Predicting the NFL Draft nearly a year in advance is a tall task, but one trend remains constant: the search for a franchise quarterback dominates the conversation. After a massive surge in 2024 where six passers were taken in the first 12 picks, the 2027 class is already generating similar buzz. While the landscape of college football shifts rapidly, current trajectories suggest as many as five quarterbacks could secure first-round status when the draft arrives next spring.
At the forefront of this group is Oregon’s Dante Moore. While some might find his placement at the top surprising, his talent profile is undeniable. Had he entered the 2026 cycle, many scouts believe he would have been a top-two selection. Instead, he returned to the Ducks, setting the stage for a potential run at the number one overall pick. Right on his heels is Texas’ Arch Manning, whose combination of physical tools and legendary football lineage makes him a near-lock for high-level media and NFL attention.
The depth of this class extends beyond the marquee names. Players like Jayden Maiava, Darien Mensah, and CJ Carr are establishing themselves as high-upside prospects, while others like Nico Iamaleava and Josh Hoover remain firmly on the radar. It is important to view this exercise as a evolving watchlist rather than a final prediction. The upcoming college football season will inevitably reveal new stars and see others slide, but the foundation of the 2027 draft looks to be built on elite offensive and defensive playmakers.
Based on current Super Bowl odds and projected team needs, here is a snapshot of how the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft could unfold.
1. Miami Dolphins: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Dante Moore stands as the premier quarterback in this class due to his exceptional poise and ability to thrive when the pocket collapses. His performance during the 2025 season demonstrated high-level decision-making and elite “off-script” playmaking. Moore’s decision to stay at Oregon allowed him to further refine his game, and he currently holds the edge over other top passers thanks to his consistent production in big-game environments.
2. New York Jets: Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Following a strong finish to his 2025 campaign, Arch Manning enters the draft conversation with significant momentum. If he maintains his late-season form, his combination of size, arm talent, and football IQ will make him a centerpiece of the top-five discussion. For a team like the Jets, his upside represents a potential long-term solution at the game’s most critical position.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Jayden Maiava, QB, USC
Maiava is a physically gifted passer with the arm strength to make every throw on the field. He excels at layering the ball over defenders, showing a soft touch on intermediate and deep routes. While he needs to improve his play-to-play consistency, his raw tools and prototypical frame make him a fascinating developmental prospect with a high ceiling.
4. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Jeremiah Smith is more than just a top receiver; he is a generational prospect. Comparisons to NFL legends like Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson are already surfacing, as Smith possesses rare size and elite athleticism. He enters the NFL conversation as a more polished prospect than many of the Buckeyes’ previous first-round wideouts, making him an immediate impact player at the next level.
5. Tennessee Titans: Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
Simmons is a nightmare for offensive tackles, using a blend of explosive speed and sudden “twitch” to penetrate the backfield. He proved to be a dominant force throughout 2025, and with continued physical development, he is positioned to be the top defensive player off the board. His ability to win with both power and finesse makes him a versatile asset for any defensive front.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
Goosby is a massive offensive lineman who uses his length and athletic base to neutralize power rushers. Although he is still refining his technique against elite speed, his physical profile is exactly what NFL scouts look for in a cornerstone left tackle. His high-end traits suggest he will only improve as he gains more experience against top-tier competition.
7. New Orleans Saints: Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina
Stewart is a physical specimen who excels at setting the edge against the run. However, it is his suddenness as a pass rusher that truly stands out. He collapses the pocket with an explosive combination of reach and strength, making him a consistent threat to disrupt the opposing team’s rhythm from the defensive end position.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darien Mensah, QB, Miami
Mensah is a sturdy passer who excels at vertical shots and intermediate accuracy. He has shown the ability to make plays outside the structure of the offense, though he must learn to take the check-down more frequently. As the latest talented transfer to lead the Hurricanes, Mensah has the tools to follow in the footsteps of recent first-round Miami quarterbacks.
9. Carolina Panthers: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
A fluid athlete with excellent length, Moore is a versatile secondary piece who can lock down opponents on the outside or move into the slot. He stays in phase with receivers effortlessly and uses his reach to disrupt passing lanes. His smooth transitions and football instincts make him the top cornerback prospect in this projection.
10. Atlanta Falcons: David Stone, DT, Oklahoma
Stone is a high-energy defensive tackle with the quickness to beat interior blockers off the snap. He is a constant presence in the backfield and shows great range for a player of his size, often chasing down ball carriers in the run game. His versatility allows him to align across multiple spots on the defensive line.
11. New York Giants: Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
Uiagalelei possesses a classic NFL frame and wins primarily through power and an unrelenting motor. While he needs to develop more “bend” and a wider variety of pass-rush moves, his physical tools are reminiscent of successful power rushers at the next level. A significant jump in technical refinement could see him rise even higher.
12. Minnesota Vikings: CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
Carr is the definition of a “plus” game manager, playing with high-level anticipation and a steady hand. He rarely makes mistakes, shows excellent touch on deep balls, and possesses enough athleticism to extend plays. For a team seeking stability and high-floor production, Carr’s polished approach is highly attractive.
13. Washington Commanders: Cam Coleman, WR, Texas
Coleman is a physically imposing wideout who punishes defensive backs both during the route and after the catch. He runs with the nuance of a smaller receiver but has the contact balance to break tackles in the open field. He is a “X” receiver prospect who can win at all levels of the defense.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
Mestemaker has a powerful arm and the ability to scan the full field from the pocket. While he needs to cut down on risky throws and improve his footwork, his talent is undeniable. The transition to Oklahoma State will provide a larger stage to prove he can handle elite competition and secure a first-round grade.
