2027 NFL Draft Notebook: Preseason All-Underrated Team and how high can Trinidad Chambliss climb?

Every preseason, one of my favorite articles to write is NFL Mocks' Preseason All-Underrated Team. Rather than highlighting the obvious stars, this team focuses on players who currently carry Day 3 grades or are ranked even lower on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus board but have the talent to significantly outperform those expectations. Several of these prospects have the tools to become early-round selections by the time the 2027 NFL Draft arrives.

This week's 2027 NFL Draft Notebook also takes a closer look at Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and whether the top quarterback in college football according to The Athletic has what it takes to become an NFL starter. We also break down why the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens could target specific positions in the 2027 Draft, highlight a few additional underrated prospects to watch, and examine several of the biggest storylines heading into the college football season.

2027 NFL Draft Preseason All-Underrated Offense

QB: CJ Bailey, North Carolina State

Last season, NFL Mocks identified Fernando Mendoza as the top quarterback in college football before anyone else. This year, our bold quarterback prediction is that North Carolina State's CJ Bailey will be a top-75 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Bailey has the physical tools NFL teams look for, including the arm strength to push the ball downfield, the mobility to extend plays in and out of the pocket, and the accuracy to consistently deliver from a clean platform. If he continues to develop, don't be surprised if he emerges as one of college football's biggest breakout quarterbacks this season.

RB: Hollywood Smothers, Texas

Hollywood Smothers may be one of the most overlooked transfers in college football after leaving NC State for Texas. He has the versatility to become a key piece of a Longhorn offense with national championship aspirations. Smothers has averaged more than six yards per carry during his collegiate career while displaying excellent burst and lateral quickness. He is also a dangerous receiver out of the backfield, catching 37 passes last season with just one career drop. With Steve Sarkisian expected to feature him more in the passing game, Smothers has all the ingredients to become one of the SEC's biggest breakout running backs.

WR: Trell Harris, Oklahoma

Oklahoma wide receiver Trell Harris is one of the most underrated NFL Draft prospects entering the season. After transferring from Virginia, where he totaled 59 receptions for 847 yards and five touchdowns, Harris arrives in Norman coming off two 140-plus-yard games and a three-touchdown first half against Stanford. Now paired with quarterback John Mateer, Harris is in position to take another step forward. His combination of speed, reliable hands, and agility gives him the ability to emerge as one of college football's top breakout receivers while significantly boosting his 2027 NFL Draft stock.

WR: Terrell Anderson, USC

The third former NC State playmaker on this list is wide receiver Terrell Anderson, who transferred to USC after flashing plenty of NFL potential with the Wolfpack. Although NC State's offense ranked just 50th nationally in scoring last season, Anderson averaged more than 16 yards per reception while finishing with 39 catches and showcasing polished route-running skills and the ability to create separation. Now in Lincoln Riley's offense, Anderson has an opportunity to significantly increase his production while following in the footsteps of USC's recent NFL Draft success at wide receiver. Don't be surprised if his breakout season also leads to a major rise in his NFL Draft stock.

TE: Garrett Oakley, Kansas State

Kansas State's Garrett Oakley quietly put together one of the best seasons by a tight end in college football last year, tying the school record with six touchdown receptions. At 6-foot-5, Oakley is a dependable red-zone target, but his game extends well beyond scoring touchdowns. According to PFF, he caught six of eight passes thrown into tight coverage, showcasing strong hands and the ability to win through contact. Despite weighing just 248 pounds, Oakley is also an effective blocker, using impressive footwork, leverage, and play strength to hold his own in the run game. His complete skill set gives him the potential to be one of the top tight end prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft.

