2027 NFL Mock Drafts

Smith is the best player in college football, and it may not be particularly close. And if the Dolphins feel like Malik Willis is a better option than any of the QBs in this class, Smith is an easy choice here.

Simmons has been dominant (suspect post-sack celebrations aside), and you could argue he's been better than David Bailey and Abdul Carter -- two former top-three edge rushers -- at this point in their final college seasons.

The Miami QB has been one of the most efficient college quarterbacks in recent history through the first five weeks.

If you're looking for holes in Moore's game, well, good luck to you. He's a special talent and reminds me of Patrick Surtain II.

Chambliss has been one of the best QBs in college football so far this season, and while he'll be a 25-year-old rookie, there's no denying how consistent he's been against SEC competition -- which isn't something you can say about a few of the highly touted passers in the class.

Echoles' power, hand usage and ability to be disruptive against the run are all over the tape, and his first-step quickness gives him more pass-rush value than a pure run-stuffer.

Seaton hasn't allowed a sack this season, and even though the Panthers used their 2026 first-rounder on Monroe Freeling, there are still questions at left tackle beyond this season.

Hampton has been one of the few bright spots for Clemson this season, and whether the Steelers miss Joey Porter Jr. or not, they need to reinforce the cornerback position.

Becker is the king of the back-shoulder throw, but he also has legit deep speed and would give the Bucs a big-bodied deep target in a post-Mike Evans world.

Dante Moore has struggled through the first month of the 2026 season, in part because the offensive line has been awful, in part because his receivers have struggled to get open, and in part because of the vicious headshot he took against USC. But here's the thing: Highly drafted QBs typically go to teams with poor O-lines, so Moore absolutely needs to play better (we got a brief glimpse of that early in the USC game before he was injured). But he also would have been the No. 2 pick in the 2026 draft had he declared, so it's not like he's forgotten how to play. A strong second half of the season puts him right back in the conversation.

Stone was battling injuries early in the season, and he hasn't looked like the 2025 version of himself. But if he can get back to that, he's a first-round talent all day long.

Goosby, who would've likely been a first-rounder had he declared for the '26 draft, has a huge frame and high-end athletic traits that allow him to anchor effectively against power. That said, he remains a raw prospect who can struggle with quicker pass rushers.

My comp for Baugh going back to summer scouting was Le'Veon Bell. Turns out he's better than the Michigan State version of Bell and is currently the best back in college football.

Johnson has been quietly dominant for the Gophers, both in the run game and in pass protection. He was 28th on my big board heading into the season, and he's exceeded that through the first month, allowing exactly zero pressures.

Like Clemson teammate Ashton Hampton, Heldt is one of the few reasons for optimism. He has 17 pressures and five sacks and would fill a need in New Orleans.

Page has had a strong start to the 2026 season, allowing just three pressures and no sacks. He was a top-50 player this summer and has a chance to crack the first round.

Coleman has been up and down so far this season for the Longhorns (and you could say that for the offense as a whole), but he flashes first-round, big-play talent, something the Patriots' WR room has been missing for a very long time.

A high-floor tackle who could kick inside at the next level, Lauck is stout at the point of attack and also thrives in zone-blocking schemes because of his mobility and athleticism. He hasn't allowed a sack all season.

Cole is an explosive off-ball linebacker and edge rusher who pairs stout point-of-attack run defense with fluid coverage skills and multi-alignment pass-rush traits. He has missed exactly zero tackles this season.

He's been really good through six games. He's one of the best anticipation throwers in the class, and his ability to layer balls to the second level is second to none. He would excel in a Kevin O'Connell system.

A USC transfer, Thompkins has shown real inside-out versatility: He can win with power, athleticism or bend around the edge.

Sean Payton loves athletic tight ends, and Jamari Johnson is in the same conversation as former Oregon standouts Kenyon Sadiq and Terrance Ferguson.

The Bengals defense has improved in 2026, but they still need more at corner, and Jones gives them a long, physical press-man defender with the zone instincts and ball skills to create turnovers.

Ran Carthon, Florida alum and my co-host on the "With the First Pick" NFL Draft podcast, put Oyebadejo on my radar a few weeks ago, and while he is raw, he's also been dominant against SEC competition -- no matter where he lines up.

The Lions have two of the best safeties in football ... when they're healthy. Benefield is a tackling machine coming downhill, but he's been good in coverage, too.

