The 2027 NFL Draft is generating historic hype, with expectations of top-tier talent at premier positions.
The college football season is just getting started, yet people are already labeling this upcoming draft as one of the most anticipated we have ever seen. The past two draft classes raised questions about elite depth, especially at quarterback.
Fortunately, the 2027 class represents a highly anticipated return to blue-chip prospects, like what the 2024 NFL Draft delivered. Only two quarterbacks were selected in Round 1 in each of the last two drafts, but that number is highly likely to change next year thanks to a stellar group of signal callers.
UT’s Arch Manning (photo FOX News)
The name in the biggest spotlight is Texas quarterback Arch Manning, whose blend of prototypical size, special arm talent, and athletic mobility has made him the top projected pick in most mock drafts. Despite a rocky start last year, Arch rebounded to lead the Longhorns to a 10-win season with big victories over Texas A&M and Michigan in their final two games.
Expectations are extremely high for Manning entering 2026, as he will now be throwing to Auburn star transfer wide receiver and projected top 10 pick, Cam Coleman.
Another quarterback whose name has been mentioned as the first signal-caller selected is Oregon’s Dante Moore. Moore surprised many fans by coming back to college for another year, as some believed that the New York Jets would select him with the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, he will look to build off his stellar 2025 campaign and lead the Ducks to their first national championship in program history.
Other top quarterbacks heading into the season feature Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, and Miami’s Darian Mensah.
Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith (photo courtesy SB Nation)
Despite the star power this upcoming quarterback class represents, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the prospect who many scouts and analysts believe is not only the best player in the draft, but also the greatest wide receiver prospect of all time. Smith’s elite physical traits, explosive athleticism, and route versatility have led to comparisons of superstar wide receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson. In his first two collegiate seasons, Smith recorded over 2,500 receiving yards and 27 receiving touchdowns while also leading the Buckeyes to a national championship victory his first year.
The 2027 NFL Draft also features a deep pool of defensive end talent, headlined by Texas’s Colin Simmons and South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart. Simmons is a polished, explosive pass rusher who is coming off a dominant 2025 season, posting an SEC-best 12 sacks. Stewart’s high motor and elite first-step quickness project him to a double-digit sack season and immediate pressure-creation at the next level. The expected depth in 2027 changes how NFL front offices manage current assets.
Which teams might benefit most from the riches of Draft talent? Here’s my take.
Last November, the New York Jets traded franchise cornerstones Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams for a total of three first-round picks and a second-round pick. After making three first-round selections in last year’s draft, the Jets will have three more first-round picks in the upcoming draft and are in prime position to grab their quarterback of the future in a loaded class.
This offseason, the Cleveland Browns traded superstar defensive end and reigning AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and three draft picks (2027 first-round pick, 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick). Like with the Jets, this trade gives Cleveland valuable draft capital to help them secure the quarterback of their future in the 2027 NFL Draft.
As the college football season goes on, stunning breakouts, regression, and injuries will alter the big boards. However, the level of talent will remain exceptionally high. If these top prospects live up to their projections, the 2027 NFL Draft will deliver one of the most unforgettable selection weekends of all time.
