Following the release of my first top 50 big board for the 2027 draft cycle on Monday, it’s time for another way-too-early mock draft. We’ve had a few shakeups since my first back in May: with Myles Garrett now in Los Angeles with the Rams, the Browns have an extra pick. I’ve also done a fair bit more scouting since then, and have some new names in interesting landing spots to bring to your attention.

As per usual with these way-too-early mocks, try not to get too hung up on specific prospect-to-team fits. It’s difficult to project team needs a year out, so aside from quarterbacks, I didn’t prioritize fit over getting the right names in the mock.

1 — Miami Dolphins: Texas QB Arch Manning

Another year, another mock draft projecting Manning to go first overall. His early impressions on college football fans last season weren’t great, but he looked much-improved by the end of the season. If he takes another step forward, it’ll be tough for teams to overlook his production, arm talent and athleticism (not to mention his pedigree).

2 — Arizona Cardinals: Miami QB Darian Mensah

Mensah is still my favorite quarterback in this class. I just loved his tape. His pocket presence is top-notch and he combines it with a laser arm that can effortlessly hit opposite-sideline or deep-hash throws. Week after week, Mensah was dicing up ACC defenses with throws straight out of NFL offenses.

3 — New York Jets: Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

Yes, the Jets need a quarterback. But they have three first-round selections, and Smith can’t fall much further than this. He’s already considered a prospect on par with the best receivers to come through the draft in recent memory like Ja’Marr Chase and Marvin Harrison Jr. — and he can get even better this season. With his combination of size, fluid movement, and ball skills, he’s a nearly impossible cover.

4 — Cleveland Browns: Oregon QB Dante Moore

In a summer quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, the Browns might be learning they don’t really have a quarterback they can rely on. Moore was a college football standout last season, passing up a high chance to be the No. 2 pick to instead return to college and get even better. With better pocket presence, he could challenge for the No. 1 overall selection even in a stronger class.

5 — Tennessee Titans: Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore

Moore has a case as the best prospect in this class entering the season. He’s battle-tested against college football’s best receivers over the last two seasons — including Smith, whom he fought to a draw in the national championship game two seasons ago. His fluidity in space and length at the catch point allows him to stay sticky and break up passes consistently.

6 — Las Vegas Raiders: South Carolina ED Dylan Stewart

Speed and power make for a great combination at most positions, but especially at edge rusher. Stewart has both in spades. One of the younger players in the class, his production speaks for itself. He is relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback, sets a hard edge in run defense, and is quicker for his profile than you might expect.

7 — Atlanta Falcons: Texas ED Colin Simmons

With James Pearce Jr.’s future up in the air, the Falcons could go back to the well at edge rusher. Simmons is a dynamic speed force off the edge, winning with a quick first step and a variety of counter moves off it. He’s a strong candidate to go in the top five.

8 — New Orleans Saints: Oregon DT A’Mauri Washington

A true mauler in the middle, Washington flashed immense upside last season. With another year showcasing more consistency, he could easily end up in the top 10. His get-off at his size is otherworldly and he plays with tremendous power to boot. Few men at his position make the kinds of plays he does, let alone with the level of ease he seems to perform at.

9 — Carolina Panthers: Georgia CB Ellis Robinson IV

Cornerback is still a potential issue for Carolina, so here they grab Robinson, a first-year starter in 2025. Though he’s a little small for corners that typically get drafted this high, he has exceptional ball production and the quick-twitch movements necessary to be a lockdown man-cover corner. He’d be an injection of athleticism into the Panthers defense.

10 — Pittsburgh Steelers: USC QB Jayden Maiava

Maiava very much seems like a Steelers type of quarterback. He’s big, throws with impeccable touch, can make every NFL throw in the book, and knows how to run an offense. His upside might not be quite as high as some of the other quarterback prospects we’re discussing, but I’m more confident in Maiava being a first-round pick next spring than any other passer.

11 — New York Giants: Texas OT Trevor Goosby

There isn’t a higher upside tackle in this class than Goosby. With his combination of size and athleticism, the sky truly is the limit. In his first full season of starting in 2025, he showed tremendous growth, flashing his smooth movement skills and improving hand-fighting techniques.

12 — Washington Commanders: Oklahoma DT David Stone

Stone combined stout interior run defense with a quick burst off the snap that allows him to penetrate the backfield consistently. His production in both phases of the defense is eye-catching, and he can make a big impact on every snap. With his speed and raw power, the Commanders would be getting a big addition.

13 — Minnesota Vikings: Miami ED Damon Wilson II

After a standout season at Missouri across from Zion Young, Wilson transferred to Miami and will look to replace the departed duo of first-rounders Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. Wilson is a strong prospect in his own right. He’s lightning-quick around the edge and has already developed some counter moves off that. He’ll have a chance to showcase his full skillset now that he’s the guy in Miami.

14 — New York Jets (via IND): Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker

Mestemaker caught everyone’s attention last season as a redshirt freshman at North Texas. He’s a real gunslinger but backs it up with incredible throws week after week, unafraid of the moment despite his inexperience. It’ll be a step up in competition for him in the Big 12, but he has a chance to showcase his firecracker skills on a bigger stage this season.

15 — Jacksonville Jaguars: LSU OT Jordan Seaton

A transfer from Colorado, Seaton is a lumbering tackle who put together some fantastic tape last season before getting injured. It’ll be important to monitor how he performs in his return from injury, but he looks like his early-season self, he’ll be one of the most coveted tackles in the class.