Duff is one of the best contested-catch receivers in college football, and that label can be a double-edged sword. Yes, he's physical at the catch point, but it could also be an indication that he struggles to consistently separate. Either way, he'd be a welcome addition in Philly, where the loss of A.J. Brown seems to be a bigger deal than maybe the organization initially figured when it shipped him to New England.

Green is a more physical version of Kyle Pitts. He suffered a knee injury on Sept. 19, but luckily it didn't require surgery, and he should be back in a few weeks.

Pierre doesn't know that he's undersized by edge-rusher standards because he's a twitched-up pass rusher who plays with elite leverage, explosive bull-rush ability and the ability to make plays either off the edge or off-ball.

Woo boy, the Ravens have real needs along the interior O-line, mostly because guys can't stay healthy. Pieper, who plays guard but has also taken snaps at center during his college career, is a really good athlete who has allowed just one pressure this season.

Stewart is a top-five talent who is going to have to prove to NFL teams that his recent suspension isn't a reflection of who he is as a teammate.

While it's tough to separate his success from the "Jeremiah Smith Experience" making everyone around him better, that's a much better problem to have than trying to talk yourself into a highly touted quarterback whose tape isn't matching the preseason expectations.

Viliamu-Asa suffered a knee injury late last season, but you wouldn't know it watching him in '26. He's a terror as an off-ball LB or coming off the edge, combining high-level run-stopping instincts with smooth, safety-like coverage skills.

The Dolphins are one of two winless teams post-Week 6, but Las Vegas sportsbooks have more confidence in Los Angeles' ability to find a win over the course of the season. To this point in the college football season, Drew Mestemaker has performed like the best quarterback prospect. Malik Willis' contract is not prohibitive of the Dolphins pressing the reset button with a new quarterback.

Saturday was hardly Austin Simmons' best day of the season, but he is a big quarterback with a strong arm. He operates in the pocket well and has thrown with great touch and anticipation. Thinking back to last season, it was a tale of two seasons for Ty Simpson, who was taken No. 13 overall by the Rams. The first half of the year was excellent, but the second half of the season was very much impacted by injury. All it takes is one team to believe in the talent, but Simpson's stock was on the ropes.

Jeremiah Smith is the best player in this draft class, but he lasts until No. 3 overall because teams have a need at quarterback. Ironically, Carnell Tate goes from being the Robin to Smith's Batman at Ohio State to fulfilling the same role with the Titans. At 6-foot-4-inches, Smith can play above the rim but also has shown improved post-catch elusiveness this season. He has topped 150 receiving yards in four games this season.

Coming into the season, I was relatively low on Darian Mensah. He has good size and is operating efficiently within the pocket: stepping up from pressure, throwing with touch and targeting all three levels of the field. Mensah has been allowed 2.72 seconds to throw this season, according to TruMedia, which is 8th-best among college quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts. I would want to see more of his ability to create under pressure. It appears that Mensah will be playing in high-leverage games later this season, so those moments will be valuable in his scouting process.

Cleveland needs a quarterback beyond this season. At his best, Deshaun Watson has been average to good this year, but there has been more bad than fans may be willing to admit. Is there a quarterback worth this selection? Maybe if C.J. Carr continues to progress or Arch Manning turns his season around. In this moment, they are better off taking a different position. Colin Simmons has taken his game to another level. He has 10.5 sacks on the season, more than half of which came against Tennessee.

Leonard Moore was in consideration for Cleveland's pick. He will probably be the higher-rated prospect, but Colin Simmons is in a more premium position. Los Angeles benefits from that thought process. The Chargers have bigger issues than the cornerback position, but it is not far down the board.

New York's search for interior defensive line assistance comes to a head with the selection of Will Echoles. Echoles was a teammate of Jaxson Dart's in 2024 and blossomed into a first-round pick of his own. The Giants will have one of the best collections of front-seven talent with the addition of Echoles.

Pittsburgh is another team that should consider a quarterback if a worthwhile option were available. The D.K. Metcalf contract is awful, but the Steelers can not allow that to dictate how they build the roster. Gerrmie Bernard is a complementary player on the roster, and Michael Pittman's stay should be short-lived.

Dylan Stewart has some truly destructive moments, but is also returning from a team-imposed suspension. The NFL Draft is traits-based, and few offer the athletic profile of Stewart. He is still refining his craft, though he is explosive and bendy working through the arc. The Gamecocks were off this week, but Stewart is looking to build upon last week's game against Florida.

