Peeking ahead to what may be loaded 2027 draft … Now that the field for the 2026 draft – now just 95 days away – has been pretty well set, we can also get a sense of what the 2027 draft class might look like. And while the current draft class isn’t exactly blowing anyone away, especially at the very top of the board, next year’s class has the potential to be very talented. Let’s start with the QBs for example. While there is really only one QB in this year’s class – Fernando Mendoza of Indiana – with a top 5-10 grade, the 2027 draft could include, in no particular order, Dante Moore of Oregon, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Arch Manning of Texas, Oklahoma’s John Mateer, Sam Leavitt, who transferred to LSU, Darian Mensah, formerly of Duke who is in the portal, Brendan Sorsby, who transferred to Texas Tech, Southern Cal’s Jayden Maiava, Drew Westemaker, the leading passer in college football last year who transferred to Oklahoma State, and Byrum Brown who transferred to Auburn. In fact, several of those players will actually have eligibility remaining after the upcoming season and need not enter next year’s draft, but that’s a lot of arm talent.
And quarterback likely won’t be the only stocked position in 2027 as there are several others with multiple prospects with elite potential including the edge rushers. That group could include, for example, Dylan Stewart of South Carolina, Colin Simmons of Texas, Utah’s John Henry Daley, Minnesota’s Anthony Smith, Quincy Rhodes of Arkansas, Damion Wilson, formerly of Missouri who is in the portal, and the Oregon duo of Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti. Meanwhile, no position may have more pure elite talent for 2027 than the WRs which could feature Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State, Alabama’s Ryan Williams and Cam Coleman of Auburn, while there are a number of quality OT prospects including Trevor Goosby of Texas, Jordan Seaton, formerly of Colorado who is in the portal, Xavier Chaplin who transferred to Florida State and Cayden Green of Missouri.
