NFL Draft Slant: Drew Mestemaker, Beau Brungard make big Week 2 statements

Drew Mestemaker made my take from last week's NFL Draft Slant look absolutely ridiculous. One week after I said the Oklahoma State quarterback was looking more like a late-round pick, Mestemaker showed several high-end traits while leading the Cowboys to one of the biggest victories in school history with an upset of Oregon.

That's part of what makes evaluating college prospects so much fun. One week can completely change the conversation.

Mestemaker wasn't the only player who made a statement in Week 2. Miami looked like a truly dominant team, Texas knocked off Ohio State, and a forgotten quarterback is putting together an impressive bounce-back season. There were also several other performances that caught my attention from an NFL Draft perspective.

So, let's put a draft slant on Week 2 and look at which players helped their stock, which teams were scouting them, and how this weekend could ultimately impact the 2027 NFL Draft.

Drew Mestemaker answers the bell

The biggest surprise in college football this weekend was Oklahoma State earning its first win in 21 games against FBS opponents with its upset of sixth-ranked Oregon. The win made Oklahoma State the first team in FBS history to snap a 20-plus-game losing streak against FBS opponents by beating a ranked team.

A big reason why the Cowboys were able to accomplish this feat was the play of quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who, after having one of the worst games of his career last week and looking more like a late-round pick, showed why many NFL scouts are so high on him. Against the Ducks, he threw for 317 yards, rushed for another 109 yards and found the end zone four times.

He also showed some high-end traits that could allow him to work his way into the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft. One of those traits was his impressive arm strength, which was on full display in the second quarter when Mestemaker threw off his back foot and still managed to hit Wyatt Young more than 40 yards downfield for a 52-yard touchdown. Being able to generate that kind of velocity and accuracy while throwing off balance is a trait that should get NFL scouts' attention.

However, his most impressive plays may have come on the ground, starting with his 75-yard rush early in the first quarter. Then, in the fourth quarter, he made one of the gutsiest plays of the college football season so far, hurdling one defender and absorbing a hit from another to put Oklahoma State back on top. To say the least, he showed the grit NFL coaches require from their team leaders.

While there was plenty to love about his game and how he led Oklahoma State to one of the biggest wins in college football history, there are still some things he needs to clean up. The biggest concern is taking better care of the ball after tossing two interceptions. I'm also nervous about how low he carries the ball in the pocket, which could lead to fumbles at the next level.

As far as where Mestemaker may end up in the NFL Draft, a hint could be some of the teams that were in attendance to see him play live. Of the 19 NFL scouts in attendance, three teams that could need a quarterback were well represented, with the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons each sending three scouts to the game while the Miami Dolphins sent two.

While I can't see any of them taking Mestemaker in the top 10 of the 2027 NFL Draft, don't be shocked if one of them takes him at the end of the first round or even early in the second round.

Week 2 NFL Draft top performances

Beau Brungard, QB, Youngstown State

The top NFL Draft performance this week actually came from the FCS level, as Youngstown State's Beau Brungard accounted for eight total touchdowns, with seven coming in the first half before he sat out most of the second half. Overall, he completed 87 percent of his passes for 290 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for another 11 yards and two scores. While I don't currently have a draftable grade on Brungard, performances like this will get him on the radar of NFL scouts, and he could have a chance to make a roster as an undrafted free agent.

Hunter Tipton, TE, Memphis 

Another overlooked prospect who balled out on Saturday was Memphis tight end Hunter Tipton, who had the most productive game by a tight end so far this season, hauling in nine passes for 229 yards and a touchdown. His biggest play came in the first quarter when he scored on an 87-yard touchdown reception. Tipton was forced to leave the game with an injury in the third quarter and did not return, making his production even more impressive. While Tipton currently carries an undrafted free-agent grade, his impressive size at 6-foot-5 and big-play ability could make him a late-round draft pick if he continues producing at a high level.

John Henry Daley, DE, Michigan 

It looks like Michigan defensive end John Henry Daley is finally getting back to form after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury last year while he was at Utah. At the time of his injury, he was tied for the FBS lead with 17.5 tackles for loss and ranked second in the country with 11.5 sacks. This Saturday, he harassed the Oklahoma offense in the Wolverines' upset win over the Sooners, accounting for eight tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack. Right now, I have a fourth-round grade on the tough, physical defensive end, and I could see him going even higher if he continues to be a nightmare to block.