After finishing last season with zero interceptions, the Jets have one pick in 2026. There is no rest for the weary, however. With the long and physical Ashton Hampton, New York may even get two interceptions.

Washington fans do not seem particularly enamored with Mike Sainristil this season. Ellis Robinson IV represents an upgrade at cornerback. Robinson is on the thinner side but does a good job transitioning planes and breaks hard on the ball. To this point, he has five career interceptions, and ball production often translates to the next level.

Traits reign supreme in the NFL Draft. Although Trey'Dez Green has missed almost all of the season due to a lower-body injury, he is 6-foot-7-inches and has the athleticism to make the most of that size advantage. Baker Mayfield had been accustomed to having a big body in the pass game like Mike Evans, so Green allows him that advantage once again.

It is possible Maxx Crosby put the offseason trade behind him, but it is still in Las Vegas' best interest long-term to move him for assets. Whether Crosby is present or otherwise, the Raiders bring in a young pass rusher to bridge the past and the future. Pierre has 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble on the year.

It always seems the Eagles are the beneficiary of a quality prospect falling on draft night. It may not be expected that Jordan Seaton is still available here, but the timing is perfect with Lane Johnson recently announcing his retirement. Seaton would be making the transition from left to right tackle, but NFL teams have proven they have no issue asking that of a young lineman.

Drake London is one of the best receivers in the NFL, and Zachariah Branch has some talent worth cultivating. There are bigger needs for this team, but Cam Coleman represents good value. Coleman has not lived up to the potential this season, but his body control could lead to a Ja'Marr Chase-Tee Higgins-esque pairing.

Carolina could move on from Robert Hunt in the offseason and save $14 million toward the salary cap. The Panthers' offensive line has the second-highest pressure rate allowed this season, according to TruMedia. They have options at offensive tackle, so the interior should be the focus. Greg Johnson would bring stability to the unit.

New York first selected its quarterback of the future, then found replacements for Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. A first-round haul of Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, Clemson cornerback Ashton Hampton, and Oklahoma defensive tackle David Stone would certainly make next season interesting.

Houston used a first round pick on Keylan Rutledge and have left tackle Aireontae Ersery. Those are two pieces that could be counted upon moving forward, but the rest of the line is probably more temporary. Melvin Siani steps in as the new right tackle.

A linebacker tandem of Jaishawn Barham and Chris Cole would give Dallas' defense great versatility. Both players have a background and skill set to rush the passer, in addition to linebacker responsibilities. He is a good fit in Christian Parker's defense, but time will tell who is around to make decisions, given the franchise's slower start to the season.

Orlando Brown Jr. has been on the decline. Cincinnati could conceivably part with him after this season or allow Trevor Goosby to sit out his rookie season and take over full time in 2028. Amarius Mims is developing nicely as the franchise right tackle.

It feels as though Rhamondre Stevenson is perpetually in the doghouse and TreVeyon Henderson is viewed more as an auxiliary piece than a focal point of the offense. Jadan Baugh is a bigger back with a physical play style that would be endearing to Mike Vrabel.

Minnesota is one of three undefeated teams. The record is more in spite of the quarterback play than in combination. The defense has carried the Vikings, so Kevin O'Connell returns to the well for Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who has been a gamer for the Rebels.

Cornerback is a bigger need, but it may be easier to attack that position on Day 2. Detroit used a second-round pick on edge rusher Derrick Moore in 2026, but the team should not stop there, given its issues in recent years.

Denver took two tight ends on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, but neither has the skill set Sean Payton is looking for in that role. Jamari Johnson has good movement and can be a weapon in both the run and pass games.

One of the biggest risers in the cycle to this point is Tennessee defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam. He has the quickness to hop gaps and create quick pressures, but he also has a diverse pass rush arsenal to win late in the down as well.

Seattle is one of the teams that has always been associated with lengthy cornerbacks through the years. The Seahawks have been cycling through other teams' cast-offs to fill the depth chart at cornerback this season. The hope is that Kelley Jones gives them a viable starter in a secondary that already has Devon Witherspoon and Nick Emmanwori.

Kingston Lopa is a tall safety who plays with great range and has managed unimpeachable ball production in a short time as a starter for a rudderless California team. Lopa has to do a better job tackling, but everything Liam Coen and his coaching staff have touched has turned to gold.

Kansas City has tried to fix the receiver room, but bargain-bin shopping and Scotch tape have not worked out for them. It is time to give Patrick Mahomes a playmaker in the pass game. Could they have benefitted from Denzel Boston this season?

