Happy spooky season, dear readers. I hope you all have sufficiently fun (and creepy?) Halloween plans with elaborate costumes and candy galore. I myself will be watching scary movies and attending a Halloween party dressed as The Weeknd in one of his concert masks.

This might be a hot take, but we’re about to enter the best time on the sports calendar. November brings the start of college basketball, the heart of conference play in college football, the NFL playoff picture begins to take shape and the NBA season starts ramping up. Thanksgiving weekend in particular is college football rivalry weekend, feast week in college basketball and there are so many premier (and isolated) NFL and NBA games. It’s a sports fan’s dream.

But not to be lost in all of that is the NFL draft coming up in just six short months. It’s closer than you think. I mean, up until today, I’d only published four 2027 mock drafts. Those are rookie numbers! So much changes each week in college football, and while you don’t want to overreact to one or two data points in a sea of many, this is a rapidly shifting draft landscape. It’s high time for a new mock draft.

With that in mind, let’s fast-forward to April 2027 and examine what the first round of the draft could look like (draft order per Tankathon’s projections through Week 7 prior to Monday Night Football):

1 — Los Angeles Chargers: Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

The team picking No. 1 overall will be doing everything it can do to convince itself it can pass on a quarterback for Smith. The best wide receiver prospect since [insert your favorite wide receiver when you were 12], Smith is breaking record after record and beating entire defenses week after week. Given his size, speed, play strength, route-running acumen and ball skills…the Calvin Johnson comps aren’t crazy.

2 — Tennessee Titans: Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker

If the Titans are picking in the top three, it’ll be really hard to pass on a quarterback. Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in 2024, just hasn’t shown enough. Even in Tennessee’s win over the Colts in Week 6, he struggled mightily, barely eclipsing 100 passing yards. The opportunity to start over with Mestemaker, an extremely young prospect just oozing production and potential, might be too great to pass up.

3 — Miami Dolphins: Miami QB Darian Mensah

I continue to be Mensah’s biggest advocate in the draft space. His accuracy and consistency are well-documented, and it’s why he’s moved into consensus first-round territory. But I think Mensah’s pocket movement, out-of-structure playmaking and ability to read a defense are being heavily underrated. He’s the best quarterback in this class.

4 — Washington Commanders: South Carolina ED Dylan Stewart

I may have jumped the gun on Stewart’s future with the Gamecocks. South Carolina’s coaches are standing by their defensive superstar, which is huge for Stewart’s draft stock. He served his one-game suspension for his behavior in the Alabama game and is right back to his dominating ways ever since. Even though he’s still limited due to lingering injury concerns, he’s a wrecking ball every time he steps on the football field.

5 — Houston Texans: Texas ED Colin Simmons

The rich get richer. Simmons falls into Houston’s lap — the NFL’s most loaded defense adds another blue-chip prospect. Simmons is an elite speed rusher with good pound-for-pound strength and effort against the run. His pass-rushing upside is as high as anyone who’s come through the draft in years.

6 — New York Jets (via IND): Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore

The Jets have two other first-round picks to take their quarterback. Moore is, at worst, the second-best player in this entire draft. He would be immediately transformative to this New York defense, capable of shadowing the best receivers in the league or making game-changing plays from zone.

7 — Arizona Cardinals: Texas QB Arch Manning

College football fans might not like it, as Manning seems to be their favorite punching bag. But he remains one of the most gifted quarterback prospects we’ve seen in years. If he were more consistent and saw the field better, he’d be the first quarterback off the board. Even with his areas for growth, though, he’s a top-10 pick if he declares.

8 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Indiana WR Charlie Becker

Becker is a size/speed demon, a monster in contested catch situations and a refined route runner. He can win at all three levels of the field and dusts cornerbacks who aren’t prepared to deal with what he brings to the table. The Bucs need more offensive firepower, and Becker would add an explosive element they currently lack.

