Senior Bowl QBs Vie for NFL Attention

Prospects Aim to Impress Scouts at Annual All-Star Game

Jan. 30, 2026 at 6:15pm

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As the NFL Draft approaches, a group of top quarterback prospects have gathered at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama to showcase their skills in front of league scouts. While Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to be the first QB selected, players like Diego Pavia, Garrett Nussmeier, Taylen Green, and others are looking to make a name for themselves and improve their draft stock.

Why it matters

The Senior Bowl provides a valuable opportunity for NFL teams to evaluate top college talent up close. While Mendoza may be the consensus top QB, a strong performance in Mobile could help elevate the draft stock of some of the other signal-callers in attendance and potentially shake up the early rounds of the draft.

The details

Among the top QB prospects at the Senior Bowl are Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt, Garrett Nussmeier of LSU, Taylen Green of Arkansas, Luke Altmyer of Illinois, Cole Payton of North Dakota State, and Sawyer Robertson of Baylor. Pavia, the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, has drawn praise for his leadership and winning pedigree, though his smaller stature at 5'10" may raise questions about his NFL potential. Nussmeier, the son of Saints OC Doug Nussmeier, is looking to build on an up-and-down season at LSU. Green, a transfer from Boise State, has the physical tools but is still a work in progress. The other QBs in attendance are also hoping to use the Senior Bowl to boost their draft stock.

  • The 2026 Senior Bowl is taking place this Saturday, January 30th in Mobile, Alabama.

The players

Diego Pavia

The Vanderbilt quarterback led the Commodores to a 10-win season, finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, and was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year and a second-team All-American.

Garrett Nussmeier

The LSU quarterback is the son of New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, who also played in the Senior Bowl 30 years ago.

Taylen Green

The Arkansas quarterback transferred from Boise State and is a physical specimen at 6'6" with a nearly 7-foot wingspan, but is still a work in progress.

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What they’re saying

“I want to be myself, self-made.”

— Diego Pavia

“He's a winner, I mean, he's got that. He's got that A-type personality. I mean, when he walks in the room you know he's a leader.”

— Drew Fabianich, Senior Bowl Executive Director

“Just my processing, being able to command the huddle, an NFL-type offense. And just to improve, I can throw the ball and be versatile in that. Also run it, just be a true dual-threat quarterback.”

— Taylen Green

What’s next

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in April, where these Senior Bowl participants will look to hear their names called and begin their professional careers.

The takeaway

While Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to be the first quarterback selected in the upcoming NFL Draft, the Senior Bowl provides a valuable platform for other signal-callers to showcase their skills and potentially improve their draft stock. The performance of these prospects in Mobile could have a significant impact on how the early rounds of the draft unfold.