Reed Harris, WR, Arizona State 

Another NFL Draft prospect who I have a fourth-round grade on who shined on Saturday was Arizona State wide receiver Reed Harris. Harris was the Sun Devils' biggest bright spot in their loss to Texas A&M, catching nine passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns. He also showed strong hands, catching nine of the 11 passes thrown his way, along with impressive agility for a 6-foot-5, 220-pound wide receiver. If Harris can continue producing at this level, he has the size, hands, and athleticism to develop into a quality NFL receiver. 

Caden Veltkamp, QB, FAU 

An intriguing late-round quarterback prospect is FAU's Caden Veltkamp, who had a strong performance against Navy in the Owls' first victory over an opponent receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 since 2019. Veltkamp threw for a career-high 386 yards while completing 27 of 32 passes for five touchdowns in FAU's 38-30 victory. What's most intriguing about him as an NFL Draft prospect is his 6-foot-5, 236-pound frame and strong arm, which was on display when he connected with Easton Messer on a 76-yard touchdown pass just 42 seconds into the game.

NFL Draft scouting notes from Week 2

Arch Manning leads Texas comeback

The most impactful win in college football this week had to be Texas' 20-point fourth-quarter comeback to knock off top-ranked Ohio State. A big reason why the Longhorns were able to pull off the comeback was the much-improved play of quarterback Arch Manning. In the first half, Manning completed just 7 of 14 passes for 60 yards with one interception, but he was a completely different quarterback in the second half, completing 70 percent of his passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. So, what led to the improvement?

The first thing that stood out was his poise in the pocket. Manning was much less bouncy in the pocket and more decisive when working through his reads, allowing him to get the ball out quicker and make better throws. If he can continue playing with that level of confidence and decisiveness, this Texas team has a legitimate chance to make a run at its first national championship since 2005.

Another stellar performance from Darian Mensah

New Miami quarterback Darian Mensah had another impressive performance this week, throwing for 252 yards and three touchdowns while completing 93 percent of his passes in just the first half against Florida A&M. That makes it two straight weeks in which Mensah has completed at least 90 percent of his passes, while he has now thrown for 653 yards and eight touchdowns over that span. If he continues performing at this level against a relatively weak Miami schedule, look for Mensah to earn a late first-round NFL Draft grade.

Patriots eyeing Antwan Raymond

The New England Patriots sent four scouts to the Rutgers vs. Boston College game on Friday night. While they may have had so many scouts, including their director of college scouting Tony Kinkela, at the game because it was essentially in their backyard, one prospect they likely were watching closely is running back Antwan Raymond. Even though wide receiver KJ Duff is the Scarlet Knights' top prospect, the Patriots have a much better chance of drafting Raymond late in the 2027 NFL Draft because of their need at the position. Raymond put on a good show for them as well, rushing for 134 yards while averaging five yards per carry. 

Austin Simmons is putting himself back on the NFL Draft radar

Quarterback Austin Simmons is putting together quite the rebound season after suffering an injury early last year at Ole Miss and eventually losing his starting job to Trinidad Chambliss. This offseason, Simmons made the move to Missouri, which is already looking like a great decision for the 6-foot-4 lefty quarterback. In his latest game against Kansas, Simmons showed why he deserves a hard look from NFL scouts, completing 66 percent of his passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns while earning a 90.8 PFF passing grade. The trait that has stood out the most to me is his arm strength, as he consistently puts the ball into tight windows and displays good zip on his throws. If he continues to develop at this rate, he could become an intriguing quarterback prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft. 

Lions scouting Michigan corners

One of the weakest position groups on the Detroit Lions currently is cornerback, with the unit ranking 25th in the NFL according to ESPN. When you factor in that D.J. Reed and Rock Ya-Sin are both playing on expiring contracts, the need for help at the position becomes even greater. That could be one reason why general manager Brad Holmes was in attendance for the Oklahoma vs. Michigan game, as the Wolverines have a trio of defensive backs who could hear their names called in the 2027 NFL Draft, including Jyaire Hill, Smith Snowden and Zeke Berry.

If Week 2 proved anything, it’s how quickly the NFL Draft conversation can change. Mestemaker made the biggest statement, but with conference play approaching, plenty of 2027 NFL Draft prospects will have their opportunity to make a move.

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