2027 “Way Too Early” Mock Draft

Oregon

It's neck and neck at the top, but for now I have Dante Moore a touch ahead of Arch Manning as my QB1. I thought Moore would have been the 2nd overall pick to the Jets in 2026, and he won't escape the twice in this mock.

Texas

Arch Manning goes 2nd overall in this mock, but he probably has the most upside in the entire draft. I wonder if people would have been so critical of a raw sophomore in 2025 had his surname not been Manning. With a Texas team primed to explode, Manning has no excuses not to perform in 2026.

Ohio State

Jeremiah Smith is a truly elite talent. At the time of writing, Jeremiah Smith is the best receiver prospect I have personally ever covered (started seriously following the draft in 2016). It's a lofty comparison, but Smith is the closest we've had as a prospect to Calvin Johnson Jr. we've had in 20 years. Smith could play in the NFL tomorrow and probably have an 1,000 yard season.

South Carolina

Colin Simmons is the better football player right now, but Dylan Stewart's bend, athletic upside and physical potential is astronomical. He could be a demonic hands-in-the-dirt defensive end in the NFL.

Notre Dame

Leonard Moore is the best defensive player in the class, based on my summer opinions, and at the time of writing is only behind Jeremiah Smith on my way too early top-50. Moore is an elite CB prospect and the best CB prospect since Sauce Gardner (arguably, better). If he performs in 2026, he's a likely top-5 pick.

Texas

Simmons has had elite production as a freshman and sophmore, with 21.0 sacks in 2 years, and could go in the David Bailey range. Simmons is more of a 3-4 outside linebacker with less versatility than Stewart, but has a better nose for the quarterback as things stand.

Texas

Coleman has things to work on, but he has elite potential and could be the Malik Nabers of this draft class – i.e. the WR2 who challenges the pre-season crowned generational WR1 of the class.

Georgia

I really like Ellis Robinson, and think he was terrific in 2025. 2026 will be important, but if he has another good year, he could be a top-10 calibre cornerback in the upcoming draft.

Pick: Trevor Goosby (OT, Texas).

Tyler Guyton absolutely sucks, and it's not a lock that Terrance Steele will be starting a RT beyond 2026. Trevor Goosby is presently my OT1 of this draft class, and think he'd have been a top-20 pick had he entered the 2026 NFL Draft. He has elite size, true starting LT potential and is a wonderful athlete.

Alabama

The Jets already have David Bailey and Will McDonald, but the latter will be entering a contract year as a DPR type edge rusher. Pierre projects as a more balanced 3-4 rushing linebacker who was really good in 2025 and has top-16 upside.

Miami

I think Mensah has the potential to end up as QB1 in this class, or could plummet to Day 3. Colour me impressed from his sole season at Duke. His transfer to Miami could give him a Cam Ward-like ascension to the top of the draft.

Ohio State

On tape, Sayin is a top-5 calibre quarterback. However, he is not an overly impressive athlete and I fear he could have a Carson Beck-like regression. Equally, I highly suspect he may go back to school in 2027. As it stands, he's my QB4, though, and if he builds on his freshman season, he's a 1st round caliber QB.

Oklahoma

The Jets have 3 first round picks in 2027, and all 3 could be in the top-20. After having a really good 2026 NFL Draft, they have a ton of upside to rebuild their roster like the Lions did under Brad Holmes. In this scenario, they take David Stone. This may be a touch high for him when all is said and done, but I like Stone as a quality defensive tackle who is a stout, tough run defender who eats space. He has some upside as an interior pass rusher, too.

LSU

I was suprised the Chiefs came away from the 2026 NFL Draft without a single RT, as I don't trust Jaylon Moore to be a quality option at RT. Josh Simmons also missed time for personal reasons. Seaton is a quality athlete and played really well for Colorado. If he can perform in Baton Rouge, he could cement himself as an early Day 1 pick.

Arkansas

Rhodes would have been a candidate for the end of Round 1 had he declared, as he's a physically oppressive defensive end with serious pass rushing ability. He is a bit of a one year wonder, though, so if he can build on his 2025 season, he could sky-rocket into the top-16.

Miami

Like Rhodes, I think Wilson would have had a shot of going in the late 1st/early 2nd round in 2026, and had him ahead of Zion Young before he transferred to Miami.

Pick: Kelley Jones (CB, Mississippi State)

After losing Jamal Dean, and Benjamin Morrison not impressing as a rookie, the Buccaneers will let their CB room prove their worth in 2026. If they underperform, they could be serious candidate. Kelley could have been a top-50 pick had he declared in a weak 2026 class, but was wise to go back to school as he's raw. However, he has elite measurables and could catapult up boards with a strong 2027 season, as this class doesn't look anywhere near as talented at corner.