9 — New York Jets: Notre Dame QB CJ Carr

Carr is an elite pocket passer, with the arm talent to punish defenses and great processing speed. He beats defenders with his throws, and while he won’t create a ton out of structure, he can pick teams apart from the pocket. As the Fighting Irish are expected to make the College Football Playoff, Carr could see his stock soar with strong performances in the playoffs.

10 — New Orleans Saints: Clemson CB Ashton Hampton

A versatile coverage weapon, Hampton has the frame to shut down anyone. He can impose his physicality in man coverage and roam in zone, making plays on the ball and coming up big for the defense. Hampton’s tenacity in run defense sets him apart and makes him an appealing prospect.

11 — New York Jets (via DAL): Tennessee DT Xavier Gilliam

An attacking, downhill interior defender, Gilliam is a transfer from Penn State. He’s in the midst of a monster breakout season, hounding quarterbacks in his pass rush and stuffing runners week after week. Gilliam’s combination of speed and strength lets him make impressive plays in both phases.

12 — Philadelphia Eagles: USC QB Jayden Maiava

The Eagles seem headed for a full reset, including at quarterback. The most underrated quarterback prospect in this class, Maiava is an easy first-round pick in my eyes. He’s accurate to all levels of the field, with enough arm talent to make any throw and the confidence to attack downfield consistently. I have no doubt he can run an NFL offense.

13 — Las Vegas Raiders: Rutgers WR KJ Duff

An absolute monster of athleticism and physicality, Duff is the best one-on-one winner in this class (aside from Smith). He has all the makings of a true No. 1 receiver, despite my reservations about his giant archetype. The Scarlet Knights are running their entire offense through him and he keeps delivering, absorbing all of the volume without breaking a stride.

14 — Cleveland Browns (via LAR): Oregon QB Dante Moore

Even considering the serious concussion he suffered earlier this season, Moore is a safe first-round prospect. He’s a classic pocket passer, picking apart defenses with his accuracy and anticipation. Moore’s ability to read defenses and create from the pocket makes him a dangerous prospect.

15 — Atlanta Falcons: Missouri OT Cayden Green

Some teams will view Green as a guard, while others will believe in his ability to stick at tackle. His power is his greatest strength — he forms a wall in pass protection, anchoring down and using his length to ward off rushers. At times, he can be a bit slow-footed, but he knows how to compensate by forcing pass rushers around the arc.

16 — Baltimore Ravens: LSU TE Trey’Dez Green

A red zone monster at 6-7, 242 pounds, Green is more than just his frame. He routinely surprises defenders with his speed and fluidity in space, breaking plays open after the catch and making would-be tacklers miss. With reliable hands and alignment versatility, Green has a lot to offer any offense.

17 — Seattle Seahawks: Georgia CB Ellis Robinson IV

A lockdown man-coverage cornerback, Robinson can shut down your opponents’ best receiver. He’s physical at the line of scrimmage, comfortable in his zone drops and capable of covering any receiver you throw at him. Robinson also delivers against the run, making big hits and wrapping up with consistency.

18 — New England Patriots: Georgia S KJ Bolden

A blazingly fast middle-field safety, Bolden can line up anywhere and do just about anything. He excels in single-high, but he’s comfortable in two-deep, too, and can even slide down and play man coverage from the slot. Bolden’s willingness to fire downhill and make plays in the run game will endear him to defensive coaches everywhere.

19 — Carolina Panthers: Minnesota G Greg Johnson

Ostensibly a guard, Johnson has played all five positions along the offensive line during his time in Minnesota. His power profile is immense and he plays with quick hands to ward off incoming pass rushers. Johnson projects to the interior at the next level, but he can play guard or center.

20 — Dallas Cowboys (via GBP): Texas OT Trevor Goosby

While Goosby hasn’t developed as a run blocker the way we hoped, his tape as a pass protector still makes him an easy first-round pick. His combination of strength and athleticism gives him such a high ceiling, and the smooth technique he plays with raises his floor. Goosby knows how to utilize length and leverage to his advantage and bull rushes die on contact.

