Which 2027 Draft Quarterbacks Could Save the Arizona Cardinals?

Cardinals’ Dusty Quarterback Room

Last season, the Cardinals’ quarterback position was very shaky and inconsistent. The departure of Kyler Murray, who signed a one-year-deal with Minnesota, means veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett is now expected to be the starter.

Brissett did have some solid games in 2025, earning him a new one-year deal. The deal is heavily incentivized, so if Brissett plays well this season, he’ll be getting paid more than the $15.5 million he’s currently signed to. Even with the new deal, it sounds like the Cardinals are keeping their options open.

The current room consists of Carson Beck, a 2026 third-round pick, Gardner Minshew, who came over from the Chiefs, and Brissett, the 33-year-old high-caliber backup.

With their eyes on the future more so than the upcoming season, Arizona is likely looking at the quarterback prospects in the 2027 class as their long-term solution, which is smart.

The 2027 class is being hyped up as one of the most stacked classes in recent history. If expert projections are accurate, the Arizona Cardinals will be at the bottom of the standings. That’ll allow them a chance to draft a franchise-changing talent. 

Could the Next Manning Prodigy Save the Cardinals?

Arch Manning, nephew of Peyton and Eli, is preparing for his junior campaign at Texas. He’s one of the most intriguing prospects this year. After this season, Manning will be queued as a top quarterback prospect in the 2027 draft, for good reason.

Last season, Arch was solid in his first full season as a starter. He showed off the inherited Manning arm as well as his very underrated athleticism, accumulating just under 400 rushing yards and ten total touchdowns on the ground.

The Cardinals will be taking a long, detailed look at Arch. He would fit perfectly in Mike Lafleur’s new system and Arizona’s offense. Lafleur, with Sean McVay and the Rams offense, loved to combine RPOs with under-center sets. The RPO concepts are a huge part of Manning’s playbook at Texas.

Lafluer’s playstyle is a massive reason Los Angeles was so successful on early downs and goal-line situations. Last season, Davante Adams had 14 receiving touchdowns, the highest of his career.

Give Lafleur a young quarterback like Arch Manning, and the diverse concepts he could draw up for Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. would be deadly.

Dante Moore Is a Veteran Already on the Pacific Coast

Another highly-touted prospect is Dante Moore. He nearly declared last season, but ultimately stayed in Eugene for his senior year. Right now, he’s widely regarded as the top quarterback in the 2027 class. 

Moore is a very interesting watch for fans and scouts this season. Coming off a highly successful Junior year, his draft stock was hurt by mediocre play in the college football playoffs. After analyzing his options, he opted to return to Oregon for a final season. The Cardinals are certainly going to keep a close eye on the Oregon quarterback.

Moore has had many good moments in his career, and the film backs those up. He’s a fast processor behind the line of scrimmage and makes very minimal mistakes. His arm is also one of his strong suits, as he finds numerous ways to fit the ball in tight windows; Moore an outstanding 72 percent completion percentage. 

With the Rams, Stafford flourished in the McVay and LaFleur offense. Playstyle-wise, Moore could be a Matthew Stafford-type quarterback under LaFleur. 

Heading into 2026-2027, Moore knows what he has to do for himself and the team. He’s consistently talked about it over the spring and summer. NFL teams will make note of this, especially after expecting him to enter the league in last year’s draft. The NFL, and the Cardinals specifically, will keep an even harder look at Dante Moore this season. 

Unproven with High Upside

This most recent transfer portal featured some intriguing names, especially at quarterback. Drew Mestemaker, who is now the starter at Oklahoma State, will have a lot of eyes on him compared to last season.

Mestemaker was a stellar player in 2025 at North Texas. He had an astonishing 2025 season stat-wise, piling up nearly 4,400 passing yards along with 34 touchdowns and a 69 percent completion percentage; both his yards and touchdowns led FBS.

Mestemaker entered the transfer portal hoping to earn a starting opportunity at a bigger program, and he did. He ended up transferring to Oklahoma State for his junior year.

After a few practices and spring games, Mestemaker is already proving why he’s one of the top guys in college football.

Mestemaker has eye-popping stats and has made a lot of really tremendous plays, but it’s still unclear whether he’s ready for the next level. 

The Cardinals will do extensive research on him for 2027. Assuming Mestemaker declares, he’s a riveting prospect with highly advanced skills. In the right situation, he will develop into an upper-echelon quarterback.

Given the talent of the 2027 class, the Cardinals can certainly choose someone they hope will be their future star.

The question is, will Arizona find a quarterback that can execute consistently?