Clemson

The Lions go back to back Clemson in Round 1. According to Charlie Campbell, some teams preferred Heldt to TJ Parker, who went 35th overall in this past draft class. Heldt is another huge edge rusher who profiles well for 4-3 schemes, whereas the 2026 class was filled with smaller 3-4 type edge rushers.

Missouri

David Montgomery was a nice trade pickup for Houston, but they could really do with a true RB1. Hardy isn't a Love, Jeanty or Robinson calibre prospect, but he does have 3,000 yards in just 2 seasons. Another strong year could see him as a top-10 pick, but I have a late 1st round grade on him presently either way.

Miami

Moten Sr. played better than Rueben Bain Jr. at times in 2025, and could be one of the first interior defensive linemen taken in the upcoming draft class. He projects as a quality 3-tech in a draft class filled more with A-gap, run stuffing type NT's.

Pick: Jamari Johnson (TE, Oregon)

Hunter Henry will be a free agent after the upcoming season, and I have two TE's – Jamari Johnson and Trey'Dez Green – quite high on my way too early top-50. Jamari Johnson at times outplayed Kenyon Sadiq, and could be another early-round TE to come out of Oregon, who are beginning to challenge Iowa as Tight End University.

Oregon

The Chargers opted to pad their pass rush over their interior defensive line in the 2026 draft, but their current front-3 is aging and rather mediocre. I wasn't as enthused about Washington as I was with other prospects, and think he made the right call returning. As a big nose tackle, a 22% missed tackle rate is unacceptable. The 1st round traits are there, hence his placement in this mock, but I think he could be more an early-to-mid 2nd rounder like Lee Hunter if he doesn't develop as an interior pass rushing threat.

Alabama

Williams had a terrible 2025 season, but he has top-10 upside. It'll be very interesting to see how he plays as a Junior at Alabama. Puka Nacua is becoming Antonio Brown 2.0 as an off-field problem, and Davante adams could retire after the expiration of his contract this season.

Pick: Cayden Green (G, Missouri Tigers)

Despite winning the Super Bowl, the Seahawks interior offensive line is very much a work in progress outside of Grey Zabel. Cayden Green has played well at tackle for Missouri, but projects better to guard for the pros. If he moves inside he could be a really solid NFL guard.

Pick: Trey'Dez Green (TE, LSU)

Trey'Dez Green is raw as a former basketball recruit, but he has otherworldly size at 6-7, 240 and is an insane athlete. He could remind Sean Payton of Jimmy Graham, and Tight End is a need for them.

Georgia

Passing on Dillon Thieneman for the chronically injured Caleb Banks in Round 1 was a suprising move, and the Vikings' need at safety could be even more egregious in 2027. Bolden is a good prospect I have at 15th on my early top-50, but every single draft good safeties fall – even Caleb Downs, arguably the best safety prospect since Eric Berry, couldn't crack the top-10. The Vikings wouldn't complain.

Pick: Carter Smith (OT, Indiana)

As a 49ers fan, I can attest to the fact the the 49ers just do not value offensive lineman very highly and prefer scheme-fitting lineman later in the draft (Puni, McKivitz, Burford). However, I think this could Trent Williams' last season, leaving a lateral replacement-type move quite plausable. Carter Smith has played a lot of Football and was really good blocking in space, save for the National Championship game where he got abused by Rueben Bain Jr.

Indiana

The Bills traded for DJ Moore, but he alone won't cure their ailing passing attack. Becker was, at times, Indiana's best receiver in 2025. He was just a special teamer as a freshman but was a mismatch nightmare for the Hoosiers last season, and will front a two man reeciving duo with…

Indiana

…Nick Marsh. The Spartan transfer needs to clean up his concentration drops, but he has quality upside to develop into a big-bodied possession demon. Becker and Marsh is an unfair duo to have to scheme around for college defenses next season.

Florida

Travis Etienne had an up and down tenure in Jacksonville, but their rushing attack figures to take a huge step back next season. Baugh is in a clustered group of potential top-50 running backs, and arguably has the most upside of his tier, but will need to impress as the true feature back for Florida next season.

Alabama

Wiggins is developing into a nice starting cornerback, but Marlon Humphries appears washed. Brown is in the CB 3-5 conversation entering the season, but he goes to a college with a knack of developing quality defensive backs.

South Carolina

I don't for a moment think the Eagles would be the team to take Sellers, but wanted to talk about him in his mock. Sellers has a quality makeup and good skill-set, but wasn't very good for South Carolina lat year. Sellers has the tools to be a top-5 calibre player, but this will be a make or break season for him.