Week after week, Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker is building his case to be the first quarterback taken in the 2027 NFL Draft.
On Saturday, Mestemaker was 22-34 for 365 yards and three touchdowns against Houston.
It marked his fifth consecutive game with over 300 passing yards, and he ranks sixth in college football with 1,940 yards through the air.
With the 2027 quarterback class getting murkier by the week, this week's NFL Mocks Watch examines Mestemaker's case to be the first quarterback drafted next April.
Why Drew Mestemaker is joining the 2027 NFL Draft QB1 conversation
Mestemaker passes the first test when it comes to draft evaluation: size. The Oklahoma State football website has him listed at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, but many evaluators and other sites have him listed as even bigger than that.
That size gets put to good use with a strong arm and comfort in the pocket. Mestemaker stands tall in the pocket, even under pressure, and delivers strikes all over the field.
What Drew Mestemaker's touchdown pass reveals about his NFL potential
There are several reasons to like this throw from an evaluation perspective. First off, it's sick. A deep ball from a quarterback that drops right into the receiver's bucket while moving to his left is one of the top things to watch on a football field.
Now for real analysis. I really like the timing of the play. I'm not in the huddle, but it feels like the play was always meant to go to No. 10, Wyatt Young. But Mestemaker has to give him time to get downfield. So there's the little look-off to the right, which buys Young a beat, but also might help move the safety the wrong way.
Next, there's the body control. Mestemaker has to move to his left while being a right-handed thrower. Every quarterback who does this has to make the decision of just how much they are going to get their feet set for the throw. Not setting the feet enough can create an inaccurate pass. Taking the time to set them up too much can throw off the timing of the play. Mestemaker appears to have total control of where his body is, and the accuracy and timing of the throw suggest he nailed the mechanics he wanted.
And lastly, the arm talent. The ball travels roughly 50 yards through the air without losing any steam. Young even catches it mostly in stride, only slowing up a little, and he doesn't have to break off his route. For Mestemaker to nail the timing, distance, and placement of that ball takes the arm talent of a potential No. 1 overall pick.
Drew Mestemaker's 2027 NFL Draft stock keeps climbing
Mestemaker is climbing NFL draft boards while watching his fellow quarterbacks tumble around him. Arch Manning, Dante Moore, and LaNorris Sellers were all thought to be potential top-10 picks in the 2027 NFL Draft at the start of the 2026 season, and for one reason or another, they are all facing questions about their draft projections.
Mestemaker, however, was considered a dark horse candidate to keep an eye on this season. After starting as a walk-on at North Texas following a high school career as a backup quarterback, Mestemaker is in his first year at Oklahoma State this season and was considered more of a 2028 prospect.
But experts were enticed by his production at North Texas, along with his physical traits, so he came into the year as a wild card for 2027. With the way he is producing this year and the struggles of the other quarterbacks, the chances of him declaring for the 2027 NFL Draft are growing.
3 NFL teams that could target Drew Mestemaker in the 2027 NFL Draft
It's time for an updated NFL Mocks Watch look at the teams who could target a quarterback with a top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
We've talked ad nauseam about the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns using their multiple first-round picks to position themselves for the top quarterback in the draft. But these three teams are currently ahead of them in what would be the draft order, and if they had the chance to draft Mestemaker themselves, they should at least consider keeping the pick.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a bottom-five offense in just about every statistic so far in 2026, and starting quarterback Malik Willis is not making the case for himself to be the team's starter in 2027.
Willis was brought in to be a familiar face to head coach Jeff Hafley after they were both in Green Bay in 2024 and 2025. After signing a mid-tier contract this offseason, Willis had the opportunity to play his way into being a multi-year starter for the Dolphins.
But through five games, he ranks 27th in EPA per dropback and is last in passing touchdowns with just two.
If the Dolphins have a chance at Mestemaker, they have to at least consider it. The quarterback play in Miami hasn't been good since 2023, and with Willis still under contract, they could ease Mestemaker into the starting job.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are watching the worst-case scenario play out for them this season. They signed Baker Mayfield to a big extension, and he was last in EPA per dropback before getting injured.
Coming off of their best game of the season in Week 5 with a win against the Dallas Cowboys, the Bucs followed that up with their worst offensive performance in Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
There's growing optimism that Mayfield can play in Week 7, but after a 1-5 start, it might be too big of a hole for Tampa Bay to climb out of. Mestemaker would provide the franchise with a quick pivot in a new direction.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are going to be ready to hand the keys of the franchise to a new quarterback in 2027. The 2024 season was Kyler Murray's last complete season in a Cardinals uniform, and the franchise is ready for a new face at quarterback.
Head coach Mike LaFleur is putting his offense in place this year, laying the groundwork for a new quarterback to come in. Veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew are free agents after this year, but 2026 third-round pick Carson Beck could reasonably open the season ahead of Mestemaker if needed.
Despite trading Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona has talented offensive pieces in place that would help a young quarterback in Trey McBride, Michael Wilson, Jeremiyah Love, and Paris Johnson Jr. Mestemaker would have plenty to work with to help ease the pressure if he were to be drafted by Arizona.
There is still a long way to go until the 2027 NFL Draft, and there still isn't a guarantee that Mestemaker will even declare this year.
But with each passing week, Mestemaker is climbing up draft boards. As his strong performances continue to stack up while other quarterbacks struggle, it's going to be harder and harder to make the case against Mestemaker as QB1 in 2027.
The question now is whether he can keep that momentum going as the competition gets tougher?
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