15. New York Jets: A’Mauri Washington, DL, Oregon
Washington is an interior force who wins with leverage and a quick first step. He is at his best when attacking gaps and disrupting plays before they can develop. His combination of lower-body strength and a high motor makes him a high-floor defensive line prospect who can anchor a defense.
16. Cincinnati Bengals: John Henry Daley, EDGE, Michigan
Daley is a technician on the edge, using refined hand-fighting skills and a devastating spin move to beat offensive tackles. He is equally capable against the run, using his strength to hold the point of attack and reset the line of scrimmage.
17. Chicago Bears: Caden Green, OL, Missouri
Green offers great utility as a protector with a strong anchor against bull rushes. While he currently plays tackle, his awareness and play style suggest he could be an elite interior guard at the NFL level. He is a reliable blocker who excels in pass protection.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jordan Ross, EDGE, LSU
Ross is a powerful pass rusher who uses a low center of gravity to get under the pads of offensive linemen. He possesses the lateral quickness to chase down plays from the backside and is too strong for most tight ends to handle in the run game.
19. New York Jets: Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana
Becker is a massive target who specialized in “above the rim” catches. After stepping into a larger role due to injuries in 2025, he proved to be a reliable deep threat with the body control to make difficult catches look easy. He provides a huge wingspan for his quarterback.
20. Houston Texans: Quincy Rhodes, EDGE, Arkansas
Rhodes is a versatile “chess piece” for a defensive coordinator, offering the size to play inside and the athleticism to rush from the edge. He is nearly impossible to move at the point of attack and generates massive power when moving downhill.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Carter Smith, OT, Indiana
Smith is a natural athlete at the left tackle position. He moves fluidly in the run game and has the physical tools to handle the NFL’s elite speed rushers. While his technique requires some polishing, his ceiling as a blindside protector is as high as anyone in the class.
22. Denver Broncos: Damon Wilson II, EDGE, Miami
Wilson is a pure “downhill” rusher who wins with explosive straight-line speed. While he isn’t the most flexible rusher in terms of bending the corner, his ability to close the gap on the quarterback quickly makes him a dangerous situational pass rusher with starter potential.
23. Dallas Cowboys: Kade Pieper, OL, Iowa
The latest in a long line of talented Iowa linemen, Pieper is an athletic interior blocker who thrives in zone-running schemes. His footwork in pass protection is already at a high level, and as he adds more functional strength, he could become a cornerstone center or guard.
24. New England Patriots: Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR, Alabama
After a somewhat quiet 2025, Coleman-Williams is looking to recapture the elite form he showed as a freshman. He has the raw talent to be a top-10 pick if he returns to his explosive ways, offering a mix of speed and route-running ability that few can match.
25. Detroit Lions: Clev Lubin, EDGE, Louisville
Lubin is the modern “positionless” defender, capable of rushing the passer with power or dropping into coverage with ease. His versatility makes him an ideal fit for creative defensive schemes that prioritize hybrid players who can stay on the field for all three downs.
26. San Francisco 49ers: Terrance Carter Jr., TE, Texas Tech
Carter is a dynamic playmaker at tight end who runs like a wide receiver and punishes defenders after the catch. He is a vertical threat who can stretch the seam, and his willingness as a blocker fits perfectly into a multiple-TE offensive system.
27. Kansas City Chiefs: Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
Seaton is a massive tackle who surprisingly excels in space. His lateral mobility allows him to reach the second level on run plays, and he possesses “heavy hands” that stop pass rushers in their tracks. He is an ideal fit for an offense that requires athletic blockers on the perimeter.
28. Los Angeles Chargers: Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia
Robinson is a physical, confident cornerback who thrives in man-to-man coverage. He has a knack for reading the quarterback’s eyes and breaking on the ball at the catch point. His technical soundness makes him a high-floor prospect for teams needing an “island” corner.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Will Echoles, DL, Ole Miss
Echoles is a classic interior disruptor who uses a low center of gravity and surprising “twitch” to penetrate the pocket. He is a “bulldozer” who can reset the line of scrimmage, making him a perfect fit for a physical AFC North defense.
30. Buffalo Bills: Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama
Brown is a physically imposing corner who excels at mirroring receivers through their breaks. He is a reliable presence in the secondary who rarely gets beat deep and consistently contests every pass thrown his way.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Nick Marsh, WR, Indiana
Standing 6-foot-3, Marsh is a large-framed receiver who creates separation through route-running nuance rather than pure vertical speed. He is a monster after the catch and uses his size to shield defenders on intermediate routes, making him a reliable “move the chains” target.
32. Los Angeles Rams: Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri
Hardy is a compact, powerful runner who is incredibly difficult to tackle on the first attempt. He is a perfect fit for outside-zone schemes where he can make one cut and explode into the secondary. While he is still developing as a pass-catcher, his home-run ability as a runner is elite.
Summary of the 2027 Draft Outlook
The 2027 NFL Draft is shaping up to be a showcase of high-end quarterback talent and dominant defensive line prospects. With players like Dante Moore and Arch Manning leading the way, the top of the draft will likely be defined by teams looking to secure their future under center. However, the depth at wide receiver and edge rusher suggests that even teams picking later in the first round will have the opportunity to land cornerstone players. As the college football season progresses, these rankings will shift, but the baseline of talent in this class remains exceptionally high.