16 — New York Jets (via DAL): Texas WR Ryan Wingo

Wingo is a personal favorite of mine after watching his tape. Most evaluators don’t rank him this highly, but I love his smooth movement skills and self-creation after the catch. It’s true he needs to kick his drop problem and run his shorter routes a little tighter, but the separation skills at all three levels of the field are impressive.

17 — Cincinnati Bengals: Missouri OT Cayden Green

A converted guard, Green plays like one on the edge. Not that he can’t mirror or keep up with speedier edge rushers, but rather that he uses that same hard-nosed power approach to blocking with great success. His transition to tackle was pretty smooth last season and he’ll get a chance to continue to refine his game in 2026.

18 — Chicago Bears: Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy

The top back in this class, Hardy is a true three-down workhorse. He’s a bigger back who runs through arm tackles with impunity, but he’s not limited to just between-the-tackles or short-yardage work. When he hits that second gear, he races past defenders, and it gives him a lot more versatility than his profile would suggest.

19 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LSU TE Trey’Dez Green

Built in a lab to play tight end, Green was an SEC basketball player before switching to football full-time. He’s a cheat code in the red zone, towering over defenders and boxing them out to secure touchdown after touchdown. But he’s not limited to that sort of work, showcasing his ability to attack the middle of the field last season.

20 — Houston Texans: Georgia S KJ Bolden

It can be tough to project where safeties will go on draft day, but Bolden already has a strong case to be a first-round pick. Speed is the name of his game, and he erases rushing lanes and throwing windows alike with ease. It’s a joy to watch him fly around the field making plays, keeping his head up and reading the offense like a veteran.

21 — Dallas Cowboys (via GBP): Indiana CB Jamari Sharpe

A twitched-up zone cornerback, Sharpe is built to play press but is more comfortable in off-coverage. While his ball production and instincts already have him in the first-round range, developing a more versatile skillset could see him rise considerably over the course of next season.

22 — Denver Broncos: Texas Tech DT A.J. Holmes Jr.

The lone returning starter from the Red Raiders’ all-world defensive line last season, Holmes has a chance to be a first-round pick himself. His power profile is eye-catching and he pairs that with consistent backfield production, showing himself to be more than just a pocket-pusher as a pass rusher.

23 — Detroit Lions: Miami DT Ahmad Moten Sr.

One of the more underrated defensive line prospects in this class, Moten is a versatile two-gapping run stuffer. Though he’s more of a power rusher than someone who will knife into the backfield consistently, he uses a variety of pass-rush moves to win and isn’t limited in that department.

24 — New England Patriots: Oregon TE Jamari Johnson

Johnson averaged nearly 10 yards after the catch per reception last season, a truly ridiculous number for a tight end. He’s so dynamic in space even with a larger build, one that allows him to be a strong in-line blocker for the Ducks. Oregon could have a first-round tight end on its hands for the second year in a row (and after Terrance Ferguson went in the second round in 2025).

25 — Philadelphia Eagles: Indiana OT Carter Smith

The most polished offensive tackle prospect in this class right now, Smith has an incredible power profile. He mirrors edge rushers well and can stay in front of the quickest defenders, but he’s also a road-grader in the run game who can cause some serious vertical displacement. At some point, the Eagles will need to think about drafting a replacement for aging RT Lane Johnson.

26 — Los Angeles Chargers: Ohio State G Austin Siereveld

Siereveld has played both guard and tackle for the Buckeyes, but he’s a guard in the NFL, and a very good one at that. His strength is a major plus and he pairs it with complementary footwork and strong hand-eye coordination, keeping his hands and feet in sync to ward off defenders. One of the most technically sound prospects in this class, Siereveld’s ability to kick out to tackle in a pinch will give him added value in the NFL.

27 — San Francisco 49ers: Oregon ED Matayo Uiagalelei

A true tweener prospect, Uiagalelei might be best-suited to playing 3-4 defensive end. But he might be able to get away with playing a traditional edge rusher role, especially if he keeps producing the way he has to this point in his college career. He’s an immensely powerful and disciplined edge rusher who can dent entire sides of the line by himself.

28 — Kansas City Chiefs: Rutgers WR KJ Duff

A massive wide receiver with really fun tape, Duff won’t ever be a premier separator. That’s okay, because he towers over defensive backs and can run right with them, producing in a downfield role reminiscent of some of the best deep threats to come through the draft in recent years.

29 — Seattle Seahawks: Mississippi State CB Kelley Jones

A big 6-4 cornerback, Jones plays tough and physical in every stage of the game. He’s a strong tackler, good press-man corner, and knows how to bother receivers throughout their routes without drawing flags. In many ways, he’s an ideal fit for HC Mike Macdonald’s defense.

30 — Baltimore Ravens: LSU ED Jordan Ross

I’m excited to see Ross in a full-time starting role this season. He’s been stuck behind some NFL edge rushers at Tennessee over the last two seasons, but now LSU brought him in to have a featured role. In limited appearances, he’s flashed quick feet off the line and some nice cross-chop and counter moves. If he lives up to the potential he’s shown, he’ll go in this range.

31 — Buffalo Bills: Notre Dame LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa

As a run-and-chase linebacker, it doesn’t get much better than Viliamu-Asa. He’s dealt with brutal injury luck so far in college, but if he can stay healthy all season and show off his closing speed, range, and power, he’ll be a draft darling in no time. Linebackers with his ability to crash through the line don’t grow on trees.

32 — Cleveland Browns (via LAR): Syracuse CB Chris Peal

Peal is a bigger corner who plays the game at such an intuitive level. He reads quarterbacks so well from zone coverage and is lockdown on the outside, rarely allowing big plays or even first downs. His ball production won’t jump off the page, but he’s adept at preventing receivers from getting to their spots and gumming up an offense’s rhythm.