If there is a lesson about projecting the quarterback position nfl draft In recent years, what has happened is that any long-term predictions soon begin to seem out of date.
Consider the last two NFL drafts. Both cam ward And Fernando Mendoza Were not in the conversation for top picks until their final seasons at Miami and Indiana, respectively. Both remained at number 1.
This time last year, NFL evaluators were optimistic on the high-end potential of the current quarterback class, with names like arch manning, Lanoris Cellars And Garrett Nussmeyer On the tips of their tongues.
With history as fair warning, here’s the latest quarterback projection looming over NFL front offices – the 2027 quarterback class has the potential to be an unusually deep and interesting crop.
After consecutive drafts in 2025 and 2026 highlighted high-end quarterback talent, there is optimism in NFL front offices that the quarterbacks in 2027 project as a once-in-a-decade crop. The depth of quality prospects especially highlights scouts and executives.
ESPN surveyed 10 NFL scouts for their initial top three quarterback projections for the 2027 class. Three players received votes for the top spot–Oregon’s dante mooreArch Manning of Texas and Ohio State julian sign. In total, nine different players appeared on 10 NFL scouts’ ballots, showing the potential depth of the class.
In terms of votes – three points for first place, two points for second, and one for third – the voting ended as follows:
1. Dante Moore, Oregon (24)
2. Arch Manning, Texas (16)
T3. Julian Sayin, Ohio State (5)
T3. Brendan SorsbyTexas Tech (5)
5. Lanoris Sellers, South Carolina (3)
T6. Drew MestemakerOklahoma State (2)
T6. Sam LevittLSU (2)
T6. CJ CarrNotre Dame (2)
9. Darian MensahMiami (1)
Scouts stress that this is an imperfect exercise, as they haven’t come close to taking a close look at all the quarterbacks for the 2027 draft. Many have a built-in regional bias because they have yet to keep track of the prospects who become draft eligible after the 2026 season.
This survey serves more as an indication of the depth of talent at quarterback in college football for the 2026 season than any type of specific forecasting tool.
Conversations with NFL scouts and front office executives indicate there are at least 15 quarterbacks who could be considered in the first-round conversation at this early date.
Along with the nine players who received votes, names who did not receive votes could end up in the first-round conversation, including players from Penn State. Rocco Bechtole miss’ trinidad chamblisof indiana josh hooverUCLA Niko ImaliaevaUSC jaden maiawa and oklahoma’s john mater.
Of course there are other people who can work their way into the first round of negotiations, such as people CJ Bailey NC State, Washington demand williams jr. And Austin Simmons Missouri players were mentioned by scouts as players they were attracted to. There are still some members of dj lagway fan club, because his equipment remains interesting even after moving from Florida to Baylor.
“It’s an impressive list,” said one veteran NFL scout. “It’s a crazy quarterback list.”
Inevitably, some of these quarterbacks with remaining eligibility will return to school due to a crowded classroom environment. The top quarterbacks in college football are making more than $5 million per year, which puts them in line with the 2026 salary of the No. 11 NFL Draft pick.
