The 2026 college football season hasn't even started yet, and we're already talking about how loaded the quarterback class could be in the 2027 NFL Draft.
There's a strong debate at the top of the board, where Texas' Arch Manning and Oregon's Dante Moore can both make strong cases for the No. 1 overall spot. Manning brings a ton of hype and upside with his dual-threat skill set and family background, but it's Moore who brings more proven production and polish to the conversation.
There are other signal-callers who could work their way into the first-round debate, as well. South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers brings a ton of potential to the table, while redshirt sophomores like Notre Dame's CJ Carr and Ohio State's Julian Sayin could leave multiple years of college eligibility behind in order to make the early jump to the pros.
2027 NFL DRAFT RANKINGS
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | Interior OL | Edge | Interior DL | LB | CB | S
How could they all come off the board next April? What about the top prospects at other premium positions, like Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, and stud edge rushers like South Carolina's Dylan Stewart and Texas' Colin Simmons?
Here's an early look at how the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft could turn out:
1. New York Jets
Arch Manning | QB | Texas
If the Jets don't end up in this spot, they could package their trio of first-round picks to move up for a franchise quarterback. This would be an ideal scenario, though, earning the pick outright with one more bad season in order to land Manning while retaining the extra picks to build around him. If Manning lives up to his potential this season, he's destined for this spot, no matter who ends up making the pick.
2. Arizona Cardinals
Dante Moore | QB | Oregon
Even after a solid preseason debut, I'd be surprised if Carson Beck shows enough promise during his rookie season to keep the Cards from spending this pick on a better quarterback prospect. Moore likely would've been the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 draft, but after returning to school for another year, he'll be even more ready to make an immediate impact in 2027.
3. Cleveland Browns
Jeremiah Smith | WR | Ohio State
The Browns have far bigger needs elsewhere on the roster, but in this scenario, they'd be wise to keep things simple and take the best overall player in the entire draft. Smith has all the traits to be a superstar at the next level, and no matter who ends up throwing the passes in Cleveland, adding Smith to an already promising group of young pass-catchers should make for a dangerous passing game.
4. New York Giants
Leonard Moore | CB | Notre Dame
Rookie second-rounder Colton Hood has the potential to be Big Blue's No. 1 corner down the road, but if the Giants have a chance to land Moore, it should be an easy pick. A dominant cover man who checks every box from both a physical and mental standpoint, Moore is the No. 2 overall player on my preseason board, and could quickly become one of the best in the game.
Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
5. Tennessee Titans
Colin Simmons | Edge | Texas
Robert Saleh should have the Titans' defense turned around sooner than later, and landing an elite edge rusher would accelerate the process. Simmons can win with both speed and power off the edge, and he arrives at the ball-carrier with the violence and awareness to knock the ball loose and create splash plays. Teaming him up with Keldric Faulk would give Tennessee a promising young tandem.
6. Las Vegas Raiders
Cam Coleman | WR | Texas
Brock Bowers will be Fernando Mendoza's No. 1 receiver from Day 1, but the Raiders shouldn't pass up the chance to grab another high-end pass-catcher to ensure their new franchise quarterback hits his ceiling. Coleman's high-flying, big-play skill set should make an instant splash in Austin this fall after he was held back by lackluster quarterback play at Auburn.
7. Miami Dolphins
Dylan Stewart | Edge | South Carolina
The rebuild continues in Miami, as they grab a key building block for the future of their defense. Stewart has rare explosiveness off the snap, using his speed and length to get to the quarterback in a hurry and separate them from the football. Teaming him up with Chop Robinson would be nightmare fuel for opposing quarterbacks and offensive tackles alike.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Trevor Goosby | OT | Texas
It's time for the Falcons to find a successor for Jake Matthews at left tackle, and this would be the ideal opportunity. Goosby has the physical traits to be a star at the next level, and another year in the college ranks should help him refine his technique. Once he's got more polish, Goosby could be a dominant force, and the franchise left tackle Atlanta can build the future of their offensive line around.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
9. Washington Commanders
Jordan Seaton | OT | LSU
Laremy Tunsil is expected to miss most of the 2026 regular season due to injury, and he'll be 33 years old next August. He's been one of the league's best left tackles when healthy, but he may not be the same player next year after returning from a serious injury. Seaton is still more projection than proven producer, but the talent is undeniable, and a year learning behind Tunsil could get the most of out his potential.
