Already looking forward to the 2027 NFL draft? With the 2026 draft concluded, it is time to begin embracing the hype.
Positive, we’re nonetheless dissecting workforce matches, finest (and worst) picks and the general panorama of final week’s draft. There are additionally nonetheless 12 full months of learning tape, watching video games and touring to predraft occasions earlier than we get to subsequent yr’s first spherical. However the 2027 class has the possibility to rival 2024 so far as the depth at quarterback and the sheer quantity of expertise, each on offense and basically.
To get an early gauge on the category, I am discovering first-round touchdown spots for prime prospects in my way-too-early mock draft. A number of notes earlier than we get rolling:
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I didn’t make the draft order. The order of those groups would not replicate who I feel will make the playoffs or who’s going to the Tremendous Bowl. We merely took the inverse of Tremendous Bowl odds from DraftKings, tweaking the again finish to make sure the suitable variety of groups from every convention are within the playoff slots (Nos. 19-32).
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That is tremendous early. I am solely at first levels of watching tape on this class and reaching out to sources I belief. So these projections are based mostly solely on the place issues stand proper now, what I’ve seen from the category to this point and what I am listening to across the league.
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I additionally count on loads to vary between now and subsequent April (or actually even this fall). Of the 32 gamers in final yr’s way-too-early mock draft, 12 ended up moving into Spherical 1 and 4 returned to highschool.
Listed here are my early first-round projections for April 2027. 4 quarterbacks are projected to go in Spherical 1, with three going off the board instantly. And the primary is a participant you might need heard of.
Word: Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk.
Arch Manning, QB, Texas*
Pairing Manning with Jeremiyah Love would give the Cardinals two elite constructing blocks. Manning, at 6-foot-4, 219 kilos, is a sturdy dual-threat quarterback. He completed with 3,163 passing yards, 26 landing throws and 7 interceptions in his first yr as a starter whereas including 10 dashing touchdowns. Manning’s throwing movement, footwork and progressions are nonetheless inconsistent, resulting in scattershot ball placement and holding on to the ball too lengthy, however he continued creating because the season went on. He has all of the traits of a No. 1 choose — he simply must unlock the subsequent stage of his improvement.
Even after they drafted Carson Beck within the third spherical final week, QB is completely in play for the Cardinals if they’ve a excessive choose.
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State*
Quarterback can be a consideration if the Dolphins choose this excessive, however getting a really elite receiver can be exhausting to move up, particularly with the Dolphins shifting on from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle this offseason. Smith has a fantastic mix of dimension and pace. He is a swift vertical mover who eats up coverages in a rush whereas exhibiting distinctive power on the catch level. Eight of Smith’s 12 receiving touchdowns final season got here within the crimson zone, as he is an upper-echelon participant in that space. However he may make large performs down the sphere. Andre Johnson and Julio Jones come to thoughts as simple NFL comparisons.
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon*
The Jets loaded up on talent place gamers in final week’s draft, getting tight finish Kenyon Sadiq and huge receiver Omar Cooper Jr. in Spherical 1. However 2027 is a good time to draft a younger quarterback. Regardless of being mocked as a excessive first-round choose in early 2026 projections, Moore determined to return to highschool and increase on his 20 profession begins. He was among the best passers within the nation final season, ending with 3,565 passing yards, 30 landing passes and 10 interceptions. He is a easy operator however should do a greater job of withstanding stress, as his accuracy tends to wane when defenses hit him early.
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Why Daniel Jeremiah leans Dante Moore over Arch Manning for 2027 No. 1 choose
Daniel Jeremiah joins Wealthy Eisen and explains why he’s leaning towards Oregon quarterback Dante Moore to be the primary choice in subsequent yr’s NFL draft.
CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame*
Yearly a QB ascends from the pack and shoots up the draft. Carr could possibly be that man in 2027 after an encouraging first season as a starter. He completed final season with 2,741 passing yards and 24 touchdowns to 6 interceptions. He has a quick launch and glorious command on the line. And Carr has polished throwing mechanics, together with his eyes, base and throwing movement all tying collectively.