TE: Luke Reynolds, Virginia Tech

Like many NFL offenses, we're going with 12 personnel, making Virginia Tech's Luke Reynolds the second tight end on this team. At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Reynolds is an impressive athlete with the speed to create separation as a receiver and the elusiveness to average six yards after the catch last season. While the consensus views him as an undrafted free agent entering the year, I have Reynolds graded as a third-round prospect because of his athletic upside and receiving ability. If he continues to develop as a blocker, don't be surprised if he climbs even higher on NFL Draft boards this season.

OT: Nathan Roy, Minnesota

Minnesota's Nathan Roy is one of the most intriguing offensive tackle prospects eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft. At 6-foot-5 with outstanding length, Roy possesses the athleticism NFL teams covet, showing quick feet in pass protection and the mobility to consistently reach the second level in the run game. Although he enters the season as just a redshirt sophomore and still has technical refinements to make, his combination of size, movement skills, and upside gives him the potential to develop into one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the class.

OG: Brandon Baker, Texas

After spending last season at right tackle, Texas' Brandon Baker is expected to move inside to guard, where I have him ranked as my No. 2 offensive guard entering the season. Baker did not allow a sack last year, although he struggled at times against elite competition, including a five-pressure performance against Ohio State. His athleticism and mobility make him an excellent fit for a zone-blocking scheme, and if he proves he can consistently handle the power of interior defensive linemen while reducing the 12 penalties he committed last season, Baker has the talent to emerge as one of the top guard prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft.

C: Jake Guarnera, Michigan

Michigan's Jake Guarnera is another offensive lineman making a position change this season, sliding from guard to center for the Wolverines. After allowing just two sacks and 13 pressures last year, Guarnera enters the season with a chance to establish himself as one of the nation's top centers. As an NFL prospect, he stands out for his play strength, physicality, and ability to control defenders once he gets his hands engaged. If he transitions smoothly to center, his combination of power and versatility should significantly boost his 2027 NFL Draft stock.

OG: Charles Jagusah, Notre Dame

Few players in the 2027 NFL Draft class have a wider range of outcomes than Notre Dame's Charles Jagusah. He possesses elite physical traits, including outstanding leverage, rare athleticism, and the versatility to play either guard or tackle at the next level. However, injuries have significantly limited his college career, as he missed last season with a knee injury after appearing in just three games in 2024 because of a torn pectoral. If Jagusah can stay healthy, he has the talent to develop into an All-Pro caliber offensive lineman. If durability continues to be an issue, though, he could struggle to stick on an NFL roster. Despite the medical concerns, his upside makes him well worth the gamble on Day 3.

OT: E'Marion Harris, Oklahoma

E'Marion Harris lands on this list because of his upside rather than his production. After transferring from Arkansas to Oklahoma, Harris remains one of the more intriguing developmental offensive tackles in college football. Last season, he allowed 21 pressures and earned a 50.8 PFF run-blocking grade, but his athletic traits are difficult to ignore. Harris was ranked as the No. 67 transfer in the portal by 247Sports, yet he is currently outside the top 800 prospects on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus board. He possesses outstanding burst, movement skills, and the physical tools to become an NFL-caliber tackle, but improving his hand placement and overall technique will be critical if he hopes to turn that potential into NFL Draft consideration.

Can college football's top quarterback become an NFL starter

The Athletic recently released its rankings of every FBS starting quarterback, with Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss earning the top spot entering the season. It's easy to understand why. Chambliss led the Rebels to the College Football Playoff semifinals last year while earning SEC Newcomer of the Year honors and Second-Team All-SEC recognition.

There is little debate that Chambliss is one of the best quarterbacks in college football. The bigger question NFL scouts are trying to answer is how well his game will translate to the next level. The positives begin with his dual-threat ability. Chambliss is an athletic quarterback who can extend plays outside the pocket, throw accurately on the move, or take off and run when the defense gives him an opening. He rushed for more than 500 yards last season and consistently stressed defenses with his mobility. As a passer, he completed 66 percent of his throws while displaying impressive arm talent. According to PFF, his 29 big-time throws ranked fourth in the FBS, highlighting his ability to push the ball downfield and make difficult NFL-caliber throws.

