“Just wait until the 2027 draft class.”
I have heard that sentiment many times over the last few years, and with the 2026 NFL Draft in the books, we can officially start the countdown to one of the more anticipated classes in recent memory. Will it live up to the hype? Time will tell.
Intrigue around the quarterbacks is driving most of the excitement, of course, starting with Arch Manning. But these quarterbacks will be drafted primarily based on how they perform in 2026. Will Notre Dame’s CJ Carr take the next step? Can Darian Mensah treat his transfer to Miami like a springboard, as Cam Ward did? Can Trinidad Chambliss do enough to force teams to look past his shortcomings and draft him in the first round?
There are plenty of questions that will eventually be answered. For now, here is a watch list of 32 prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft, in a mock draft format:
(Note: The order is based on current Super Bowl odds.)
1. Arizona Cardinals: Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Had Manning been in the 2026 draft class, the Fernando Mendoza-vs.-Manning debates would have commanded all the pre-draft attention. If the Texas star continues to build off his improvements from the second half of last season, he will be the clear favorite to be 2027’s top pick.
2. Miami Dolphins: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
This scenario reminds me of the 2004 draft — there were multiple quarterbacks in play at the top, but the Arizona Cardinals stayed put and drafted Larry Fitzgerald. A Miami native, Smith is too special a prospect for the Dolphins (or anyone) to pass on him here.
3. Cleveland Browns: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
The Browns did an excellent job addressing offensive needs in the 2026 NFL Draft, setting up a scenario for them to grab a quarterback early next April and drop him into a ready-to-go offense. Assuming he continues to ascend, Moore will be in the top-three mix in 2027.
4. New York Jets: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
Scouts think the only thing that could keep Moore out of the top five is the potential for so many quarterbacks to go early. A tall, athletic cover man, Moore blankets wide receivers — he’s combined for seven interceptions over his first two seasons in South Bend.
5. Tennessee Titans: Dylan Stewart, edge, South Carolina
After a Freshman All-America season in 2024, Stewart wasn’t as dominant on the 2025 tape. However, his athletic twitch at 6 feet 5 inches tall and 245 pounds is what NFL teams covet at the position.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Cam Coleman, WR, Texas
As special as Smith is as a prospect, Coleman isn’t too far behind. His inconsistent tape the last two seasons was more about the Auburn offense than anything else, and he should thrive with an upgrade at quarterback after joining the Longhorns.
7. New Orleans Saints: Colin Simmons, edge, Texas
The SEC sacks leader in 2025, Simmons announced himself as a future first-round pick as soon as he set foot in Austin two years ago. His burst and body control are outstanding, especially at his size (6-3, 245).
8. Pittsburgh Steelers: Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
A former walk-on, Mestemaker put himself on the NFL radar with his performance at North Texas last season. Now at Oklahoma State (with the same coaching staff), he has an ascending skill set that has scouts highly intrigued.
9. Atlanta Falcons: Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
Humans of Seaton’s size (6-5, 307) shouldn’t be able to move as he does. The Colorado transfer is in the best shape of his life and has a good chance to translate a productive 2026 season into being a top-10 pick next April.
10. Carolina Panthers: A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
If he’d declared for the 2026 draft, Washington likely would have been a top-25 pick and had a chance to be the first interior defensive lineman selected. Another year of development in Eugene could get him in the top 15.
11. New York Giants: Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana
Despite mass changeover on the Indiana offense, Becker is a key returning talent — he made several clutch plays last season. With his speed and catch radius, he is primed for a breakout season, which could be a springboard to a first-round selection.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
The fourth Longhorn in the top 12, Goosby got better throughout the 2025 season. If he can continue to build off that production, he will be an easy first-round projection.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon
Kenyon Sadiq was the Ducks’ top tight end last season, but it was impossible not to notice Johnson and his impact catching the football. There’s a high chance Oregon will produce a top-50 pick at tight end for the third straight year.
14. Washington Commanders: Ahmad Moten Sr., DT, Miami
While Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor made their presence known, Moten was the Hurricanes’ most impactful defensive lineman in the national championship game. If he builds off that performance, you can pencil him in for the first round next April.
15. New York Jets (from IND): CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
The Jets are set to pick three times in next year’s first round, and there’s an extremely high probability they use one of those picks on a quarterback. Carr produced promising tape as a redshirt freshman. If he takes the next step in 2026, we might be talking about him this early.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: KJ Bolden, S, Georgia
The top-ranked safety at this point in the process, Bolden lacks ideal size, but he makes plays in the run game and in coverage (he also had a blocked punt in 2025).
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Jacarrius Peak, OT, South Carolina
A transfer from NC State, Peak isn’t the most polished lineman, but his talent is clear. Scouts will be watching his situation closely to see if he takes the next step in his development.
18. Chicago Bears: Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State
Listed at 6-4, Jones has rare speed and ability for a player his size, which will draw obvious attention from NFL teams.
19. New York Jets (from DAL): Will Echoles, DT, Ole Miss
A smooth-moving big man at 6-3, 315, Echoles frequently made trips to the backfield last season. He is just scratching the surface of his ability.
20. Dallas Cowboys (from GB): Nick Marsh, WR, Indiana
A transfer from Michigan State, Marsh (6-3, 215) is a good-sized athlete with playmaking potential.
21. Denver Broncos: Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia
A Freshman All-American last season, Robinson tied for the SEC lead last season with four interceptions and shows the physical traits that could make him a first-rounder.
22. Houston Texans: Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida
The first running back off the board in this mock, Baugh brings size, strength and quickness to the position. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry last season and made his presence felt on third downs.
23. Detroit Lions: Jayden Maiava, QB, USC
Despite losing Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, Maiava is in a situation to become a Heisman contender and push for a spot in the first round.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Teitum Tuioti, edge, Oregon
It was hard to study the Oregon defense last season without seeing No. 44 disrupting plays, using his blend of strength and swarming speed.
25. New England Patriots: Damon Wilson II, edge, Miami
Missouri’s leader in sacks last season with nine, Wilson has the unenviable task of filling the shoes of Bain and Mesidor — but he has the talent to make a name for himself.
26. Kansas City Chiefs: Ty Benefield, S, LSU
A Boise State transfer, Benefield is a tall, long defender who topped 100 tackles last season, while making plays both downhill and in reverse.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Iapani Laloulu, C, Oregon
The fifth Oregon prospect in this mock, Laloulu enters next season as one of the top projected interior linemen in the draft class.
28. Los Angeles Chargers: T.J. Moore, WR, Clemson
Listed at 6-3, 205, Moore is a physical presence with strong hands and improved route running. He can land in the early-round mix.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri
With his physical run style, Hardy rushed for exactly 3,000 combined yards over his first two seasons in college (2024 at Louisiana-Monroe, 2025 at Missouri), and he averaged 6.4 yards per carry last season for the Tigers.
30. Buffalo Bills: David Stone, DT, Oklahoma
The Sooners rely on a heavy rotation along the defensive line, but Stone consistently jumped off the film when studying the 2025 Oklahoma defense.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Will Heldt, Edge, Clemson
NFL teams focused on the Clemson defensive line last season to watch Peter Woods and T.J. Parker, but Heldt (a Purdue transfer) was the most consistent disruptor on the Tigers’ front.
32. Los Angeles Rams: Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR, Alabama
Coleman-Williams has electric ability that will get him into the first round if he shows improved concentration to be a better finisher at the catch point.
