This is the first of our prospect position-by-position preview series for the Detroit Lions heading into the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, which kicks off next week in Indianapolis. Today: Quarterbacks

Need?

No, not really.

Jared Goff is entrenched as the franchise quarterback, which isn’t changing (nor should it) anytime soon. Kyle Allen served the entire season as QB2, and you didn’t hear about him after training camp ended — and that’s a good thing, especially after the Hendon Hooker debacle for two years.

Allen is a pending free agent and needs a new contract to stick around. Veteran journeyman C.J. Beathard is a free agent after spending most of the season on the team’s practice squad, too.

The Lions could keep their eyes on a late-round developmental or undrafted signing option at quarterback. But there is nothing wrong with going into camp with Allen as the expected QB2 and pairing him with an undrafted or late-round rookie. Allen convincingly beat Hooker for the job in the preseason and camp last year. He’s played in multiple offenses, has started games in the league and just spent a year working with Goff in Detroit’s quarterback room. If Goff is comfortable with Allen as his QB2, and it seemed like he was, then you should be too.

That said, it’s understandable to keep eyes on sleepers and late-round fits at the game’s most premium position. If the Lions feel they can take a cheap flier on a quarterback to develop them into the primary backup, then swing away. Just don’t do it in the third round with a top-100 pick as they did a couple of years ago with Hooker.

Top Prospects:

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

After leading the Hoosiers to an undefeated national title, conference championship and winning the Heisman trophy, Fernando Mendoza is set to be the first overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. It would be shocking if he weren’t the man for the job, especially with this year’s quarterback class.

Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Whew, Dante Moore returning to Oregon for another year sure changed the outlook at the top of this year’s quarterback class. Ty Simpson should send Moore a fruit basket for likely clinching his status as a first-rounder and the second quarterback taken post-Mendoza. Simpson started only 15 games at Alabama, which makes for a really interesting two-month discussion around NFL circles. He had 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in his lone season as a full-time starter.

That said, neither of these top names is worth another word over when it comes to the Lions, so let’s get into potential fits and sleepers to watch.

Potential Lions Fits:

Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas

Jalon Daniels spent six seasons with the Jayhawks, mainly serving as the starter whenever he wasn’t banged up or out due to injury. The 6-foot, 203-pound quarterback is a dual-threat option, no doubt. But he threw the ball more this past season than he had before, with career-best marks in passing yards (2,531) and passing touchdowns (22). He burst onto the scene as a passer with an impressive nine-game showing in 2022. But it’s been an up-and-down ride ever since then. Daniels ran for 404 yards and four touchdowns this past season. When he was healthy, he was a good bet for at least 400 yards and around five touchdowns per season as a rusher for the Jayhawks.

Honestly, I’d go for one of the UDFA names over using a pick on an inconsistent passer and undersized quarterback like Daniels here.

Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas

Taylen Green is one of those quarterbacks who is hard to miss. He’s a 6-foot-6, 215-pound playmaker who can beat you through the air or on the ground. Green spent three seasons at Boise State before finishing his collegiate career with two years at Arkansas. Green had some big games for the Razorbacks this past season. But he was wildly inconsistent at times and got banged up down the stretch. Green still threw a career-high 19 touchdowns in 2025. However, his passing yards per game dropped from 242 to 226 yards, as he continued to complete about 60% of his throws.

Green is a heck of a runner who is hard to take down at his size. He ran for 35 touchdowns over the previous four seasons, including eight scores with a career-high 777 yards on the ground this past campaign. Green’s size, experience and what he could bring as a dual-threat late-round playmaker make him worth the attention, even for the Lions, who do not need to get aggressive for a backup. It’s just when talking about a late-round quarterback, the ones with size, experience and physical traits from a big SEC program make the most sense.

Sleepers to Watch:

Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State

Cole Payton is the latest Bison quarterback to get some attention ahead of the draft. The 6-foot-4, 233-pound senior quarterback was a first-time starter under center this past season, leading North Dakota State to a 12-1 record before losing in the FCS playoffs. Payton had 777 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns to go with 16 passing touchdowns and only four interceptions. He has a ton of experience as a rusher, so this would be a big project situation.

Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt

Diego Pavia makes me go back and forth, wondering if Dan Campbell would love coaching this guy or if he would tire of the act pretty quickly. Say what you will, but what Pavia accomplished on the field at Vanderbilt of all places was wildly impressive. Pavia is just such an undersized prospect who was already punching above his weight class in the SEC. The on-field results and winning ways are hard to ignore. But it’s hard to look at Pavia as anything more than a camp body with a ton of outside attention.

Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech

Every time I watched a Georgia Tech game for a moment this year, Haynes King was doing something wild, dragging defenders or playing through injury. King is a supremely tough, battle-tested quarterback. But he’s a borderline draftable player, and would make a ton of sense as a priority UDFA.

King is an impressive athlete who would bring a dual-threat element along with him. The six-year college player who spent three years apiece at Texas A&M and Georgia Tech threw for a career-best 27 touchdowns back in 2023. He finished 10th in the Heisman voting this past season. King might have had only 14 passing touchdowns. But he added 953 yards and another 15 scores on the ground. Through three years at Georgia Tech, King compiled 36 rushing touchdowns. If you don’t have to use a pick on him, then why not give him or someone like him a shot in camp and feel good about Allen winning the QB2 job as the likeliest outcome?