The pattern is small (12 begins), however increasing on his 2025 season would put him in place to be taken by a workforce such because the Browns, who will possible be prepared to take a swing at a QB early regardless of choosing three previously two drafts.
Cam Coleman, WR, Texas*
There have not been two receivers drafted within the prime 5 since 2003 (Charles Rogers and Andre Johnson), however that would occur in 2027 with Coleman and Smith. Coleman excelled in two seasons at Auburn regardless of inconsistent QB play, ending final season with 56 catches for 708 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Transferring to Texas and pairing up with Manning might unlock much more manufacturing, as he is a sure-handed goal with good palms. That might be ultimate for the Raiders, who want a No. 1 huge receiver to assist the event of this yr’s prime choose, Fernando Mendoza.
Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas*
With the sudden retirement of Kaleb McGary and Jawaan Taylor on a one-year deal, the Falcons will probably be trying to find a long-term reply at proper deal with. At 6-foot-7 and 326 kilos, Goosby is a long-limbed prospect who nonetheless has loads of room on his body so as to add mass however has all of the traits to be high-level starter at both deal with spot. His above-average size makes it difficult for rushers to bypass him off the sting, as he allowed just one sack final season. He’s an upper-tier athlete with loads of lower-body quickness to realize depth on his move units and make blocks exterior of his island.
Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU*
Left deal with Dan Moore Jr. did not present a lot return after the Titans signed him to a four-year, $82 million deal in 2025, so the Titans could possibly be available in the market for an improve. Seaton transferred to LSU after two seasons at Colorado. He is a straightforward mover as a move protector, as his glorious toes enable him to simply mirror and match move rushers. Seaton additionally has robust palms that assist him shock and shut down rush strikes on the level of assault. He enters subsequent season with excessive expectations and desires to enhance his run blocking to be drafted this excessive.
Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame*
Like in 2024, it could possibly be some time earlier than the primary defensive participant is chosen. Moore is an extended, fluid prospect who’s a high-quality press-man nook. He completed with 5 interceptions final season and allowed solely 12 receptions. Moore’s size, pace and recognition of passing ideas additionally enable him to clog home windows in zone protection. He wants to enhance as a tackler and could be overly handsy, however Moore jogs my memory of Christian Gonzalez and could be a true shutdown nook within the NFL. With Mike Jackson coming into a contract yr, Moore could possibly be a fantastic pairing with Jaycee Horn in Carolina — if he makes it this far.
Dylan Stewart, Edge, South Carolina*
The Saints have not been ready to determine edge rusher since Trey Hendrickson departed after the 2020 season and wish a dynamic rusher reverse Chase Younger. Stewart is an electrical participant with high-end lower-body flexibility, which helps him persistently race previous blockers. Regardless of a slender body, he has good preliminary pop in his palms, however he should get stronger to anchor and maintain as an edge setter. Stewart additionally wants to show extra of his move rushes into sacks, as he had solely 4.5 final season. Being extra in line with counter strikes would reduce the quantity of “virtually” performs. If that occurs, Stewart could possibly be the primary non-QB off the board.
Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia*
Robinson struggled early in his redshirt freshman season in 2025 earlier than flipping a swap to turn out to be one of many Bulldogs’ finest defenders. He is a springy athlete with glorious ball abilities (4 interceptions final season) and good zone instincts. He is additionally fearless as a tackler and has a linebacker-like urge for food for contact. He is younger, so his method must catch up a bit together with his athletic traits. However Robinson is among the finest defenders I’ve studied on this class and will kind a younger, potent cornerback tandem with Colton Hood, the Giants’ second-round choose final week.
