Draft expert offers take on whether Chambliss could be first-round pick

Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

NFL Draft expert offers interesting take on whether Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss could be a first-round pick in 2027

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Aug 13, 2026 3:42 PM ET

Turns out Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss could go higher in the 2027 NFL Draft (scheduled April 29-May 1 in Washington) than you'd think.

Chambliss, a former Division II star at Ferris State, broke out last season, leading Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff semifinals. Despite the meteoric rise, many are unsure whether the 6-foot, 205-pounder can cut it in the NFL due to his lack of prototypical size.

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah isn't among those skeptics. He believes Chambliss belongs in the early first-round QB conversation, which includes Arch Manning (Texas Longhorns), Dante Moore (Oregon Ducks), CJ Carr (Notre Dame Fighting Irish) and Darian Mensah (Miami Hurricanes).

Daniel Jeremiah discusses Trinidad Chambliss' NFL Draft stock

Jeremiah joined "The Pat McAfee Show" on Thursday to discuss the stacked 2027 QB class. The draft guru said Chambliss was "the most fun QB" he studied in the offseason and explained why he's not ruling out the possibility he will go in the first round.

"I had someone ask me, 'Hey, could [Chambliss] be a first-round pick?" Jeremiah said. "I'm like, Bryce Young was a first-overall pick. Yeah, absolutely ... he's sturdy, and he's a playmaker."

"Trinidad Chambliss is a PLAYMAKER"@MoveTheSticks #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/A2vtO9anJu
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 13, 2026

Former Alabama Crimson Tide QB Young, whom the Carolina Panthers selected No. 1 overall in 2023, is listed at 5-foot-10, 204 pounds. Jeremiah noted he thinks Chambliss could eventually put more weight on his frame than Young has, which would mitigate durability concerns.

If he does, Chambliss could be an even more intriguing prospect to scouts, who already love his ability to generate magic. It reminds one talent evaluator of former Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson (pick No. 75 in 2012), who won a Super Bowl in his second season.

"Russell Wilson [5-foot-11, 206 pounds] all over again. The dude is electric. He attacks the middle of the field and puts so much stress on defenses," an AFC scout told ESPN's Jordan Reid for a story published in July. "Don't be surprised to see someone take him in the back end of Round 1 if he builds off last season."

Chambliss ranked third in the nation in passing yards (3,937), fifth in QBR (86.5) and tied for 35th in passing touchdowns (22) in 2025. He also threaded the needle plenty. Per Pro Football Focus, he tied for 11th in the FBS in completion percentage (28-of-55, 50.9 percent) on passes of 20-plus air yards (distance the ball travels through the air from the line of scrimmage) among 155 QBs (min. 17 attempts).

Reproducing similar or better numbers will be challenging for Chambliss, especially after former Rebels HC Lane Kiffin left for the LSU Tigers' head-coaching gig. Pete Golding has since replaced him. Chambliss responding to the challenge would show that NFL teams shouldn't just view him as a nice college football story, but as a prospect they should keep on their radar.

They'll have an opportunity to see if he can keep rolling when Ole Miss opens the season against the Louisville Cardinals on Sept. 6 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville (ABC, 7:30 p.m. ET).

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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