10. New Orleans Saints
David Stone | DL | Oklahoma
Hopes are still high that Bryan Bresee will still have a bright future as one of the league's better interior defenders, despite the fact that he'll miss the entire 2026 season. That said, the Saints could still be on the lookout for another high-upside prospect to line up next to him, and Stone has as much promise as any player in next year's class. He's a disruptive force who camps out in opposing backfields.
11. New York Jets (from IND)
Ellis Robinson IV | CB | Georgia
After trading away Sauce Gardner, the Jets need to find another young player who can eventually become their new shutdown corner. Using one of the picks they acquired for Gardner, New York grabs a player with the talent and potential to make the kind of impact in Robinson, who will enter the league ready for pro competition after being battle tested against SEC competition.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers
CJ Carr | QB | Notre Dame
It looks like this will be the last hurrah for Aaron Rodgers, and despite spending a draft pick in each of the past two drafts on quarterbacks (Drew Allar, Will Howard), Pittsburgh should still be willing to take another swing if they get a shot at a better prospect next year. Carr will still have two years of college eligibility left after this season, but if he plays up to his potential in 2026, he could end up proving worthy of an early first-round slot.
13. Minnesota Vikings
Will Echoles | DL | Ole Miss
You can never have too many impact players along the defensive line, and despite spending a pair of early picks on that unit in this year's draft (Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange), I could still see the Vikings dipping into what should be a loaded crop at the position again next year. Echoles would give Minnesota another top-shelf talent in the defensive trenches to keep the unit dominant against both the run and pass.
14. Carolina Panthers
Trevor Lauck | OT | Iowa
The Panthers just spent a first-round pick on Monroe Freeling, but with Taylor Moton getting older and Ikem Ekwonu better off sliding inside to guard, they could make another long-term investment in the offensive tackle position next offseason. Lauck brings all the toughness and physicality you'd expect from a Hawkeye blocker, with impressive movement skills for his size.
15. Detroit Lions
Kelley Jones | CB | Mississippi State
After moving on from recent first-rounder Terrion Arnold, the Lions need to find another high-end corner with the potential to be their top cover man sooner than later. Jones brings rare physical traits to the table, with impressive size and length for the position, and the ball skills to create a ton of splash plays when the ball comes his way.
16. Kansas City Chiefs
Charlie Becker | WR | Indiana
It's no secret the Chiefs are still looking for a reliable No. 1 target for Patrick Mahomes as Travis Kelce enters what could be the final season of his Hall of Fame career, and even with impressive early returns from fifth-round rookie Cyrus Allen, they could target a bigger prospect to give them Rashee Rice insurance. Becker would fit the bill, and he brings big-play ability that always comes through in clutch situations.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
Jamari Johnson | TE | Oregon
It feels unfair to give Joe Burrow yet another dynamic downfield target for the passing game, but the Bengals could absolutely go that route if the board falls the right way next year. Johnson would be an intriguing addition as a mismatch weapon who could exploit 1-on-1 opportunities while opposing defenses are worried about stopping Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
18. Dallas Cowboys (from GB)
Ryan Coleman-Williams | WR | Alabama
I'll be shocked if Jerry Jones shells out what it will cost to keep George Pickens on a long-term deal to be the Cowboys' WR2 alongside CeeDee Lamb, and if he doesn't, he'll need to find a worthy replacement to help keep Dak Prescott and the passing game operating at a high level. Coleman-Williams struggled last year after an incredible freshman season, but I'm banking on a bounce-back 2026 campaign that puts him back in the first-round conversation.
19. San Francisco 49ers
Jacarrius Peak | OT | South Carolina
Speaking of future Hall of Famers, Trent Williams is in the twilight of his own legendary run, and the 49ers need to invest in their future at left tackle. A transfer from North Carolina State, Peak has first-round potential with all the physical traits to eventually develop into a reliable blindside protector for Brock Purdy.
20. New York Jets (from DAL)
Justin Scott | DL | Miami (FL)
After spending one of the Colts' picks on Gardner, the Jets could pull a similar move here, using one of the selections they received from the Cowboys to replace Quinnen Williams along the interior of their defensive front. Scott needs to unlock his pass-rushing ability if he wants to take his game to the next level, but all of the physical tools are there for him to be an impact player.
