Drew Mestemaker has become one of the hottest names in the 2027 NFL Draft quarterback class, but has the Oklahoma State star really done enough to claim the QB1 spot?
In my latest 2027 NFL Draft Power 5 quarterback rankings, Mestemaker sits No. 3 behind Notre Dame's CJ Carr and Miami's Darian Mensah. Both quarterbacks have been just as hot as Mestemaker but have faced stiffer competition.
Although Mestemaker impressed in outdueling Dante Moore in Oklahoma State's upset win over Oregon, the sample size is still small. The Oklahoma State quarterback has been a highlight reel since struggling in Week 1, but there are still questions about how his game will translate to the NFL.
With a head-to-head matchup against Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns looming, Mestemaker has a chance to solidify the hype surrounding him. If Manning puts on a show instead, this quarterback class could, and probably will, shift again.
For now, let's look at where a couple of recent NFL mock drafts have Mestemaker landing and how those projections compare to my own.
PFF NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Drew Mestemaker the first QB off the board
Mestemaker goes No. 3 overall to the Miami Dolphins in PFF's 2027 NFL Mock Draft 1.0.
With his production in 2025 at North Texas combined with what he has done through his first five games at Oklahoma State, PFF's Gordon McGuinness has Mestemaker as the first quarterback off the board in a draft in which five QBs go in the first round.
Notably, one of those quarterbacks is not named Arch Manning.
McGuinness writes:
"Mestemaker earned an 88.3 PFF grade in 2025 and has posted an 88.0 mark through five games in 2026. Mestemaker has earned a 91.4 PFF grade when kept clean this season and has produced a 6.7% big-time throw rate."
It's fascinating that Mestemaker's draft stock has risen this high to where he is considered the top quarterback in a talented and deep QB class. The arm talent, confidence and dual-threat ability are there, but would a team like the Dolphins really take him over a quarterback like Manning, Dante Moore or Darian Mensah?
If Jeremiah Smith is off the board, it's a selection that makes sense for the Dolphins because they have Malik Willis in place.
This would allow Miami to sit Mestemaker in the same fashion the Las Vegas Raiders are doing with 2026 No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Given his small sample size of just 19 career starts, I think Mestemaker will need time to grow and learn behind a veteran at the NFL level.
But here's the question.
Could the Dolphins, a team in need of top talent at various positions, afford to use a top-three pick on a player who wouldn't play right away?
That's a tough decision for a franchise looking to turn things around.
Still, if the hype surrounding Mestemaker is real and he continues to prove himself through the rest of the season, take the quarterback and have patience.
Sometimes, finding the right quarterback is worth the wait.
Essentially Sports NFL Mock Draft: Jets trade up for Drew Mestemaker
Essentially Sports' Daniel Rios is so high on Mestemaker that he has the New York Jets trading up to No. 2 overall to draft the intriguing quarterback.
"Coming into the season, Drew Mestemaker was my QB3, so it doesn’t shock me he’s the first quarterback off the board. Mestemaker has all the physical tools you want in a top 10 quarterback: a 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame paired with elite arm talent. The limited experience leads to some confusing decisions and inaccurate throws down the field, but the upside is all there. The New York Jets need a signal caller, and Mestemaker is the pick."
The Jets have the draft capital to make such a move, but it's possible the Los Angeles Chargers, who currently hold the No. 2 overall pick, move on from Justin Herbert. If they do, Mestemaker could be on their radar as well.
But let's stick to the teams currently looking for their quarterback of the future.
With the talent the Jets are accumulating on offense, adding any of the top quarterbacks would make this AFC East squad interesting. Mestemaker has the prototypical size, arm talent and mobility to get Jets fans excited.
But why trade up for him if Arch Manning is sitting there?
I know, I know. Manning's draft stock is falling, but it's always been about the promise (and the name) that had him entering the season as the top quarterback prospect.
Up until a couple of weeks ago, Manning was still considered the top prize. That's evidence of just how much this quarterback race can change from week to week.
If Mestemaker is the top name on the board when the Jets select, I can't get mad at the pick. The talent is there, and the upside is intriguing.
Trading up for him, however, is a different story.
For any team, it's just too early to anoint Mestemaker as the type of quarterback prospect you absolutely must have. Especially when there are other quarterbacks in this class who could ultimately prove to be just as good, if not better.
The Jets need a franchise quarterback, but do they really need to sacrifice additional draft capital to get Mestemaker?
That's where this projection gets interesting.
NFL Mocks: Drew Mestemaker to the Vikings
What's funny is I also have the Jets trading up to No. 2 in my latest 2027 NFL Mock Draft, but I have them selecting Arch Manning.
This is more of a projection of how I see things ultimately playing out at the end of the college football season.
As far as Mestemaker, I probably got some darts thrown at me for having the hot-name quarterback going No. 32 overall to the Minnesota Vikings.
Hear me out.
The thought here is that Mestemaker hasn't faced much major competition yet, and if he does need time to grow at the next level, what better team than the Vikings?
Minnesota would give Mestemaker an opportunity to develop without the immediate pressure of being a top-five pick expected to turn around a struggling franchise.
Admittedly, Mestemaker is playing like the top quarterback in the nation right now.
But the same could be said for CJ Carr, Darian Mensah, Austin Simmons and a few others.
That's what makes this draft class so fascinating.
Manning and Moore not running away as the top quarterback prospects has opened the door wide for a talent like Mestemaker through Week 6 of the college football season.
But there's a difference between playing like QB1 right now and being the first quarterback selected in the 2027 NFL Draft.
That's why I'm not quite ready to put Mestemaker ahead of the entire class.
The talent is there, but I want to see more before projecting him as a top-three pick.
Final verdict: Which NFL team makes the most sense for Drew Mestemaker?
So, who got it right?
While I still like the Vikings as a dream destination for Mestemaker, the Dolphins make the most sense if he continues to play his way into the top 10.
Miami has Malik Willis in place, which could give the Oklahoma State quarterback time to develop without the pressure of immediately becoming the face of the franchise.
That's why I'm giving PFF the nod in this week's NFL Mock Draft Roundup.
The Jets are intriguing, but trading up for Mestemaker is a gamble I'm not ready to make just yet. There's still too much football left to play and too many talented quarterbacks fighting for that QB1 status.
And with Arch Manning and Texas looming on Oklahoma State's schedule, Mestemaker could either strengthen his case as the top quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft or remind everyone just how quickly this race can change.
Add us as a preferred source on Google