The 2026 college football season is underway, which means we’re on the brink of finally getting new data points for projected top prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft. I decided to throw together a mock draft before the first month of the season rewrites how we feel about the class.
This will be my first and only mock draft of the summer. It combines some of my personal evaluations on prospects with predictive elements. That means the draft capital used on some of these prospects doesn’t reflect my personal opinion on them. You can learn more about my prospect rankings later this week when I drop a final summer big board.
I used the draft order listed on Tankathon for this first round mock. Don’t blame me for where your favorite team falls. I haven’t looked at any mock drafts recently, so I have no idea how I compare to the consensus.
The mock draft reflects one (potentially bold/bad) take I have on the 2027 NFL Draft. Very few top quarterback prospects will declare. Too many lack polish and are better served returning to school for 2027. I think CJ Carr (Notre Dame), Drake Lindsey (Minnesota), Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State), Julian Sayin (Ohio State), and LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina) all forgo declaring for the NFL.
Announcement: I am joining Cory Kinnan’s Monday Morning Hangover series on the Daft on Draft podcast as a recurring guest for a segment highlighting one of the top trench prospects after each week. This week, we covered North Carolina’s Melkart Abou-Jaoude. You can find the Week 0 episode here.
1. Arizona Cardinals: Dante Moore, QB Oregon
It’s a battle of ceiling vs. floor between Manning and Moore. The Oregon product is more likely to get an NFL team on base but will likely never challenge the ranks of the league’s elite passers. On the other hand, Manning has the tools to ascend several levels in the quarterback hierarchy, but it’s still hard to tell what he’ll look like in a given week.
2. Miami Dolphins: Arch Manning, QB Texas
The Dolphins recently traded a quarterback to the Jaguars, traded for a quarterback from the Packers, and signed a quarterback waived by the Jets. That’s fun. This roster isn’t going to give Malik Willis a fair chance to succeed, but life isn’t fair buddy. It’s Arch time.
3. New York Jets: Jeremiah Smith, WR Ohio State
This is a really interesting scenario for the Jets. Do they offer Miami all three of their 2027 first round picks in a two-quarterback draft class? Would Miami take those picks knowing their supporting cast isn’t ready for a young quarterback and that there are a lot of good redshirt sophomores and juniors in the college ranks?
The answer is almost certainly no because if the Dolphins give the Jets a quarterback who turns out to be great, it will create a wave of generational trauma for the fandom.
4. Cleveland Browns: Leonard Moore, CB Notre Dame
The Browns are another team with multiple first round picks in 2027 that needs a quarterback, but there isn’t one here. Without the guarantee of landing a starting quarterback, Cleveland should look to draft the best player available at a position that will be a need two or three years down the line.
5. Tennessee Titans: Trevor Goosby, OT Texas
Rejoice Titans fans, for I bring you the gift of Dan Moore’s replacement. Goosby hasn’t quite hit the level of your usual top 10 offensive tackle selection, but last season was just his first as a starter. He has the tools to develop into a prospect worthy of this selection.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Cam Coleman, WR Texas
Right tackle is a need, but Las Vegas’ wide receiver room might be the worst in the NFL. The Raiders have too many problems to fix in one draft. Coleman currently sits in the blue chip prospect tier, which makes him a great option to pair with Brock Bowers.
7. Atlanta Falcons: Jordan Seaton, OT LSU
I salute Jake Matthews for his years of uninterrupted starts at left tackle, but his age is starting to show up in significant ways. Jawaan Taylor at right tackle isn’t much of a calming presence either. The Falcons need offensive tackle help. They also need Jalon Walker to return to full health and for Michael Penix Jr. to be the answer at quarterback. Seems like a tricky parlay to hit.
8. New Orleans Saints: Dylan Stewart, Edge South Carolina
Stewart is one of the easiest top five grades I’ve ever given out. The refinement isn’t there yet, but you’re fooling yourself if you can’t see the athletic upside to be a Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher. Unfortunately, the back injury he suffered last season looms as a potential guillotine for his draft stock. That’s why he fell to eight. It’s a minuscule drop compared to what he might face if the medicals come back poorly.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers: Charlie Becker, WR Indiana
The Steelers have a very odd wide receiver room. Germie Bernard might pop as a rookie and allow Pittsburgh to look at other positions in the draft, but questionable returns from their WR3 this year should push the Steelers to grab one of the five best pass catchers in this class. It’s also worth wondering how much juice Michael Pittman Jr. (two-year contract) has left in the tank.
10. Carolina Panthers: Nick Marsh, WR Indiana
The Panthers actually have a really strong roster on paper. Or at least they did before Nic Scourton tore his ACL and Taylor Moton developed blood clots. There are a lot of reasons to be hopeful for 2027. The only issue is that one of the biggest question marks on Carolina’s roster is the 5’10 1/8” fourth-year quarterback. Adding Marsh to the wide receiver room alongside Jalen Coker and Tetairoa McMillan at least adds more fangs to the offense.