Colin Simmons, Edge, Texas*
The Commanders simply drafted a dynamic linebacker in Sonny Types, and Simmons could possibly be their subsequent defensive playmaker. He operated primarily from a two-point stance final season and had an SEC-leading 12 sacks. Simmons can speed up in a rush and makes use of sudden actions to get freed from blockers. He is a high-effort, energetic rusher who showcases robust hand swipes to clear the palms of linemen. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound edge rusher jogs my memory of the Falcons’ Jalon Walker. Establishing counter strikes is the subsequent step in Simmons’ improvement, as is growing his lower-body power to face up higher towards the run.
David Stone, DT, Oklahoma*
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Stone can play any spot up entrance. He is troublesome to displace together with his glorious play energy and is able to latching and disengaging from blockers with ease. Stone wins as a move rusher with overwhelming power, however proper now he is extra of a pocket collapser than true finisher (1.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss final season). He must develop a real go-to transfer, however with additional improvement, he might be part of T’Vondre Sweat and assist fill the outlet within the Jets’ defensive entrance left by Quinnen Williams’ departure.
Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon*
With T.J. Hockenson set to be a free agent in 2027, the Vikings might use a decent finish. So why not go along with the newest Oregon tight finish prospect? At 6-foot-5 and 257 kilos, Johnson makes use of his body to stretch the deep center of the sphere. A easy athlete for his dimension, he is able to enjoying inline in addition to being a flexed out within the passing sport. Johnson’s dimension makes it difficult for defenders to carry him down within the open subject, and he is a prepared blocker who can match into 12 and 13 personnel units. With Kenyon Sadiq off to the NFL, it is Johnson’s time to shine.
Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State*
The Steelers have been within the QB wilderness since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season. With Aaron Rodgers anticipated to do the identical shortly, is that this Pittsburgh’s finest alternative to swing for a franchise QB?
Mestemaker is an unbelievable story, going from a zero-star walk-on at North Texas to throwing for 4,379 passing yards and 34 touchdowns with 9 interceptions final season. He makes use of a fiery, three-quarters launch, and his passes hardly ever lack velocity. He excelled in a spread-and-shred scheme and adopted coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State. His overconfidence is a present and a curse, as he can get fixated on first reads and make head-scratching choices. Cleansing that up on the Huge 12 stage might make him a first-rounder subsequent spring.
Damon Wilson II, Edge, Miami
Wilson had 9 sacks at Missouri in 2025 earlier than transferring to Miami within the offseason. He has an opportunity to fill the sting rusher void for the nationwide runner-ups, who simply noticed Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor get drafted in Spherical 1. Wilson could possibly be subsequent after a yr working with line of defense coach Jason Taylor and has glorious size and acceleration to shut on QBs. The Jaguars had solely 32 sacks in 2025 (twenty seventh within the NFL) regardless of having Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen, so Wilson might give them a key rotational rusher.
Ahmad Moten Sr., DT, Miami
The Bears went surprisingly mild on the inside line of defense in final week’s draft, ready till the sixth spherical to handle the place. Moten is an explosive disruptor who completed with 9 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks final season. He has fast and highly effective palms to swipe away inside blockers and is a stout run defender who can stand his floor in gaps. Moten must play with higher pad stage, as his aggressiveness may cause him to play excessive and be pushed out of place, however he could possibly be the Grady Jarrett inheritor obvious in Chicago.
Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama*
The Jets will get the upper of the Cowboys’ two picks, which falls right here. We took a doable Williams substitute with the Jets’ final choose, so now it is time for Sauce Gardner’s. Brown is a savvy and poised nook who’s a aggressive technician and performs with nice consciousness. The 6-foot, 192-pound nook has a knack for well timed performs, as each of his interceptions final season went for touchdowns. His persistence in his method on the line and in route stems stands out, as he had six move breakups in 2025. Brown is scheme versatile, exhibits consolation in zone and man protection, and is nice at recognizing routes.
Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State*
An angular nook at 6-foot-4, 195 kilos, Jones understands find out how to maximize his size to protect throwing home windows. He is a zone-based defender who’s at his finest enjoying on a vertical airplane, with adequate hips to shut on beneath makes an attempt. He is a bit feast and famine — though he allowed an FBS-low seven receptions final season, 5 went for 20 or extra yards and two went for touchdowns. He’ll should work on that, however he could possibly be a great match for a Bengals protection with beginning cornerbacks (Dax Hill and DJ Turner II) who’re scheduled to be free brokers.
Trey’Dez Inexperienced, TE, LSU*
Inexperienced is a glorified, supersized receiver who’s labeled as a decent finish due to his 6-foot-7, 240-pound body. He is a mismatch playmaker contained in the opponent’s 25-yard-line, the place he scored all seven of his touchdowns final season. His peak and leaping capacity assist him tower over defenders in one-on-one conditions, and count on new coach Lane Kiffin to increase Inexperienced’s manufacturing from final season (33 receptions for 433 yards). Inexperienced might present Tampa Bay with an improve over Cade Otton at tight finish and provides the Bucs choices in 12 personnel.
A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
Washington joined Moore and Matayo Uiagalelei as Oregon gamers who turned down being Day 1 or early Day 2 draft picks this yr to return to highschool. Washington is fast off the snap and able to freezing the body of inside blockers earlier than shifting rapidly previous them. His straight-line power provides him the facility to bull rush blockers into the laps of passers. His capacity to break down pockets would play nicely alongside Zach Allen within the Broncos’ protection, and Denver might use extra defensive tackles after shedding John Franklin-Myers in free company.
Cayden Inexperienced, G, Missouri
The Lions addressed their want at deal with by drafting Blake Miller within the first spherical final week, however guard stays certainly one of their largest query marks. Inexperienced shifted to deal with final season, however his long-term NFL outlook is at guard. He is a bodily presence at 6-foot-5, 324 kilos who is ready to latch onto defenders to create run lanes. Inexperienced makes good preliminary hand contact in move safety however nonetheless wants to enhance his strike timing. His mobility was restricted final season due to a foot harm, in order that’s value watching this upcoming season.
Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss*
Lacy is certainly one of my favourite gamers to observe on tape within the 2027 class no matter place. He is a long-striding, slashing runner whose sudden actions give him the A-level short-area quickness to create explosive performs. His 24 dashing touchdowns final season had been the third most in SEC historical past. His excellent imaginative and prescient and consciousness retains runs on observe and creates constructive yardage. He is additionally a aggressive move protector. The Texans want all of this, as they’ve struggled to discover a long-term resolution at working again to assist take stress off the passing sport.
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Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy bursts free for a 73-yard TD
Kewan Lacy goes untouched for a 73-yard landing to present Ole Miss a 7-3 lead.
Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana*
George Pickens has been franchise-tagged for the 2026 season, but it surely could possibly be too costly to maintain long run, so the Cowboys would possibly want a No. 2 receiver alongside CeeDee Lamb. Becker turned a go-to choice towards the top of final season throughout Indiana’s championship push. He averaged 19.9 yards per catch in 2025, the seventh-best mark within the FBS. He is a former state champion hurdler, and that leaping capacity is clear on soar balls, as he makes powerful catches look routine. He is inexperienced (eight profession begins), however Becker has Spherical 1 potential if his upward development continues.
Will Echoles, DT, Ole Miss*
Echoles took a serious leap final season, going from a half-sack in 2024 to 5 sacks in 2025 and 9 tackles as a freshman to 68 as a sophomore. His pass-rush disruption comes and goes in spurts, however he creates bother for blockers due to his mixture of quickness and power. Echoles must work on his capacity to tackle double groups however could possibly be enticing for the Chargers, as Dalvin Tomlinson is 32 years previous and on an expiring contract.
