Arch Manning, Texas Tech’s next star pass rusher headline 2027 NFL Draft watch

While the 2027 NFL Draft is still over a year away, it’s never too early to start looking ahead, especially with teams either holding spring practices or getting ready to start them. In this first edition of 2027 NFL Draft Watch, we discuss how far Arch Manning can take the Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech’s latest pass-rushing addition in the transfer portal, and much more.

Who will win it all

Let my first note of the 2027 NFL Draft cycle be a prediction for who will win the national championship next season, and my pick is Texas. The Longhorns are loaded across the board and also have one of the best coaching staffs in college football.

The offense will be led by quarterback Arch Manning, who after a slow start to last season, began to look like a potential franchise quarterback by the end of the year. This season he will also have a much better supporting cast thanks to transfer portal additions Cam Coleman and Hollywood Smothers. In addition, Texas has two highly thought-of NFL Draft prospects on offense in Brandon Baker and Trevor Goosby.

The defense also features several highly regarded NFL Draft prospects along with a new defensive coordinator in Will Muschamp. The top NFL Draft prospect is edge defender Colin Simmons, who ESPN has called the top defensive player in the upcoming draft class. Another key addition to the Longhorns defense is linebacker Rasheem Biles, who transfers from Pittsburgh after leading the ACC with 17 tackles for loss while recording 101 total tackles last season.

Texas will face an early challenge against Ohio State and will close the season against rival Texas A&M Aggies football. But with Manning gaining another year of experience and a roster loaded with NFL talent, the Longhorns have the pieces to make a run and bring a national championship back to Austin.

Lane Kiffin’s next quarterback

One of the top offensive minds in college football, especially when it comes to developing quarterbacks, is new LSU head coach Lane Kiffin. Last season at Ole Miss Rebels football he turned Trinidad Chambliss from a Division II afterthought into the 2025 SEC Newcomer of the Year. Kiffin also helped elevate Chambliss from a player with little NFL buzz into a mid-round prospect before he ultimately decided to return to school.

This year Kiffin has a new signal caller in Sam Leavitt, who transfers in from Arizona State. Leavitt is coming off a down season in which he missed significant time with a foot injury. However, he showed during the 2024 season that he has the talent to become a highly regarded NFL prospect. That year he was named Big 12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year after throwing for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns while also rushing for 443 yards.

When projecting him to the NFL, the first trait that stands out is his ability to create big plays. He shows impressive mobility in the pocket and does a good job buying extra time when plays break down. Leavitt is also comfortable throwing from different platforms, a trait that should allow him to thrive in the Tigers’ sprint-out passing game.

The biggest question NFL scouts will want answered is his arm strength. Leavitt does not consistently generate high velocity on his deep throws, and the concern will be whether he can consistently challenge defenses vertically at the next level.

If he can answer that question, stay healthy, and play the way he did in 2024, there is a very good chance he could end up as a Day Two selection and even be drafted higher than the quarterback Kiffin previously developed in Chambliss.

Next Texas Tech pass rusher 

Texas Tech Red Raiders football already feature two of the top pass rushers in this year’s NFL Draft, led by David Bailey, widely projected as a top-ten pick. The other is Romello Height, who had a breakout season with 10 sacks after totaling just 6.5 over his previous three seasons and is expected to go in the mid rounds.

This year Texas Tech added another intriguing edge rusher via the transfer portal in Adam Trick from Miami of Ohio. Trick comes off a First-Team All-MAC season in which he recorded 12.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. According to PFF, he was one of the most well-rounded defensive ends in the country, earning a 91.3 overall grade, 91.1 pass-rush grade, and 79.2 run-defense grade.

While Trick lacks the elite athleticism and burst that Bailey possesses, he has the potential to be a Day Three pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. One trait that stands out on film is his strength, which allows him to hold the edge against the run and win pass-rushing battles with power. That combination of size and technique makes him a dangerous and versatile addition to Texas Tech’s defensive front.

Rutgers' two offensive weapons

One school not well known for producing highly drafted offensive playmakers is Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights have not had a skill-position player drafted before the seventh round since 2016. The offense also struggled to generate explosive production last season, finishing 70th in points per game and 85th in rushing offense. However, that could change this season thanks to Antwan Raymond and KJ Duff.

Raymond quietly emerged as one of the better running backs in the Big Ten last season. In 2025 he forced 76 missed tackles, the fifth-most in the FBS, while his 36 explosive runs were tied for the sixth-most nationally. As a pro prospect, he has a powerful lower body that makes him difficult to bring down on first contact and the quickness to hit the hole decisively. If he can improve his vision, he has a chance to be drafted earlier than former Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft and is coming off an impressive rookie season.

The star of the passing game will be wide receiver KJ Duff, who earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors last season after catching 60 passes for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns. The first trait that stands out is his size at 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds. He uses that frame extremely well, catching 61 percent of his contested targets last season according to PFF. Duff also has some of the best hands in the 2027 NFL Draft class, consistently attacking the ball and catching it away from his body.

If Raymond and Duff live up to expectations, Rutgers should see a significant jump in offensive production, and the Scarlet Knights could produce their highest drafted skill-position player in over a decade.

Next Iowa center in the pipeline

The top free agent on the offensive line this season is former Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, and the Hawkeyes’ current offensive lineman Kade Pieper is hoping for a similar career. Like Linderbaum, Pieper will likely be viewed as an NFL center despite not seeing a snap at that position last season.

This year, Pieper is expected to move to center to replace Logan Jones, who is considered one of the top centers in the 2026 NFL Draft. The move makes sense for several reasons. First, his athletic ability stands out, as he recorded an Iowa offensive line record 1.52 10-yard dash and another record 37-inch vertical jump. Second, he is slightly undersized at 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, and that lack of bulk is less of a liability at the center position.

Going into the 2026 season, I have a fourth-round grade on Pieper who was a PFF All-American last season and allowed only one sack. However, if he proves to be a natural at center, he could easily rise to a Day Two pick.