Charlie Campbell
2027 NFL Draft Stock Up
Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana
Becker was superb against Ohio State, totaling 165 yards on nine catches. In the first quarter, Becker used his speed and size to get open on a slant for an 18-yard gain. Shortly later, Becker was being held and interfered with by Devin Sanchez, but the refs did not call an obvious penalty. Becker got open running an out route and showed nice feet to tap his toes to stay in bounds. Early in the third quarter, Becker got open with a burst away from a jam to get a completion for 36 yards.
Becker looks like a top-10 pick for the 2027 NFL Draft. Wide receivers with Becker’s skill set of being big, fast, and productive don’t last long in the NFL Draft, and Becker has special ability for the NFL. Big receivers are a dime a dozen, but what sets Becker apart from a typical big wideout is that he can really run. He has explosiveness and deep speed to get vertical. After a fast first step, Becker has a second gear to accelerate down the field and stretch defenses over the top. He can run by double coverage and create separation from defensive backs by beating them in a vertical race downfield. His speed and route-running skill allow him to consistently generate separation from defensive backs, as he is very difficult to run with. Becker shows good technique as a receiver as well. He tracks the ball well and has late hands to reel in passes even with defenders close. At his stature, Becker has big size, weight, height, strength, and length to present a dangerous mismatch versus defensive backs. Becker is a similar receiver to the Colts’ Alec Pierce. This tape will help Becker to go in the top 10 next April.
Andrew Rappleyea, TE, Penn State
Benjamin Brahmer is not the only Nittany Lions tight end that has early-round potential. Team sources say that Rappleyea is very talented and a potential day-two pick as well. Thus far, Rappleyea has 24 catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns. At 6-foot-7, 250-pound Rappleyea has mismatch size as a receiver, with strength and length to block at the point of attack. Rappleyea is a riser, and he could be in demand in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State
In speaking with some team sources, they see Jones as a starter and potential first-round pick. The 6-foot-3, 196-pound Jones is a big cornerback with impressive coverage skills. In 2026, Jones has 17 tackles with seven passes broken up. Jones is long, physical, and has speed. On top of coverage skills, Jones is a willing tackler and run defender. In 2025, Jones had 34 tackles with two interceptions and 11 passes broken up. He had 28 tackles as a freshman. Jones is on his way to have a starter grade and be a first-rounder next April.
Xavier Gilliam, DT, Tennessee
Gilliam has been a breakout star this season for the Volunteers. Gilliam has been a dominant force at the point of attack with speed, power, and athleticism. That continued against Alabama as Gilliam was eating up the interior of the Crimson Tide offensive line. Early in the first quarter, Gilliam had a good rush to flush Keelon Russell out of the pocket. Later in the first, Gilliam exploded off the snap with lightning speed to fire past the right guard and blow up a run that yielded a tackle for a loss for a teammate. After halftime, Gilliam helped start a coverage sack after he shed the left guard and then chased out of the pocket to help trip up Russell. Gilliam added a batted pass as well.
For the NFL, Gilliam looks like a dynamic interior defensive lineman. He is explosive off the ball with serious speed to fire a gap and get into the backfield. Gilliam is fast to close on the quarterback and has a burst to dart past blockers that catches guards by surprise. In the ground game, Gilliam is stout to hold his ground, shed blocks, and get in on tackles. He looks like a top 15 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he could end up going high in the first round if he continues his dominant play.
Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
Goosby was going against some really good young defensive linemen from Florida who will be early-round picks in the 2028 NFL Draft. Goosby has been really good this season, and that continued versus the Gators. Goosby put on a clinic and was superb. As a pass blocker, Goosby is hard to get around due to his massive size and length. He shows the athleticism to slide his feet and get depth in his drop to cut off the edge from speed rushers. In the ground game, Goosby is special. In the passing-driven game, there are many finesse left tackles that are good in pass protection but struggle to create any push or movement in the ground game. Goosby is a well-rounded blocker as he is reliable in pass protection and an absolute bull in the ground game. At the point of attack, Goosby is a mauler that has the power to drive block and push his defender back. Goosby looks like a legit top-10 pick next April and a potential franchise left tackle.
Rylan Kennedy, DE, Florida State
Kennedy has been on fire over the past four games, ripping off five sacks in that time. In the previous three seasons, Kennedy flashed with Texas A&M, but he was buried on the depth chart. Kennedy already has more sacks in 2026 than he did combined over the past three seasons. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder has some speed and athleticism off the edge. He is rising after going on a heater the past month.
2027 NFL Draft Stock Down
Arch Manning, QB, Texas
After losing the game for his team against Oklahoma with two terrible second-half interceptions, Manning did not rebound against Florida, with a secondary that has been lit up recently by Missouri and South Carolina. Tigers’ quarterback Austin Simmons and Gamecock’s trigger man LaNorris Sellers were much more effective in recent weeks against the Gators than Manning was. And Florida’s backup quarterback outplayed Manning to deal Manning his first home loss as the Longhorns starter. Manning finished completing 14-of-20 passes for 173 yards with a touchdown. With his team down by a field goal late in the fourth quarter, Manning gave the game away again. While getting spun to the ground, Manning had poor ball security and fumbled the ball away. The Gators recovered to take over in Texas territory with two minutes remaining. It was an ugly play as Manning had a receiver wide open in the flat early in the play, and he didn’t make the throw while holding onto the ball too long and then making a game-losing turnover. Manning finished completing 14-of-20 passes for 173 yards with a touchdown.
Regarding the NFL and the 2027 NFL Draft, Manning should probably return to Texas next season for his football development. If he enters the draft, he still could be a first-round pick, as plenty of teams are in need of a young starter and Manning has a good skill set and family pedigree. However, as a player, he needs to improve his field vision, accuracy, and decision-making. Given the family history, it would not be surprising if Manning does return to school and looks to improve before taking on the NFL.
Walt