11. New York Giants: Melvin Siani, OT Texas
This is a very high landing spot for a player like Siani. He’s still more potential than polish, but no other pure offensive tackle comes close to the trio of Goosby, Seaton, and Siani in this class. It’s a war of scarcity. This pick allows the Giants to keep Francis Mauigoa at right guard and might finally fix their offensive line (it only took a decade).
Wide receiver should also be a priority for the Giants. We’re going to learn a lot about Malik Nabers’ condition over the next month. New York’s inability to land a promising pass catcher to pair with Nabers is a head-scratcher. Better correct that mistake while Jaxson Dart is still early in his career.
12. Washington Commanders: Colin Simmons, Edge Texas
The Commanders have proven veterans in K’Lavon Chaisson and Odafe Oweh, who are both coming off playing some of the best football of their careers in 2024 and 2025. Simmons’ ceiling is just higher. There’s a good argument for this being an interior player instead of an edge. Either way, this is an ideal spot to land a defensive lineman.
13. New York Jets (Via Colts): David Stone, IDL Oklahoma
Quinnen Williams goes out, David Stone comes in. Stone isn’t a one-for-one replacement for Williams, who is an All-Pro-caliber player at his best. However, pairing Stone with T’Vondre Sweat gives the Jets size and violence along their defensive interior. It also frees up David Bailey and Will McDonald IV, neither of whom are great run defenders, to pin their ears back in the pass rush.
14. Minnesota Vikings: Zach Lutmer, NB Iowa
This is a very high spot for a player like Lutmer. Given his play style and versatile impact, I think we can pencil him in for a second round selection at worst. I’m just intrigued by the thought of him in a Brian Flores defense.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Echoles, IDL Ole Miss
This pick makes third round rookie Albert Regis redundant, but Echoles is the superior player in that general archetype. He’s not going to be a high-impact run defender, but he gives the Jaguars juice on the interior. His disruptive pass rushing ability should create opportunities for Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker.
16. New York Jets (Via Cowboys): Ellis Robinson IV, CB Georgia
As much as I liked Azareye’h Thomas as a prospect, the Jets need at least one new starter in their cornerback room. It would be great if Thomas takes his game to a new level in 2026, but the Jets still likely go pass catcher, defensive back, and pass rusher (in some order) with their first round picks.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: OJ Frederique Jr., CB Miami
Frederique needs to get healthy because he has the smooth hips and movement skills to smother routes in man coverage. I expect the Bengals will try to retain DJ Turner II this coming offseason, but Frederique is a strong fallback if the former second round pick hits free agency.
18. Dallas Cowboys (Via Packers): Ashton Hampton, CB Clemson
I’m notably lower on Hampton than the consensus, but I could see the Cowboys falling in love with his traits. He has the combination of size, speed, and fluidity to warrant a first round selection, but the mental aspect of the game is still a work in progress. Cobie Durant is a free agent after this coming season, and there’s a strong chance he commands a significant pay raise on the open market.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jamari Johnson, TE Oregon
The Buccaneers are a difficult team to draft for. Their roster looks sturdy on paper, but a few positions are one injury away from being in chaos. Wide receiver and cornerback depth needs addressing. However, among the remaining prospects, Johnson might provide the most immediate upgrade over an incumbent Buccaneers starter.
20. Chicago Bears: Yhonzae Pierre, Edge Alabama
The Montez Sweat contract expires after 2027. He has been a solid but disappointing starter, considering some of the potential he flashed early in his career with Washington. Austin Booker on the other side of the line made strides in 2025 but is still a work in progress. Pierre gives Chicago a three-man rotation for 2027 with complementary strengths.
21. Denver Broncos: Brauntae Johnson, S Notre Dame
The Broncos need to contend with their aging offensive line and shedding some of their defensive back depth in free agency simultaneously. It’s not an enviable position, but Johnson gives them a nice out. He’s the best safety in the class and might even be a top 15 prospect. Positional value contributes to him getting this far down the board.
22. New England Patriots: Greg Johnson, G Minnesota
Mike Onwenu is a pending free agent, and Alijah Vera-Tucker has only played more than 10 games twice in a five-year career. Johnson is the top true guard in the 2027 class.
23. Los Angeles Chargers: Ryan Wingo, WR Texas
Wingo is a chaotic but gifted wide receiver with elite physical tools. The combo makes him a perfect fit for the Chargers and their already difficult-to-understand swings in performance. They should run the pick in if Greg Johnson makes it this far because their starting guard play this year is…going to be something else.
24. San Francisco 49ers: Bryant Wesco Jr., WR Clemson
The 49ers need more youth in their wide receiver room. Assuming Mike Evans still has some ability to stretch the field in 2027, Wesco is an ideal option for intermediate targets. He’s a surprisingly loose athlete capable of generating natural separation.
