Darian Mensah improved both his 2026 Heisman Trophy odds and 2027 NFL Draft stock after leading the Miami Hurricanes to a record-setting Week 2 victory over Florida A&M in the team’s home opener Thursday night.
In this edition of NFL Mocks Watch, we turn our attention to the Miami quarterback after another performance that showed why his stock is rising quickly in a loaded 2027 quarterback class.
The No. 7-ranked Hurricanes improved to 2-0 on the season after smoking Florida A&M 77-7, tying a school record with 77 points while piling up 856 total yards. As Miami found plenty of ways to score, it was once again Mensah showcasing his outstanding quarterback play as he looked unstoppable in leading his team to scores on all seven first-half drives.
In the victory, Mensah completed 14 of 15 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns. That followed his Week 1 performance against Stanford, when he completed 27 of 30 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns. Eight touchdown passes in just six quarters of play is quickly showing the nation that Mensah is the real deal. Having a special wide receiver like Malachi Toney certainly helps.
Mensah connected with Toney on a 19-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter, but it was this 55-yard downfield connection to Joshua Moore that won the highlight of the night:
What goes ☝️ must come 👇
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) September 11, 2026
📺: @accnetwork pic.twitter.com/HXFsBHTYk6
What Darian Mensah’s highlight showed NFL scouts
Although the competition wasn’t elite, the highlight showed that Mensah is not just tossing the ball to Toney. It showed a quarterback willing to spread the ball around while showcasing his field vision, progression and ability to deliver the ball deep with touch and accuracy.
The real impression, however, has been his overall body of work. He has been accurate, shown poise and patience in the pocket and, most impressively, has been extremely efficient.
Most importantly, he hasn’t turned the ball over in his six quarters of play.
After playing just one half of the game, the early Heisman candidate was happy with his performance in front of the home crowd.
“Obviously, I wanted to play well,” Mensah said following the game. “Canes fans were very supportive of me when I first got here. And so to kind of give that back on the field with my play means a lot to me.”
Darian Mensah’s 2027 NFL Draft stock is trending up
In completing 91 percent of his passes for 653 yards and eight touchdowns through two games, there is no doubt Mensah is gaining steam as a QB prospect to watch throughout the season. The bigger challenges for Mensah and the Hurricanes lie ahead, especially a matchup against CJ Carr and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
In that game, he will not only be going up against another top 2027 NFL Draft QB prospect, but he will also face an elite Notre Dame secondary featuring cornerback Leonard Moore, who is considered one of the top cornerbacks in the country, and safety Tae Johnson, one of the top safety prospects in the class.
That will be his biggest test yet and a chance to show whether the Mensah hype is real.
3 NFL teams that should be watching Darian Mensah
Mensah was already projected by NFL Mocks as a first-round talent. But after seeing what he has showcased through his first two games, he is making a strong case to be viewed as a top-10 talent.
The 2026 NFL season is just getting underway, but it's never too early to look ahead at which teams could be searching for their next franchise quarterback. Here are three teams that should be keeping a close eye on Mensah:
Arizona Cardinals
Why they should be watching: A team projected to land one of the top picks, the Arizona Cardinals have the coach and playmaking talent to be an ideal fit for Mensah. LaFleur’s system features rhythm-based passing, and Mensah’s quick processing and skill set would be a fit at the QB position.
The question is whether the Cardinals would select Mensah over either Arch Manning or Dante Moore if they held the No. 1 overall pick.
Cleveland Browns
Why they should be watching: The Cleveland Browns are another team that has the offensive talent in place for Mensah to step in and be productive from Day 1.
Whatever happens with Deshaun Watson in 2026, the Browns will be a team looking closely at the 2027 QB talent. Mensah’s ability to operate in the play-action game and deliver the ball with accuracy would make him an intriguing fit.
New York Jets
Why they should be watching: Mensah’s poise in the pocket and mobility should intrigue the New York Jets. As a quarterback with impressive deep-ball touch, a possible pairing with Garrett Wilson and talent like tight end Kenyon Sadiq would give Frank Reich another dynamic weapon at the QB position.
Mensah’s quick processing and ability to manipulate the pocket under pressure could make him an ideal fit for an offense looking for its long-term answer at quarterback.
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