The elite names of the 2027 NFL Draft class opened the 2026 college football season by making clear statements. The message NFL teams and scouts should’ve received: the talent level and excitement surrounding what is to come next April is not just overhype.
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah has turned up the heat in South Beach, while Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Julian Sayin and CJ Carr didn’t disappoint in their season debuts. With LaNorris Sellers and Trinidad Chambliss among the other quarterbacks looking to put scouts on notice, the hype surrounding this class is only getting started.
And it doesn’t end at quarterback.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith remains the prize at his position, but Texas wide receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo, Indiana’s Charlie Becker and Rutgers’ KJ Duff give NFL teams plenty of other reasons to dream big.
Add in elite defensive prospects like Colin Simmons, Dylan Stewart and Leonard Moore, and this class has blue-chip talent at several premium positions.
2027 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting all 32 first-round picks
In this full 2027 NFL Mock Draft, we make predictions based on the projected key areas of need for all 32 NFL teams. The order is determined by reverse Super Bowl odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.
No. 1 Arizona Cardinals: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Dante Moore was outstanding in leading the Oregon Ducks to a 34-27 victory over Boise State. Completing 75.7 percent of his passes for a career-high 378 yards and three touchdowns, Moore proved he’s ready to enter the Heisman Trophy conversation.
The game was closer than expected, but Moore showcased the type of elite decision-making and leadership that will intrigue Mike LaFleur and the Arizona Cardinals at No. 1.
No. 2 Miami Dolphins: Darian Mensah, QB, Miami (FL)
The Darian Mensah mania is heating up South Beach, so why not keep him in Miami?
The exciting quarterback has lit it up through his first six quarters, including an almost flawless first half in Miami’s 77-7 victory over Florida A&M. Mensah was featured in this week’s NFL Mocks Watch after throwing for 252 yards and three touchdowns.
The Dolphins are hoping they invested wisely in Malik Willis, but this quarterback class is already proving to be too talented to pass up.
No. 3 New York Jets: Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Arch Manning sliding to No. 3 and the New York Jets is a testament to how good this draft class is.
Manning threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns in Texas’ 59-7 blowout win over Texas State. He looked elite, although he did throw an interception and showed there is still some work to do mechanically. Overall, Manning looked like he picked up where he left off at the tail end of the 2025 season.
The big test for Manning comes next as the Longhorns face Ohio State in a huge matchup on Sept. 12. The Jets and every other team potentially in the market for a quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft will be watching.
No. 4 Las Vegas Raiders: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
With quarterbacks going with the first three picks, Jeremiah Smith lands in an ideal spot at No. 4 with the Las Vegas Raiders.
In our latest NFL Mock Draft Roundup, we examined how Smith’s talent could lead teams projected to need quarterbacks to bypass the position and instead take a transcendent playmaker like the Ohio State star.
The Raiders may already have their quarterback if Fernando Mendoza takes over as the starter. Adding Smith to a young core featuring Mendoza, tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty would have everyone betting on Vegas in 2027.
No. 5 Cleveland Browns: Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State
Since we kept Mensah in Miami, why not do the same with Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin by landing him with the Cleveland Browns at No. 5?
Ohio fans will already be very familiar with the early Heisman Trophy candidate, who showcased near perfection in the Buckeyes’ 56-3 domination of Ball State in Week 1.
Sayin shredded the Ball State secondary, completing 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown.
No matter what Deshaun Watson does this season in Cleveland, the Browns may finally land their guy. Just Sayin!
No. 6 Tennessee Titans: Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina
South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart is the pick for the Tennessee Titans at No. 6.
Despite not playing in South Carolina’s Week 1 win over Kent State due to a lingering back injury, Stewart’s combination of size and athleticism makes him a great fit for what Robert Saleh likes to do defensively.
In the 4-3 base, Stewart on one side and 2026 first-round pick Keldric Faulk on the other would give Saleh and the Titans an impressive defensive front with Justin Simmons in the middle.
The back injury will be something to monitor and could be a reason Stewart slides. As of now, he’s an elite top-10 talent.
No. 7 Carolina Panthers: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
The Carolina Panthers land the top cornerback in the draft with Leonard Moore at No. 7.
With Mike Jackson entering a contract year, the Panthers could be looking for a top cornerback to play opposite Jaycee Horn. Moore fits the mold and has the talent to eventually become a No. 1 corner in the NFL.
Standing 6-foot-2 and 197 pounds, Moore has the length, physicality and ball-hawking tenacity to help catapult the Panthers’ secondary into one of the NFL’s better units. With the offensive firepower in the NFC South, they will need it.
No. 8 New York Giants: David Stone, DL, Oklahoma
David Stone remains an NFL Mocks favorite for the New York Giants.
After trading Dexter Lawrence II prior to the 2026 NFL Draft, the Giants obviously weakened their interior defensive front. With star power on the edge and at linebacker, finding a dominant anchor in the middle could become a top priority in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Enter Stone, a 6-foot-3, 312-pound powerhouse who is not only a run stuffer but can also disrupt the pocket as a pass rusher.
After selecting Abdul Carter and Arvell Reese in the last two drafts, the Giants could suddenly have a dominant defensive trio for the future if all three live up to their talent and expectations.
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