Eric Canha-Imagn Images
21. Los Angeles Chargers
Cayden Green | OL | Missouri
There's nothing more important for the Chargers moving forward than keeping Justin Herbert protected and healthy, and to that end, they need to keep loading up on as much talent as possible in the trenches. Both tackles are elite when healthy, so if the Chargers targeted Green, he would likely slide inside to guard, where he could be even more dominant at the next level.
22. Houston Texans
Kewan Lacy | RB | Ole Miss
David Montgomery and Woody Marks should be a solid 1-2 punch for the Houston backfield this season, but Montgomery will be 30 next June, and Marks is may be better suited for a change-of-pace role. Lacy is an explosive runner with home-run ability and the pass-catching skills to be a true featured back on all three downs.
23. Buffalo Bills
Yhonzae Pierre | Edge | Alabama
The Bills spent a high second-round pick on TJ Parker this year, but they could still target another young pass rusher to pair him with on the other side of the defensive front. Pierre comes into the 2026 season loaded with upside thanks to an impressive blend of size, athleticism and physicality, and he could play his way into a first-round spot if he lives up to his potential this year.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A'Mauri Washington | DL | Oregon
I don't expect the Bucs to honor Vita Vea's trade request, but their star nose tackle is 31 years old, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them draft his replacement next April. Washington could've been a fairly early pick in the 2026 draft, but after another year of experience and polish, he'll be even more prepared to make an instant impact at the heart of Tampa Bay's defensive front.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
KJ Bolden | S | Georgia
There aren't many glaring holes on this roster, but adding another versatile playmaker for the secondary wouldn't hurt. Bolden is an undersized by dynamic defender who can lineup over the top or in the slot, with the smarts, quickness, toughness and ball skills to make agreessive plays on the ball and take it away.
26. Philadelphia Eagles
Austin Siereveld | OL | Ohio State
Philly knows the value of continuing to invest in the trenches as well as any team in the league, and injuries have exposed their lack of quality depth along the offensive line recently. Siereveld is a versatile blocker with experience at both guard and tackle, which would give the Eagles positional flexibility to fit him into the lineup wherever they have the biggest need.
27. New England Patriots
Trey'Dez Green | TE | LSU
This offense should take things to another level after trading for AJ Brown, but the Pats could also use a young tight end to develop for the future. Green's size and athleticism give him a ton of potential, and if he continues his current trend of development, he could prove to be another valuable weapon for Drake Maye in New England.
28. Seattle Seahawks
Carter Smith | OL | Indiana
One of the few glaring holes on this roster is along the interior of the offensive line, where the defending Super Bowl champs could use a long-term upgrade at the guard spot opposite Grey Zabel. Smith has a ton of experience at tackle, but he might be best suited for inside work at the next level. He would be a polished, pro-ready addition for a team that's built to contend for years to come.
29. Chicago Bears
Will Heldt | Edge | Clemson
Chicago's offense should be one of the NFL's best for a long time with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams in charge, but the defense needs help if they want to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Halas Hall. The biggest needs are in the trenches, where the Bears need more impact players who can stuff the run and get to the quarterback. Heldt checks both boxes, with the size and versatility to attack from multiple alignments.
30. Denver Broncos
Ahmad Moten Sr. | DL | Miami (FL)
This roster has just about everything, and what do you get for the team that already has everything? More talent in the trenches, on either side of the ball. In this situation, the Broncos could reload their young depth along the defensive front with Moten, a powerful, disruptive force who tallied 4.5 sacks for the Canes last season, and still just scratching the surface of his potential.
31. Cleveland Browns (from LAR)
LaNorris Sellers | QB | South Carolina
I still think Shedeur Sanders can be a successful starter with the right supporting cast, but if the Browns want to take another swing on a quarterback next year, Sellers has the most upside of any prospect in this potentially loaded class. He still needs some refinement as a pure passer from the pocket, but his combination of size, athleticism and arm strength give him a limitless ceiling.
32. Baltimore Ravens
Kade Pieper | OL | Iowa
The loss of Tyler Linderbaum will no doubt be felt by the Ravens' offense, but they could end up with a chance to replace him with another stellar center prospect from the same program. Pieper would have big shoes to fill for a second time, but the film we've seen up to this point says he's up to the task.