21 — New York Giants: Utah OT Zereoue Williams

The best-kept secret in college football is a secret no more. A fifth-year senior, Williams was stuck behind two first-round picks on the depth chart last year. Faced with a starting opportunity, Williams is taking full advantage. He’s a polished pass protector who also delivers big hits as a run blocker. 

22 — Jacksonville Jaguars: LSU OT Jordan Seaton

Seaton has the highest raw potential of any offensive lineman in this class. Guys his size just don’t move the way he does. His silly athleticism and pass-protecting tape could see him selected much higher than this.

23 — Cincinnati Bengals: Florida RB Jadan Baugh

How fun would it be if a 225-pound running back played like he weighed 195? That’s Baugh. He has the power profile of a big, bruising back, but he pairs it with speed and elusiveness rarely seen in players his size. Critically, he’s a good pass catcher out of the backfield, too.

24 — Pittsburgh Steelers: Indiana WR Nick Marsh

An explosive vertical threat on the outside, Marsh is a man-coverage beater. His size/speed combination makes him dangerous and he runs a full route tree, able to attack from any alignment. Good in contested situations and reliable on the money downs, Marsh could contribute to an NFL offense right now.

25 — Detroit Lions: Mississippi State CB Kelley Jones

A monster 6-4, 205-pound cornerback, Jones was built in a lab to erase your best receiver one-on-one. His press-man tape is extremely impressive and while the zone instincts lag behind, if you know what to do with him, he’s a huge asset to your defense.

26 — Cleveland Browns: Ole Miss DT Will Echoles

A lab-built run-stuffer, Echoles’ development as a pass rusher this season has been fun to watch. Clogging up the middle and creating headaches for offensive lines to deal with, he knows how to eat space and blocks against the run. But he can also penetrate into the backfield, crashing run plays or hounding the quarterback.

27 — Denver Broncos: Oregon TE Jamari Johnson

Oregon’s offense is really struggling right now, but Johnson isn’t the reason why. His run blocking has really improved this season, but he’ll make his money as a receiving weapon. Johnson is a plus route runner with size and strength through his breaks, creating consistent separation and bullying through contact as needed.

28 — Chicago Bears: Miami DT Justin Scott

Scott got off to a slow start this season, but lately he’s been on a tear. A one-man wrecking crew against the run, he just eats up blocks, pulverizing offensive lines to bring down the ball carrier. With a nose for the football and some real juice in his pass rush moves, Scott’s arrow is firmly pointing up.

29 — Buffalo Bills: Georgia LB Chris Cole

An old-school run-and-chase linebacker, Cole’s ability to stymie opposing rushing attacks is pretty singular in this class. He can pursue sideline-to-sideline, attack downhill, and is one of the surest tacklers you’ll find. While he still has some development to undergo, Cole also flashes potential in coverage.

30 — San Francisco 49ers: Notre Dame ED Boubacar Traore

An athletic, powerful edge-setter, Traore is a monster against the run. He erases runs to his side of the line, with an uncanny ability to get off blocks to make plays. While his pass-rush bag is still developing, Traore flashes the kind of high-end potential that goes in the first round.

31 — Kansas City Chiefs: Ole Miss WR Deuce Alexander

You want speed? Alexander has it in spades. He burns cornerbacks down the field, taking the top of the defense on every snap. Critically, he’s a good route runner, threatening in the intermediate and short areas with his burst and tackle-breaking ability.

32 — Minnesota Vikings: Notre Dame LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa

If college football had a comeback player of the year award, Viliamu-Asa would be the heavy favorite. Coming back from an ACL tear, he’s been unstoppable, a true game-changer in coverage. Viliamu-Asa can run with tight ends and receivers alike, chase down running backs on the perimeter, and he’s such an instinctual player. The sky’s the limit with him.