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We’re just a couple of days away from the 2026 college football season officially getting underway, while the NFL wraps up its preseason slate before final roster cuts ahead of Week 1, so what better time to look ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft?
Next year’s draft class should be loaded with top-shelf talent, starting with a star-studded quarterback class headlined by Texas’ Arch Manning and Oregon’s Dante Moore, both of whom should make a strong case for the No. 1 overall pick. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the best player in the entire class, regardless of position, but Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore might not be too far behind.
There’s a promising tandem of edge rushers near the top of the board, as well, with South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart and Texas’ Colin Simmons both entering this season with top-10 potential. The defensive tackle class is loaded with potential first-round talents, with Ole Miss’ Will Echoles and Oklahoma’s David Stone among the best of the bunch.
2027 NFL DRAFT RANKINGS
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | Interior OL | Edge | Interior DL | LB | CB | S
Where could all of these marquee prospects land? How do the strengths of next year’s class match up with the biggest needs across the NFL’s 32 franchises as we look ahead to next offseason?
Here’s an early look at how the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft could turn out:
1. Cleveland Browns
Arch Manning | QB | Texas
The Browns named Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback heading into the regular season, and this has to be one of the only reasons why. If they let Watson start most/all of this year’s games, they should be in prime position to land the top pick in next year’s draft, and the opportunity to make Manning their franchise quarterback of the future. If Manning picks up where he left off last season, he could eventually deliver on the hype at the next level, even if Cleveland might be one of the hardest places to do so.
2. Arizona Cardinals
Dante Moore | QB | Oregon
I’m not sure why the Cards spent an early third-round pick on Carson Beck (I’ll have to see more than one impressive preseason outing to be convinced), given the fact they could easily land this pick with a rebuild-level roster and being buried at the bottom of one of the league’s toughest divisions. If they do end up in this spot, Moore has the polish and precision to immediately raise both the floor and the ceiling of Arizona’s offense.
3. New York Giants
Jeremiah Smith | WR | Ohio State
Even if Malik Nabers is back to full strength, his presence wouldn’t keep the Giants from spending this pick on the best overall player in the entire draft. A complete receiver who was an instant superstar as a freshman in Columbus, Smith has all the physical and mental traits to make a huge impact right away, especially if he lands on a team that forces opposing defenses to choose between him and Nabers when rolling coverages.
4. New York Jets
Leonard Moore | CB | Notre Dame
The Jets might be just good enough this season to miss out on next year’s top quarterback prospects, and while they’ve got the ammo to move up for one, they might not find willing partners if other QB-needy teams end up picking at the top of the board. In that scenario, their best bet would be to replace Sauce Gardner with Moore, an elite prospect with all the physical traits to quickly become a shutdown artist at the next level.
5. Las Vegas Raiders
Dylan Stewart | Edge | South Carolina
Maxx Crosby is back for now, but it wouldn’t hurt for the Raiders to find their next superstar edge rusher. Stewart has rare explosiveness off the ball, along with the size (6-5, 250) and athleticism to put opposing offensive tackles in a blender. He’s also got the length and awareness to separate the quarterback from the ball, creating a ton of splash plays. If he continues to develop his technique, the sky’s the limit for Stewart’s potential in the NFL.
6. Tennessee Titans
Colin Simmons | Edge | Texas
Robert Saleh should have this defense turned around sooner than later, and finding a blue-chip edge rusher at the top of next year’s draft would accelerate the Titans’ rebuild on that side of the ball. Simmons is a well-rounded player who can get to the quarterback with both speed and power, and in Tennessee, he could pair with 2025 first-rounder Keldric Faulk to give Saleh a dynamic pair of edge players to line up alongside one of the league’s most dominant interior defenders in Jeffrey Simmons.
7. Miami Dolphins
Cam Coleman | WR | Texas
As part of their full rebuild, the Dolphins moved on from both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle this offseason, and while they invested three draft picks at the position back in April, that shouldn’t stop them from spending a top-10 selection on Coleman next year if they get the chance. After being limited by lackluster quarterback play at Auburn, Coleman should be able to show off his impressive skill set more fully for the Longhorns this season.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Trevor Goosby | OT | Texas
It’s time for the Falcons to find a successor for Jake Matthews at left tackle, and this would be the ideal opportunity. Goosby has the physical traits to be a star at the next level, and another year in the college ranks should help him refine his technique. Once he’s got more polish, Goosby could be a dominant force, and the franchise left tackle Atlanta can build the future of their offensive line around.
9. Washington Commanders
Charlie Becker | WR | Indiana
Losing starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil for most (if not all) of the 2026 season is a massive blow for the Commanders, and it could sink their hopes of being competitive this year. The silver lining could be a top-10 draft slot and the chance to grab Becker, who would give Jayden Daniels an immediate WR2 upgrade with the skill set to eventually take over for Terry McLaurin as the top target in Washington’s passing game.