Nick Marsh, WR, Indiana*
A switch from Michigan State, Marsh is about to imagine Omar Cooper Jr.’s function in Indiana’s offense. Though he is larger than Cooper at 6-foot-3, 203 kilos, Marsh performs just like the Jets’ first-rounder and is finest deployed within the quick to intermediate space as a robust, in-breaking route runner. Marsh is aggressive in getting yards after the catch and performs with the sensation he can rating each time he will get the ball. Receivers Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte are set to turn out to be free brokers, so Marsh could possibly be a great match with New England.
KJ Bolden, S, Georgia*
Bolden is an instinctive and clever security, which is why he is tasked with being the communicator on the again finish of Georgia’s protection. Regardless of his slight body (6-foot, 185 kilos), Bolden is not afraid to run the alley and crash down in run help. He is capable of play a number of secondary spots and has good ball abilities. The Eagles misplaced Reed Blankenship in free company and did not choose a security till Spherical 7 final week, so Bolden could possibly be a pleasant match.
Tae Johnson, S, Notre Dame*
Johnson burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman final season, ending with 4 interceptions, and he’s a candidate to make a giant rise in 2026. He is a superb mix of pace, soccer IQ and flexibility, and his fluid motion capacity permits him to be a mistake eraser on the again finish. Alongside together with his robust protection abilities, Johnson is an enthusiastic tackler who could make performs towards the run. The 49ers did not draft a security final week, and Ji’Ayir Brown is about to be a free agent, so Johnson might work right here.
Quincy Rhodes Jr., Edge, Arkansas
Rhodes is a big-bodied base defensive finish at 6-foot-6, 275 kilos. Many evaluators thought he would declare for this previous draft, as he acquired Day 2 grades from a number of scouts. He primarily performs 5-technique however is a traditional tweener who’s able to two-gapping in a three-down defensive entrance. Whereas he had eight sacks final season, Rhodes must be much less liable to risky highs and lows. The Chiefs took R Mason Thomas within the second spherical final week, and Rhodes could possibly be a complement to Thomas’ pace as Kansas Metropolis addresses its future line of defense.
Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri*
Derrick Henry has been an especially productive and sturdy working again, however he’ll be 33 years previous in January. This might be a fantastic spot for the Ravens to usher in his inheritor obvious, and the 5-foot-10, 206-pound Hardy was one of many FBS’ finest working backs final season. He completed with 1,649 dashing yards and 16 touchdowns however was particularly devastating after contact, together with his 1,208 such yards rating first within the FBS. He is a no-nonsense, highly effective downhill runner who can run by or round defenses. Form of seems like Henry, no?
Yhonzae Pierre, Edge, Alabama*
Pierre was a breakout star final season, ending with eight sacks. His impression went past pressuring quarterbacks, although, as he additionally pressured three fumbles final season. He is able to standing up as a 3-4 exterior linebacker and enjoying together with his hand within the grime. He is a scheme-versatile defender, which might make him a fantastic match with Mike Macdonald’s protection in Seattle, particularly contemplating Boye Mafe’s departure and DeMarcus Lawrence’s age.
Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR, Alabama*
Coleman-Williams was implausible as a freshman in 2024 however tailed off a bit final season whereas scuffling with drops. The expertise is evident, and plenty of predict a bounce-back yr. He is a three-level risk with glorious vertical pace to stack defenders. Coleman-Williams additionally has distinctive physique management to place his body into positions to catch passes exterior of the strike zone. If he can recapture his freshman kind, he could possibly be that big-time receiver the Payments desperately want.
Matayo Uiagalelei, Edge, Oregon
As talked about above, Uiagalelei was certainly one of a number of Geese who opted to return to highschool regardless of being seen as Day 1 or Day 2 prospects on this previous draft. He had six sacks final season and is predicted to take one other step in 2026. The 6-foot-5, 272-pound Uiagalelei has proven flashes and might win together with his size, various set of strikes and energy profile. Byron Younger’s free company is looming, so the Rams could possibly be in play for a participant of Uiagalelei’s ilk.