Left tackle-right tackle, it does not really matter at this point. Baltimore has to be more aggressive in its efforts to fix the offensive line. Cam Jurgens will almost certainly be a part of that picture, given the team sent a second-round choice to Philadelphia as part of the deal.

Dante Moore faces a fascinating decision. He has one more season of eligibility, but the idea of returning to an Oregon team that has fallen well short of expectations is not as obvious as it was when he made a similar decision in January. However, the idea of transferring, falling into another subpar situation and tanking his stock even more is also less than ideal. He may be better off taking his chances in the NFL.

A change in defensive coordinator was not the cure-all for Buffalo's defensive woes. Tae Johnson is an instinctual safety who should bring some accountability back to the Bills' secondary.

I toyed with the idea of giving San Francisco an offensive tackle, but Trent Williams' contract seems to take that off the table, and it has never worked out for me the countless times I have gone down that path in the past anyway. The 49ers' wide receiver room is old and/or oft-injured. It is difficult to make future plans based on the availability of Ricky Pearsall when that has not been the case early in his professional career. Ryan Coleman-Williams is a first-round talent who has dealt with drops. If San Francisco can coach that out of him, it is getting one of the better players in this class.

While Malik Willis hasn't been an overnight success in Miami, he's under contract for two more seasons and has been throwing to the NFL's worst receiving corps. That changes the second Smith steps on the field for the Dolphins. Smith has the kind of speed that even Willis can't overthrow and ball skills to fight through contact downfield for big plays.

Manning has serious work to do down the stretch this season to prove he's worthy of this pick, which he'll get as Texas looks like a playoff lock at this point. If the other choice is Carson Beck or Jacoby Brissett, though, I'm still taking the chance on Manning. He has plays every week that show his high-end talent, but he's yet to have a wire-to-wire dominant game.

The Titans can finally get out from under the ugly Dan Moore Jr. contract next offseason and they'll fill his shoes with the most polished pass protector in the class. Seaton has elite-level potential in the passing game, where he's one of the most impressive athletes you'll ever see at the position.

Could the Browns tab another 6-foot quarterback to be the face of their franchise? Well, there may not be many other options as most of the top quarterbacks have years of eligibility left. Chambliss also has the best tape for a 6-foot quarterback since Bryce Young went No. 1 overall in 2023. At this point, you could even argue that Chambliss has passed more tests against top competition than even Bryce. He certainly has a stronger frame and bigger arm than the Panthers' signal-caller. Chambliss faces a gauntlet of a schedule in the SEC. If he can keep passing tests, he'll end up here.

Moore is a prototypical corner prospect who's shown the most well-rounded cornerback skill set since Jalen Ramsey came out a decade ago. He'd be a massive upgrade from Brandon Stephens and complete the defensive overhaul they started this offseason.

Becker has a special combination of speed and ball skills. His ability to track the ball downfield and then finish through contact is right up there with Jeremiah Smith in this class. That's the type of player I want to pair with Jaxson Dart when he's back healthy next season.

Goosby hasn't quite looked as dominant to start this season as he did to finish 2025 after suffering a bone bruise in his knee this preseason. Still the natural talent is obvious as is the need on the Falcons' roster. With Jake Matthews turning 35 next offseason, Goosby could be the next in line.

Simmons drops not because of anything he's done this fall, but because the teams in front of the Bucs here seem very unlikely to take edge early yet again. Simmons leads all of college football this season with seven sacks. He's a high-end speed rusher, which is a distinctly different type of edge than what the Bucs currently have on their roster.

Stewart is one of the freakiest athletes you'll ever see for someone who's 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds. At that size, he moves like a wide receiver. His draft stock has been in free fall this year, though, as he missed the first two weeks of the season with a back injury and then got suspended for throwing a punch vs. Alabama over the weekend. The talent is top-5 worthy, but the red flags are growing.

Vegas Super Bowl odds haven't quite caught up to the Raiders' success this season. If they end up with a top-10 pick, though, it's going to be difficult to pass on this receiver class. Especially given how well Klint Kubiak's offense was able to feature No. 1 receivers in Seattle and New Orleans. Coleman has the ability to take the top off the defense consistently, even if he's still raw as an all-around route-runner.

The Commanders have been cursed of late when it comes to drafting corners. Hampton would change that. He's a massive 6-foot-2 corner with the kind of ability to go toe to toe with bigger receivers who have been an issue for Washington.

