2027 "Way Too Early" Mock Draft
After years of doing several mock drafts, in the 2027 cycle I will only be doing two - one now, and one the night of the draft. It'll be fun to compare who rises, falls and wasn't even on the radar.
Round 1
Picks 1-16
Picks 17-32
It's neck and neck at the top, but for now I have Dante Moore a touch ahead of Arch Manning as my QB1. I thought Moore would have been the 2nd overall pick to the Jets in 2026, and he won't escape the twice in this mock.
2.
Arch Manning goes 2nd overall in this mock, but he probably has the most upside in the entire draft. I wonder if people would have been so critical of a raw sophomore in 2025 had his surname not been Manning. With a Texas team primed to explode, Manning has no excuses not to perform in 2026.
Jeremiah Smith is a truly elite talent. At the time of writing, Jeremiah Smith is the best receiver prospect I have personally ever covered (started seriously following the draft in 2016). It's a lofty comparison, but Smith is the closest we've had as a prospect to Calvin Johnson Jr. we've had in 20 years. Smith could play in the NFL tomorrow and probably have an 1,000 yard season.
Colin Simmons is the better football player right now, but Dylan Stewart's bend, athletic upside and physical potential is astronomical. He could be a demonic hands-in-the-dirt defensive end in the NFL.
Leonard Moore is the best defensive player in the class, based on my summer opinions, and at the time of writing is only behind Jeremiah Smith on my way too early top-50. Moore is an elite CB prospect and the best CB prospect since Sauce Gardner (arguably, better). If he performs in 2026, he's a likely top-5 pick.
Simmons has had elite production as a freshman and sophmore, with 21.0 sacks in 2 years, and could go in the David Bailey range. Simmons is more of a 3-4 outside linebacker with less versatility than Stewart, but has a better nose for the quarterback as things stand.
Coleman has things to work on, but he has elite potential and could be the Malik Nabers of this draft class - i.e. the WR2 who challenges the pre-season crowned generational WR1 of the class.
I really like Ellis Robinson, and think he was terrific in 2025. 2026 will be important, but if he has another good year, he could be a top-10 calibre cornerback in the upcoming draft.
9.
Prospect not selected
Pick: Trevor Goosby (OT, Texas).
Tyler Guyton absolutely sucks, and it's not a lock that Terrance Steele will be starting a RT beyond 2026. Trevor Goosby is presently my OT1 of this draft class, and think he'd have been a top-20 pick had he entered the 2026 NFL Draft. He has elite size, true starting LT potential and is a wonderful athlete.
Tyler Guyton absolutely sucks, and it's not a lock that Terrance Steele will be starting a RT beyond 2026. Trevor Goosby is presently my OT1 of this draft class, and think he'd have been a top-20 pick had he entered the 2026 NFL Draft. He has elite size, true starting LT potential and is a wonderful athlete.
The Jets already have David Bailey and Will McDonald, but the latter will be entering a contract year as a DPR type edge rusher. Pierre projects as a more balanced 3-4 rushing linebacker who was really good in 2025 and has top-16 upside.
I think Mensah has the potential to end up as QB1 in this class, or could plummet to Day 3. Colour me impressed from his sole season at Duke. His transfer to Miami could give him a Cam Ward-like ascension to the top of the draft.
On tape, Sayin is a top-5 calibre quarterback. However, he is not an overly impressive athlete and I fear he could have a Carson Beck-like regression. Equally, I highly suspect he may go back to school in 2027. As it stands, he's my QB4, though, and if he builds on his freshman season, he's a 1st round caliber QB.
The Jets have 3 first round picks in 2027, and all 3 could be in the top-20. After having a really good 2026 NFL Draft, they have a ton of upside to rebuild their roster like the Lions did under Brad Holmes. In this scenario, they take David Stone. This may be a touch high for him when all is said and done, but I like Stone as a quality defensive tackle who is a stout, tough run defender who eats space. He has some upside as an interior pass rusher, too.
I was suprised the Chiefs came away from the 2026 NFL Draft without a single RT, as I don't trust Jaylon Moore to be a quality option at RT. Josh Simmons also missed time for personal reasons. Seaton is a quality athlete and played really well for Colorado. If he can perform in Baton Rouge, he could cement himself as an early Day 1 pick.
Rhodes would have been a candidate for the end of Round 1 had he declared, as he's a physically oppressive defensive end with serious pass rushing ability. He is a bit of a one year wonder, though, so if he can build on his 2025 season, he could sky-rocket into the top-16.
Like Rhodes, I think Wilson would have had a shot of going in the late 1st/early 2nd round in 2026, and had him ahead of Zion Young before he transferred to Miami.
Picks 1-16
Picks 17-32