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson draft take

Former NFL quarterback and current analyst Dan Orlovsky generated plenty of headlines when he said on Monday that he believes Alabama Crimson Tide star Ty Simpson and not Indiana Hoosiers signal-caller Fernando Mendoza "is the best quarterback" in this year's draft class. 

Later, former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum suggested that some teams around the league agree with Orlovsky's assessment. During Tuesday's edition of ESPN's "Get Up" program, well-known draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. was asked if he had heard similar to Tannenbaum about Simpson and Mendoza. 

Mel Kiper Jr. seems to think there's a clear QB1 in 2026 draft class

"Yeah, that's not shared by anybody I've spoken to," Kiper directly said. 

Kiper, fellow ESPN personality Field Yates and The Ringer's Todd McShay are among those who are convinced that the Las Vegas Raiders will make Mendoza and not Simpson the first overall pick of the draft on the night of April 23. On Tuesday, Kiper reiterated that Mendoza is the top overall prospect on his board. Kiper has Simpson 25th on that list. 

Orlovsky previously said that the perceived "gap" that separates Mendoza and Simpson is not "justified." Kiper spoke about that subject during Tuesday's show segment. 

Why Mel Kiper Jr. thinks there is a big gap between Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson

"Mendoza is nearly four inches taller than Ty Simpson," Kiper explained. "25 pounds heavier. 35 starts compared to 15, which is a risky, dangerous number for Ty. Now you think about 72 percent completion percentage to 64 (percent), right? Seven rushing touchdowns to two. And the fact that he had five fumbles over a seven-game period, Ty Simpson, five fumbles lost, six total for the year." 

Kiper added that "all the check marks that you go across the board go to Mendoza over Simpson." 

On Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter poured cold water over some previous takes when he said he is "confident" Simpson will be a first-round draft pick. If Orlovsky is at least more right than wrong about the players, whichever club acquires Simpson could eventually take some victory laps about landing the steal of this year's draft.