One of the biggest risers in this year's class, Thompkins has looked like a completely different player after transferring from USC to Alabama. At 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, Thompkins is still athletic enough to line up as a standup outside linebacker for the Tide and not look out of place. He'd be the perfect power edge to pair across from Chase Young.

Johnson is a plug-and-play guard with a massive frame. His tape in the run game this season has been dominant. He could take over for Dylan Parham at left guard and turn the Jets' offensive line into one of the league's best.

Echoles is the kind of interior penetrator the Chargers' defensive line has been missing. They have a lot of guys who are great at eating space in the run game, but not many who can create havoc in the backfield. That's what Echoles has been doing since the start of last year.

This might be disrespectful to Baugh's talents not to have him in the top 10 at this point, as he's tearing through college football. Baugh has 600 yards and 11 scores in four games, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. He's big, he's fast, he's elusive -- what's not to like?

Heldt is a distinctly different edge from what the Jets have on their roster. He's got size to be an early down run defender and then collapse the pockets on third downs. That's the kind of edge rusher you want paired across from David Bailey's speed.

The Bears are doing their best to rebuild the 2025 Iowa offensive line and with good reason. Both Trevor Lauck and last year's second-rounder Logan Jones are well-oiled machines on outside zone runs -- a favorite of Ben Johnson's offense.

Pieper is the kind of athletic center who can be a weapon in an offense. His ability to get out on the move and make plays in space is as good as it gets at the position. He's what the Vikings were hoping for when they drafted Garrett Bradbury.

Cole is an athletic marvel with limitless range at the linebacker position. He will bridge the gap between off-ball and edge if you want him to or he can just shut down windows over the middle of the field all day

Washington is a ridiculously explosive nose tackle who can reset the line of scrimmage in the run game. While he hasn't quite developed the way many were hoping this season as a pass rusher, the potential is there with his first step and low center of gravity.

Stone is a do-it-all defensive tackle who could immediately improve the Cowboys' run defense. With Kenny Clark almost certainly on track to be a cap casualty after this season, Stone could fill his shoes immediately.

After missing a couple of games with injury, Johnson came back to tear up USC this past weekend with seven catches for 119 yards. He's a smooth-moving pass catcher with a massive frame and a large catch radius. He could be a Bo Nix favorite underneath.

Jones is a perfect Lions corner with his press pedigree. You won't find too many longer corners in college football history. He's only allowed five catches on 14 targets for 67 yards with four pass breakups this season.

Brown is a three-down off-ball linebacker with about as clean an athletic and production profile as you could hope for at the position. He'd be a big upgrade in coverage vs. what's currently on the Patriots' roster.

Heard would fit in on the Bengals' line in the run game where he's a certified people mover. He wouldn't have to start right away with Orlando Brown Jr. under contract for two more seasons. With Brown's play slipping from his peak, though, Heard would provide injury insurance in the meantime.

Pierre is the type of traitsy edge rusher the Eagles would love to get into their building to try to develop. He had a breakout third season in 2025 and has followed that up with 12 pressures on 64 pass-rushing snaps so far in 2026.

With Rashee Rice in a contract year, the Chiefs will likely be looking for a big-bodied wideout to fill his role. Duff is just that and then some at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds. Duff has also been dominating college football this year with the fourth-most receiving yards in college football (550).

Harris is another massive wide receiver at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds who can really run routes. He's added more layers to his game after only hauling in 39 passes for 673 yards last season at Boston College before transferring.

Siani has the athletic ability to be the heir to Trent Williams on the left side for the 49ers. He's been lights out this season in pass protection with only four pressures allowed on 148 pass-blocking snaps.

Okunlola is having a breakout season after switching from left guard last season to left tackle this fall. He looks much more comfortable out on the edge, where his quick feet can be a weapon. While he hasn't faced much in the way of top competition, he'll get those chances as the season wears on.

Rojas likely would have been in the league right now if it weren't for a torn ACL early last season. Now the fourth-year linebacker looks like the best player at the position in college football. His instincts have really shined this season -- especially in coverage.

Boswell's tape as a redshirt freshman last season for Toledo was outstanding and now he's doing the same thing to Big 12 defensive linemen. He's not a special athlete the way Kade Pieper is, but he's technically sound and extremely consistent. He's only allowed one pressure on 124 pass-blocking snaps this season.