10. New York Jets (from IND)
CJ Carr | QB | Notre Dame
If the Jets miss out on Manning and Moore, they could still end up using one of their other first-round picks to take a swing on a potential franchise passer, albeit one with a little more boom/bust potential. Carr is a redshirt sophomore with two years of college eligibility remaining after this season, but if he plays up to his potential in South Bend this year, he could prove worthy of a top-10 pick.
11. New Orleans Saints
Will Echoles | DL | Ole Miss
Even if Bryan Bresee gets back on track at full strength next season after missing the entire 2026 campaign due to injury, the Saints could still invest their top pick in another high-end interior defender to fortify the trenches on that side of the ball. Echoles is a disruptive force at the point of attack, with a complete skill set that allows him to wreak havoc as both a pass rusher and a run stuffer.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers
Ellis Robinson IV | CB | Georgia
It doesn’t sound like the Steelers and Joey Porter Jr. are terribly close in their negotiations on a long-term contract extension, and if he’s not going to stick around much longer, a replacement will be necessary next offseason. Robinson would be an ideal candidate, with his well-rounded skill set, impressive blend of both physical and mental tools, and experience against top competition in the SEC.
13. Minnesota Vikings
Tae Johnson | S | Notre Dame
There’s no way to immediately replace a future Hall of Famer like Harrison Smith, but the Vikings do need to find a young playmaker with the traits and potential to eventually make that kind of impact on their defense. Johnson is a redshirt sophomore who is still learning how to make the most of his skill set, but his upside is through the roof, and there’s little doubt Brian Flores could get the most out of his talent.
14. Carolina Panthers
Jordan Seaton | OT | LSU
The Panthers just spent a first-round pick on Monroe Freeling, but with Taylor Moton getting older and Ikem Ekwonu better off sliding inside to guard, they could make another long-term investment in the offensive tackle position next offseason. One of the nation’s top recruits coming out of high school, Seaton is still more projection than proven product, but transferring from Colorado to LSU should give him a ton of opportunities to sharpen his skills before making the jump to the NFL.
15. Kansas City Chiefs
Trey’Dez Green | TE | LSU
This could be the final season of Travis Kelce’s incredible NFL career, and if he decides to ride off into the sunset next offseason, the Chiefs will need to find a new playmaker to fill his role as Patrick Mahomes’ go-to target. Green is a huge (6-7, 237), athletic prospect who is still just scratching the surface of his potential as a pass-catching weapon, and this could be the perfect landing spot for him to reach his lofty ceiling.
16. Detroit Lions
Ashton Hampton | CB | Clemson
After moving on from a recent first-round pick in Terrion Arnold, the Lions are left in serious need of a true shutdown corner who can match up with the league’s top wide receivers on the outside. Hampton brings ideal size (6-2, 205) and length to the position, with impressive athleticism and movement skills for such a big corner. He could easily play his way into top-20 consideration with a strong 2026 campaign.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
David Stone | DL | Oklahoma
The Bengals made a (literally) massive addition to their defensive front by trading this year’s No. 10 overall pick for Dexter Lawrence, but adding another disruptive interior defender next to him would take this defensive front to another level. Stone has the power, explosiveness, and overall upside to be the perfect fit, and his presence would further bolster a defense that struggled early but finished strong last season.
18. San Francisco 49ers
Trevor Lauck | OT | Iowa
The 49ers have a future first-ballot Hall of Famer in left tackle Trent Williams, but it’s time for them to plan for the future by investing an early pick in his eventual successor. The Hawkeyes have a well-earned reputation for producing some of the best offensive line prospects in the country in recent years, and Lauck has everything he needs to be the next in a long line of success stories.
19. Dallas Cowboys (from GB)
A’Mauri Washington | DL | Oregon
If the Cowboys are serious about investing in their run defense above all else, this pick would make a ton of sense. Washington could have been a fairly early pick in the 2026 draft, but after another year of polish and experience, he’ll be even more prepared to make an immediate impact for a defense that should be much improved in 2026 after some key additions at every level.
20. Los Angeles Chargers
Greg Johnson | OL | Minnesota
It’s no secret the biggest issue for the Chargers has been protecting Justin Herbert, and while having both offensive tackles back at full strength will definitely make a massive difference this year, the interior still needs some long-term upgrades. Johnson is a stout, powerful blocker with starting experience across multiple positions. He could end up being the first interior offensive lineman off the board, and an immediate starter for the Chargers.
21. Houston Texans
Kewan Lacy | RB | Ole Miss
David Montgomery and Woody Marks should be a solid 1-2 punch for the Houston backfield this season, but Montgomery will be 30 next June, and Marks may be better suited for a change-of-pace role. Lacy is an explosive runner with home-run ability and the pass-catching skills to be a true featured back on all three downs.
