2027 NFL Draft quarterback matchmaker
We won't run a full mock draft, but let's quickly play "matchmaker" with these QB-needy teams we've discussed and match them with a quarterback. The draft order is set based on my own projections, and the players are in order of my own ranking as of today.
No.1 Cleveland Browns - Arch Manning
No. 3 New York Jets (via trade) - Dante Moore
No. 4 Arizona Cardinals - Jayden Maiava
No. 5 Atlanta Falcons - LaNorris Sellers
No. 6 Carolina Panthers - Darian Mensah
No. 15 Pittsburgh Steelers - CJ Carr
Despite needing more time to develop, Arch Manning is my "QB1" for this class as of now. The arm talent, size, and athleticism are too enticing. And his processing and accuracy improved as last season went on.
Not far behind is Dante Moore, who is very accurate and also has a strong arm, but isn't the same playmaker as Manning. I have the Jets finishing the season with six wins, but with three first-round picks, they make a move up with the Washington Commanders to take Moore.
Next, we have quarterbacks going at Nos. 4, 5 and 6, making five quarterbacks in the top six picks.
Jayden Maiava has the best upside as a passer in this group because of his arm strength, anticipation, and willingness to throw the tough passes. LaNorris Sellers has a lot to prove this year for South Carolina, and the state of that program's offense has a lot to do with his uncertainty, but the talent and athleticism are alluring.
And Darian Mensah is an accurate quarterback who also has good playmaking chops. My comp for him was actually "taller Bryce Young." I'm sure if the Panthers could just stretch Young to about 6-foot-1 or 6-foot-2 they would, so this would be their chance.
It just so happened that another fun coincidence is all three quarterbacks ended up geographically in familiar areas. Mensah, after playing at Duke last year, goes to Carolina. Maiava stays in the Southwest, going to Arizona. And Sellers stays in the South, going to Atlanta.
Then, finally, I have CJ Carr going No. 15 to the Steelers. My comp for Carr was Mac Jones, and Jones went No. 15 overall back in the 2021 draft, so when Pittsburgh ended up at that same spot, it was too interesting to skip.
We'll see how the collection of quarterback-needy teams changes throughout the year, as well as which quarterbacks we are thinking about for the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft.
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