Shift in College Quarterback Prospects Ahead of 2027 NFL Draft
The college football season opened with seven quarterbacks eyed as first-round picks for the 2027 NFL draft. Texas’ Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dante Moore, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, Miami’s Darian Mensah, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers were seen as likely candidates.
Yet, a mere five games into the season, questions arise about the readiness and performance of several of these quarterbacks.
How did the outlook for the 2027 draft shuffle so significantly just a third into the college season? The surprise emerges from Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, now topping ESPN analyst Mel Kiper’s draft prospect list. Mestemaker, initially a borderline first-round candidate, is now ranked as the No. 2 player overall in the draft class.
Kiper reflects on Mestemaker, tracing his unique journey. Despite not starting at quarterback in high school—where he served as a punter and played safety—Mestemaker walked on at North Texas as a quarterback in 2024, becoming their starter by 2025. He threw for over 4,000 yards there before following his coach, Eric Morris, to Oklahoma State.
Kiper writes, “His rise is extraordinary. Mestemaker’s ability to see the field and remain patient in the pocket stands out. His arm strength allows for deep, precise throws, shown through 30 completions over 20 yards this season, which ranks third in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Coupled with mobility that gains significant yardage on the ground, his playstyle mirrors linebacker toughness, paired with competitive tenacity. Significantly, he’s not yet 21, having just 20 career starts, indicating substantial potential.”
Here are Kiper’s top five quarterback prospects for the 2027 draft:
- Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
- Darian Mensah, Miami
- Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
- CJ Carr, Notre Dame
- Austin Simmons, Missouri