NFL Draft Notebook: Could Darian Mensah replace Baker Mayfield with the Buccaneers?

Football season is officially here, and just one week into NFL training camps, one of the league's biggest storylines has already emerged in Tampa Bay. Baker Mayfield's contract situation has sparked questions about his future and whether the Buccaneers could already be thinking about life after their veteran quarterback.

In this week's NFL Draft Notebook, we examine whether Miami quarterback Darian Mensah could emerge as Tampa Bay's quarterback of the future. We also spotlight one of the top FCS prospects in the country, Furman defensive end Joshua Stoneking, and close with three quick hits from around the 2027 NFL Draft.

Could Darian Mensah replace Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay?

One of the biggest stories of NFL training camp so far is how unhappy Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is without a new contract. One of the things Mayfield is reportedly disappointed about is that the Buccaneers have not offered more than a two-year contract extension. This lack of commitment has to raise the question of whether the team is ready to move on with a possible draft pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

One player the Buccaneers could look at near the end of the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft, assuming they make a deep playoff run, is Miami's Darian Mensah. Mensah is coming off an impressive season at Duke, where he was named the 2025 ACC Newcomer of the Year after leading the ACC in passing touchdowns, passing yards, and passing yards per game. This season, he should continue to see his NFL Draft stock rise after transferring to Miami, which has produced two quarterbacks drafted in the top 65 picks over the past two years, with Carson Beck going to the Cardinals with the first pick of the third round in the 2026 NFL Draft and Cam Ward going No. 1 overall to the Titans in the 2025 NFL Draft.

When looking at how Mensah would fit with the Buccaneers, his top trait is his impressive accuracy. He shows the ability to throw the ball into tight windows from both the pocket and in the sprint-out passing game. This past season, he completed a career-high 67% of his passes, and in 2024 he was no slouch either, leading the ACC with a 66% completion percentage. A big reason he has been such an accurate passer is his ability to consistently align himself to his target, preventing him from having to throw across his body.

Another positive with Mensah is his high football IQ. This stands out in a couple of ways, starting with his low number of turnovers, as he has thrown an impressive 56 touchdown passes compared to just 12 interceptions over the past two seasons. A big reason for this is his ability to work through multiple reads without forcing many throws. It also shows up in his anticipation, as he consistently hits receivers coming out of their breaks and into open space.

While there is plenty to like about Mensah, there are still some boxes he will need to check this season. This starts with his arm strength. While he is helped by being one of the more polished passers in college football because of his footwork, he does lack some zip on the deep ball. He also needs to do a better job of getting rid of the ball on time instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity to present itself, something he did too often at Duke, leading to him being sacked 27 times.

While there is still plenty of time for the Buccaneers to give Mayfield a new contract, knowing they have options like Mensah in the 2027 NFL Draft should help put Tampa Bay fans at ease.

Furman's Joshua Stoneking is one of the top FCS prospects to watch

While the number of FCS players selected in the NFL Draft has declined since the transfer portal was established in college football, with just four players drafted this year and no more than 11 selected in any draft after averaging more than 16 per year during the 2010s, one prospect who could hear his name called from the FCS this season is Furman's Joshua Stoneking.

Like most FCS NFL Draft prospects, Stoneking catches the attention of NFL scouts with his elite production. In his first year as a starter for the Paladins, he led the FCS with 23 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks while also recording 79 tackles. He also proved against Clemson that he can compete against NFL-caliber talent, pressuring the quarterback seven times and recording three tackles for loss. To say the least, he has produced at a high enough level to generate plenty of NFL interest.

In addition, Stoneking has several NFL traits working in his favor. One of those is his impressive power, which allowed him to consistently bull-rush offensive tackles, finishing the season with 54 pressures. That same power helped him hold up well against the run despite being undersized at 6-foot-3 and 258 pounds, earning an impressive 80.5 PFF run-defense grade. Along with his power, he shows solid burst off the ball for a physical defensive end and has demonstrated the ability to win with either power or speed.

When it comes to where NFL teams will view Stoneking as a prospect, he will need to answer a few questions. First, he must prove he can consistently compete against NFL-caliber talent, something he will have the opportunity to do at an all-star game like the East-West Shrine Bowl, which recently named him to its watch list entering the season. He will also need to post strong numbers at the NFL Combine, including a 40-yard dash and bench press that rank in the upper half of his position group.

If Stoneking can answer those questions and continues to produce like he did last season, look for NFL teams to strongly consider him late in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Quick hits around the 2027 NFL Draft

• One of the biggest sleepers in the 2027 NFL Draft is Iowa State defensive end Isaac Terrell. Before transferring to Ames, Terrell earned Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honors at Washington State after recording 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks despite playing in a limited role. What stands out most is his relentless motor and physicality. Although he played at just 247 pounds last season, he consistently held his ground at the point of attack while using his power and effort to generate pressure. Despite that production, Terrell was ranked just the No. 528 transfer and has received little attention from the NFL Draft media. Don't expect that to last, as Terrell has the talent to emerge as a Day 3 prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft.

• One box Texas quarterback Arch Manning can check for NFL scouts this season is his ability to handle adversity. After a slow start to his first season as the full-time starter, especially following the loss to Ohio State, Manning faced an enormous amount of criticism. Instead of folding, he responded by finishing the year strong, posting a QBR of 92.0 or higher in four of his final five games. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian believes that experience will pay off in a big way this season. At SEC Media Days last week, Sarkisian said: "

What he got through probably would have melted or destroyed 99 percent of the people in his shoes. Right now he's a very dangerous player because he learned a lot from last season, and he is surrounded by some good players. I think that he's a guy that's poised for a heck of a season."

• The Miami Hurricanes lost two first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft in Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, leaving a major void at defensive end. One player they are counting on to help fill that loss is Damon Wilson II, who transferred in after earning Second-Team All-SEC honors at Missouri. Last season, Wilson recorded 37 quarterback hurries and nine sacks, showcasing the pass-rushing ability that made him one of the top transfer additions in the country. On film, Wilson's explosive first step and active hands consistently allow him to disengage from blockers and pressure the quarterback.
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