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Yhonzae Pierre | Edge | Alabama
You can never have too many talented pass rushers, and no team knows that better than the Eagles, who have benefited from strong depth at the position in recent years. Pierre is an intriguing prospect with the physical tools to end up being in the top-10 conversation depending on how his 2026 season goes, but if he’s still on the board in this range, the Eagles would be wise to pounce.
23. Buffalo Bills
KJ Bolden | DB | Georgia
The Bills once had one of the league’s better safety tandems in Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, as well as a stud slot defender in Taron Johnson. None of them remain on the roster, though, so the opportunity to add a versatile defender who can line up at both safety and in the slot would be ideal. Bolden isn’t huge, but he makes up for his lack of ideal size (6-0, 195) with athleticism, intelligence, versatility, and playmaking ability.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kelley Jones | CB | Mississippi State
Jacob Parrish looked like a stud in his rookie season, but Benjamin Morrison has been plagued by injuries, and Zyon McCollum struggled to live up to his new contract last season. Add the departure of Jamel Dean in free agency, and the Bucs have a ton of question marks at corner. Jones would bring impressive physical tools to the conversation, and his skill set would be a fantastic fit for what head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht tend to prioritize in their outside corner prospects.
25. New York Jets (from DAL)
Justin Scott | DL | Miami (FL)
Trading away Quinnen Williams left the Jets in need of a disruptive interior defender who can flash into the opposing backfield and wreak havoc. They have some young players with upside on the roster (T’Vondre Sweat, Darrell Jackson Jr.), but adding a first-round talent like Scott to the group would fortify a vital part of Aaron Glenn’s defense, bolstering their run defense and improving their ability to use fresh rotations across the defensive front.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jadan Baugh | RB | Florida
There’s something to like about every running back on this roster, but I’m not sold on any of them as a true featured back who can handle a full workload while giving the Jags consistency and big-play potential out of the backfield. That could change with the addition of Baugh, who brings a fantastic blend of size (6-1, 225), power and explosiveness to the table, with the ability to take any carry to the house. The last time this team spent a first-round pick on a Gator running back, things worked out pretty well.
27. New England Patriots
Jamari Johnson | TE | Oregon
This offense should take things to another level after trading for AJ Brown, but the Pats could also use a young tight end to develop for the future. Johnson could make it two years in a row for a first-round tight end coming out of Oregon, and he brings the kind of size (6-5, 257), athleticism and versatility that would make him a valuable mismatch weapon for Drake Maye.
28. Chicago Bears
Sammy Brown | LB | Clemson
Adding Devin Bush should make a huge impact for the Bears’ defense this year, but T.J. Edwards is 30 years old and coming off a 2025 season during which he missed seven games due to injury. Chicago could bolster their immediate depth and plan for the future at linebacker by taking Brown, a big, rangy defender with the athleticism, strength, effort and toughness to be a Pro Bowler down the road.
29. Seattle Seahawks
Jaylen McClain | S | Ohio State
Mike Macdonald’s defense just loves to college athletic, versatile defenders who bring a ton of smarts and a violent style of play to the party, and McClain would check every box. His ability to line up deep, in the slot, or down in the box would give Seattle even more flexibility with the way they present complex looks and make creative post-snap changes to force opposing offenses into scary situations.
30. Denver Broncos
Chris Cole | LB | Georgia
This is already one of the best defenses in the NFL, but adding a three-down playmaker at the second level could make this unit even stronger moving forward. Cole is an absolute missile of a defender, with an impressive blend of intelligence, instincts, athleticism and power that makes him one of the most well-rounded linebackers in the country, and a potential first-round prospect.
31. Cleveland Browns (from LAR)
Will Heldt | Edge | Clemson
Trading away Myles Garrett certainly didn’t make this defense any better, but Jared Verse is still one of the NFL’s best edge defenders, and this pick could allow the Browns to add a high-quality bookend on the other side of their defensive front. Listed at 6-6, 260 pounds, Heldt is a towering defender with room to add more bulk, but even as is, he’s a well-rounded edge player with the power and athleticism to be a three-down starter right away.
32. Baltimore Ravens
Kade Pieper | OL | Iowa
The loss of Tyler Linderbaum will no doubt be felt by the Ravens’ offense, but they could end up with a chance to replace him with another stellar center prospect from the same program. Pieper would have big shoes to fill for a second time, but the film we’ve seen up to this point says he’s up to the task, and any blocker from Iowa comes with high expectations of future NFL success.
More must-reads:
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- Roger Goodell explains why NFL is doing away with the Pro Bowl game
- The 'NFL passing leaders since 1970' quiz
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