The 2026 NFL season features fewer anticipated rookie quarterback matchups due to a thinner draft class. Notably, Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford may overshadow first-round picks Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson in their teams' matchup.
Key points
2026 NFL season features fewer rookie quarterback matchups
Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford may overshadow rookies
Thatâs not too bad, considering Stafford is the reigning MVP and Cousins has had a good career too. But when the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams meet, Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson might both remain on their sidelines all game. Mendoza will probably start the season behind Cousins, who got $20 million to let Mendoza sit and learn for however long the Raiders decide is prudent. Mendoza probably will start games at some point this season. That might not be the case for Simpson, who wonât see the field for the Rams if Stafford stays healthy.
The Rams-Raiders matchup likely not featuring both first-round quarterbacks represents what is an unusual season for rookies. The 2026 NFL Draft class was viewed as thinner than most classes. Therefore, there wonât be a ton of high-profile rookie showdowns during the season, which is usually a highlight of the NFLâs regular-season schedule.
But there will be a few fun rookie vs. rookie battles that will be worth tuning in for. Here are the best rookie spotlight games on the schedule.
Seahawks vs. Cardinals: RB Jeremiyah Love vs. Jadarian Price
Two running backs went in the first round, and no other back went until late in the third round. And the only two backs to go in the first 89 picks of the draft were college teammates.
Q&A
What are the key rookie quarterback matchups in the 2026 NFL season?
The 2026 NFL season has fewer key rookie quarterback matchups, with notable games featuring Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford instead of first-round picks Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson.
Why are there fewer high-profile rookie showdowns in the 2026 NFL season?
The 2026 NFL Draft class is considered thinner than usual, resulting in fewer standout rookie matchups during the regular season.
Who are the first-round quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The first-round quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft include Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson.
What teams do Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford play for in the 2026 NFL season?
Kirk Cousins plays for the Las Vegas Raiders, while Matthew Stafford plays for the Los Angeles Rams in the 2026 NFL season.
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Love and Price both went from Notre Dame to the NFC West. Theyâll face off twice per season, which will be fun. While Love is considered to be by far the better prospect, Price is a bit of an unknown because he didnât play that much behind Love in college. But he was talented enough to be a first-round pick by the Super Bowl champions. If Price is as good as Seattle believes, it will be fun to compare the Fighting Irish backsâ careers. And we get to see them on the same field twice per season.
Notre Dame running backs Jadarian Price (24) and Jeremiyah Love (4) were both first-round NFL Draft picks. (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Notre Dame running backs Jadarian Price (24) and Jeremiyah Love (4) were both first-round NFL Draft picks. (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Raiders at Jets: QB Fernando Mendoza vs. EDGE David Bailey
Mendoza should be playing at some point this season. Hopefully itâs by the time the Raiders go to New York to face the Jets.
We donât often get to see the top two picks on the field together as rookies. Mendoza was the clear first pick of the draft, and then the Jets took Bailey over some other talented defensive players at No. 2 overall. Bailey chasing around Mendoza would make for some fun theater.
Cowboys vs. Giants: S Caleb Downs vs. EDGE Arvell Reese
The last time a school had four picks in the top 11 of a draft, it was Michigan State in 1967. The Buckeyes matched that this year, and three of those players were elite defenders. They all landed in the NFC East.
That means the old college teammates will reunite twice per season. Downs, Reese and Styles wonât be on the field at the same time, but when their defenses are playing we can gauge the progress from each of the Buckeye defenders. And the Cowboys, Commanders and Giants all get to face the Titans this season, so we can see them all try to chase down Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate, who was the fourth overall pick to Tennessee.
Eagles at Titans: WR Makai Lemon vs. WR Carnell Tate
Four receivers went in the top 20 picks of the NFL Draft. One of them, Saints rookie Jordyn Tyson, doesnât face the Titans or Eagles this season. But the Eagles and Titans meet up, meaning that we can see two of the top three receivers in the draft on opposite sides.
Tate was the fourth pick and an elite prospect, but Lemon was also highly thought of before the draft and ended up with a good Eagles team. We can check in for this game to see how two of the top skill-position players in the draft are progressing.
Browns at Buccaneers: OT Spencer Fano vs. EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
In most of these matchups, the rookies arenât doing direct battle against each other. This one should feature plenty of reps between Fano, the top offensive lineman selected in the NFL Draft at ninth overall by the Browns, against Bain, who was taken 15th by the Buccaneers. Bain was considered a potential top-five prospect at times early in the pre-draft process but he slipped a bit and the Buccaneers were happy to take him. Weâll get to see how one of the top edge defenders in the NFL Draft fares against the draftâs top tackle.
Jets at Chiefs: EDGE David Bailey, TE Kenyon Sadiq, WR Omar Cooper Jr. vs. CB Mansoor Delane, DL Peter Woods
You wonât see many games that feature five first-round rookies, because itâs rare for an NFL team to have three first-round picks. But the Jets did, and they have four opponents this season (Miami twice, Kansas City, Cleveland, Tennessee) that had two first-round picks.
The Chiefs stand out as a fun matchup against the New Yorkâs trio of rookies, because four first-round picks should be on the field at the same time when the Jets have the ball. We could see some reps of Delane, the sixth pick of the draft, covering Cooper, who went 29th. For those who like tracking rookies, this should be a good matchup for it.