Despite those strengths, one trait is likely to keep him out of the early rounds of the NFL Draft: his size. Ole Miss lists Chambliss at 6-foot, and there will be plenty of attention on his official measurements during the pre-draft process. He will also need to show he can consistently work through full-field progressions in an offense that doesn't rely as heavily on run-pass options. Another important evaluation point this season will be proving he can maintain his level of play without Lane Kiffin calling the offense.

Entering the season, I have a fourth-round grade on Chambliss, largely because of the concerns surrounding his size. Still, if he lands with the right NFL team, particularly one that incorporates plenty of sprint-outs, bootlegs, and designed movement in the passing game, he has the talent to develop into an NFL starter.

Quick hits around the 2027 NFL Draft

• While The Athletic received mostly positive feedback from coaches and scouts on Trinidad Chambliss, the reviews were much more mixed on Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin. One Big Ten general manager said, "He's just a game manager. Overrated, not a guy who can win them the title." That assessment aligns with my own evaluation. I recently named Sayin the most overrated quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft class, and I find it difficult to justify rankings that place him among the top 15 prospects, including one from Draft Wire. My biggest concerns are his average arm strength and limited mobility. While he is an accurate passer who generally makes good decisions, I question whether he possesses the physical tools to develop into an NFL franchise quarterback.

• The Chicago Bears did little to address their defensive end position this offseason despite finishing 31st in pass-rush win rate and 26th in run-stop win rate last season. If the defensive line fails to show significant improvement this year, don't be surprised if Chicago uses a first- or second-round pick on an edge defender in the 2027 NFL Draft. One player who could be high on the Bears' radar is Minnesota's Anthony Smith. After leading the Big Ten in sacks last season, Smith has the size and physicality to thrive in Dennis Allen's defense. At 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, he possesses the power to set the edge against the run while also generating consistent pressure as a pass rusher. 

• Good news is coming out of Missouri, as Ahmad Hardy has fully recovered after being shot in the leg in May and has been medically cleared to begin a return-to-play protocol that is expected to take five to eight weeks. If all goes as planned, Hardy could be back in the lineup for the Tigers' rivalry game against Kansas on September 11. Should he return to the form he displayed in 2025, when he finished second in the nation with 1,649 rushing yards, he will have a legitimate chance to be the first running back selected in the 2027 NFL Draft.

• Bruce Mitchell is one of the more underrated centers in the 2027 NFL Draft class. The BYU standout earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors last season after allowing just nine pressures while posting a 77.1 PFF run-blocking grade. Beyond his production, Mitchell possesses several NFL-caliber traits, including impressive functional strength that allows him to consistently overpower defenders and finish blocks. He is also an athletic interior lineman who moves well in space, making him an effective fit in a variety of run schemes. With his combination of production, strength, and athleticism, Mitchell enters the season with a fourth-round grade on my board.

• The Baltimore Ravens could find themselves in the market for a middle linebacker in the 2027 NFL Draft. Roquan Smith is coming off a somewhat disappointing season, finishing without a sack or an interception for the first time in his career. His 130 tackles also marked his lowest total since 2019. Smith will turn 30 next season, and the Ravens could create roughly $20 million in cap savings by moving on from him. If both Smith and Baltimore's defense fail to rebound this season, the Ravens could be in the market for an early-round linebacker in the 2027 NFL Draft.

• One of the biggest storylines to watch during Ohio State's fall camp is where Austin Siereveld ultimately lines up along the offensive line. Last season, he started at left tackle and earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors, but he struggled against Miami in the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff loss, allowing five pressures. That performance could lead to a move back inside to offensive guard, where he started in 2024 and where many NFL scouts believe his long-term future lies. I also view Siereveld as a better NFL prospect at either right tackle or guard than at left tackle, and he enters the season with a late first-round grade on my board.

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