If you’re starting to stack your quarterback board for the 2027 NFL Draft, it won’t be complete with Missouri’s Austin Simmons.
One of the fastest-rising prospects in this class, Simmons has come out firing to start the 2026 season for Mizzou, showing off a long list of NFL traits that should have scouts and general managers shifting their quarterback rankings in a big way.
After getting beat out by Trinidad Chambliss at Ole Miss, Simmons transferred to Missouri, where he has been nothing short of masterful for the Tigers so far this season. Heading into Saturday’s showdown against undefeated No. 8 Florida, Simmons had tossed 11 touchdown passes and no interceptions. Even in a losing effort last week against Mississippi State, Simmons threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns.
Against the Gators on Saturday, Simmons took things to another level, completing 23 of his 30 pass attempts for 340 yards and a pair of touchdowns, marking his fifth straight game without an interception to start the season.
Even against a stellar opponent, Simmons showed off the kind of arm talent, precision, anticipation, ball placement and decision-making that NFL teams are always looking for when evaluating potential franchise passers at the college level:
Listed at 6-4, 220 pounds, the southpaw Simmons has ideal size for the position, and he operates with poise and efficiency from the pocket, showing clean and consistent mechanics that lead to accurate throws and few downfield mistakes. Saturday’s film was a constant highlight reel of Simmons calmly delivering perfect throws to all levels of the field, showing the ability to match velocity with just the right amount of touch for each individual situation.
Heading into the season, the 2027 quarterback class was already getting a ton of hype as one of the deepest groups we’ve seen in recent memory. But while some of the biggest names on that list have struggled to consistently play up to those high preseason expectations so far, others have emerged and impressed, and it feels like a wide-open race to be the top prospect at the position.
At the very least, the strength of this class appears to be in the sheer amount of quality passers who should be available, even if there’s not a clear-cut leader in the clubhouse who will be the no-doubt No. 1 overall pick. The list of signal-callers who appear to be worthy of first-round consideration continues to grow on what seems like a weekly basis, and with the way he’s started the season, Simmons has absolutely launched himself into that conversation.
There’s still plenty of football left to be played, but Simmons is one of the fastest-rising names in this class, regardless of position. The rest of the Tigers’ regular-season schedule will give NFL scouts more opportunities to see him against top competition, too, as No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Georgia still await them, as well as a road test against his former team in Oxford later this month.
If your favorite NFL team will be looking for a franchise quarterback of the future when April rolls around, don’t be surprised if Simmons ends up high on their board, especially if he maintains anything close to his current level of play through the rest of Mizzou’s challenging slate.