25. Houston Texans: Anto Saka, Edge Texas A&M
This is another roster with few holes on paper. The only outright area of concern is the offensive line, but the Texans just used two draft picks to address that issue this past spring. There isn’t a lineman on the board that is an enticing enough prospect to abandon the current plan. Saka is in a make-or-break year with Texas A&M. He’s either going to be a top 40 player or fall to the middle of Day 3.
26. Detroit Lions: Trevor Lauck, OT/G Iowa
The Lions are giving some of their young, project offensive linemen too much credit. This team was one of the best in the NFL for a multi-year stretch because of the play calling and a dominant front five. It’s time to get serious about a long-term future up front. Lauck slots in at left guard in this scenario.
27. Kansas City Chiefs: Andrew Rappleyea, TE Penn State
Rappleyea still has a lot to prove, but his athletic traits are excellent. He might not get the same target share Tyler Warren did several years ago, but Rappleyea is due for a breakout season. No one will ever replace what Travis Kelce meant to the Chiefs offense, but this pick addresses the issue.
28. Seattle Seahawks: Taylor Wein, Edge Oklahoma
Seattle bled a lot of depth on its defense after winning the Super Bowl. The cornerback, safety, and edge rusher rooms took the hardest hits. Of those positions, cornerback is the only one without a clear option at this pick. Edge requires a bit of a stretch, but Wein is one of several prospects with the potential to jump from Day 2 to Day 1 status with a strong final season.
29. Philadelphia Eagles: Anthonie Knapp, G Notre Dame
Landon Dickerson’s injury history could result in him retiring early, and Tyler Steen is a replacement-level player. The best teams stay good in the trenches by finding solutions to problems that haven’t arisen yet.
30. Baltimore Ravens: A’Mauri Washington, IDL Oregon
Calais Campbell and Broderick Washington are free agents next spring. A’Mauri Washington doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher, but he’s explosive enough to contribute some pressure while causing chaos in the run game. This is a low-value grab, but it keeps the Ravens from reaching for a receiver. Ideally, there’s a good cornerback prospect here for Baltimore in the actual draft.
31. Buffalo Bills: KJ Bolden, S Georgia
Elements of Buffalo’s roster feel like they’ve been stuck in stasis for three or four years. The front office recently made some moves to add new faces to the secondary, but the needle remains unmoved. This pick becomes unnecessary if Jalon Kilgore finds a way to contribute as a rookie.
32. Cleveland Browns (Via Rams): Justin Scott, IDL Miami
This is a fairly anticlimactic selection for the Browns. With the top tier of prospects off the board, Cleveland will probably attack whatever position caused the most pain in 2026. That could be wide receiver, guard, the defensive interior, etc. With Teven Jenkins hitting free agency, it might be worth looking into Cayden Green, Jacarrius Peak, or Evan Tengesdahl.
Projected Return to School Quarterbacks
CJ Carr, QB Notre Dame
Drake Lindsey, QB Minnesota
Drew Mestemaker, QB Oklahoma State
Julian Sayin, QB Ohio State
LaNorris Sellers, QB South Carolina
Honorable Mentions: Offense
Brendan Sorsby, QB Texas Tech
Jayden Maiava, QB USC
Darian Mensah, QB Miami
Jadan Baugh, RB Florida
Nate Frazier, RB Georgia
Ahmad Hardy, RB Missouri
Kewan Lacy, RB Ole Miss
Mario Craver, WR Texas A&M
Mike Matthews, WR Tennessee
Omarion Miller, WR Arizona State
Junior Sherrill, WR Vanderbilt
Benjamin Brahmer, TE Penn State
Trey’Dez Green, TE LSU
Anthony Donkoh, G Penn State
Cayden Green, OT/G Missouri
Jacarrius Peak, OT/G South Carolina
Evan Tengesdahl, G Cincinnati
Kade Pieper, C Iowa
Honorable Mentions: Defense
Bear Alexander, IDL Oregon
Tavion Gadson, IDL Kentucky
DJ Hicks, IDL Texas A&M
Ahmad Moten Sr., IDL Miami
Clev Lubin, Edge Louisville
Quincy Rhodes Jr., Edge Arkansas
Jordan Ross, Edge LSU
Boubacar Traore, Edge Notre Dame
Sammy Brown, LB Clemson
Chris Cole, LB Georgia
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, LB Notre Dame
Zeke Berry, CB Michigan
Zabien Brown, CB Alabama
Kelley Jones, CB Mississippi State
Kayin Lee, CB Tennessee
Brice Pollock, CB Texas Tech
Jontez Williams, CB USC
Jaylen McClain, S Ohio State
Jelani McDonald, S Texas
Marcus Neal Jr., S Penn State
Dashawn Spears, S LSU