While the 2027 NFL Draft is still more than a year and a half away, the next two weeks in college football will have a major impact on how early draft boards start to take shape. The transfer portal is opening, and recent drafts have shown just how quickly a player’s NFL trajectory can change because of it.
Two of the top prospects expected to come off the board in this year’s draft, Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza, both reached their current programs through the portal, proving how game-changing the right move can be.
This year’s transfer portal class isn’t as top-heavy. Only one player, Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman, is expected to enter the 2026 season with a true first-round grade. That said, there’s still plenty of upside in this group. In the right system, several players could make significant jumps up 2027 NFL Draft boards.
Top 5 2027 NFL Draft prospects in the transfer portal
Cam Coleman, WR, Auburn
Cam Coleman sits atop the transfer portal rankings per On3 and should enter next season with a legitimate top-10 grade for the 2027 NFL Draft. He checks every box of a true NFL No. 1 receiver. He plays through contact, wins in traffic, and finished first in the SEC with 12 contested catches. He is not just a possession guy either. Coleman consistently threatens defenses vertically, catching 65% of Auburn’s targets thrown 20 or more yards downfield. If he ends up at Texas, pairing him with Arch Manning would instantly give the Longhorns one of the most dangerous quarterback-receiver duos in the country.
ONE-HANDED CAM
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 16, 2024
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DJ Lagway, QB, Florida
Florida quarterback DJ Lagway may only be viewed as the seventh-best quarterback in the transfer portal, but his elite traits still give him the highest NFL upside of the group. That upside starts with his arm strength and his physical running style, both of which clearly translate to the next level. The concern is production. Lagway led all Power 4 quarterbacks with 14 interceptions last season and has struggled at times to work through his reads in the passing game. If he wants to be drafted high, that has to improve. A move to a program like Miami could help him take a major step forward in those areas and allow his talent to show up more consistently on the field.
Hollywood Smothers, RB, North Carolina State
Hollywood Smothers was a running back I was high on entering the season, naming him to my All-ACC NFL Draft team, and he backed that up on the field. Smothers rushed for a career-high 939 yards while averaging 5.9 yards per carry, consistently creating chunk plays with 14 runs of at least 10 yards. He also proved to be a reliable receiver out of the backfield, catching 37 of the 40 passes thrown his way. I have previously compared Smothers to former Florida State running back Travis Minor, and Florida State could be a logical landing spot for him next season.
John Henry Daley, DE, Utah
The top defensive prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft currently in the transfer portal is Utah defensive end John Henry Daley. Daley earned All-American honors this past season after ranking top five nationally in both sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (17.5) in just 11 games. As a pro prospect, he shows good burst off the ball, strong hand usage, and a nonstop motor. Do not be surprised if he follows his former Utah coach, Kyle Whittingham, to Michigan.
"He’s (John Henry Daley) a tough kid. He just keeps coming at you. He’s a throwback guy. He’s old school. He’s just a grinder."Kyle Whittingham
Rasheem Biles, OLB, Pittsburgh
Another defensive prospect in the transfer portal who put up big numbers this season is Pittsburgh linebacker Rasheem Biles. Biles finished the year with 17.5 tackles for loss and is coming off an elite bowl performance, becoming the first player in 18 years to record 15 tackles, four tackles for loss, and a touchdown in a single game. Ohio State appears to have strong interest, which makes sense with the Buckeyes set to lose multiple linebackers to the 2025 NFL Draft.