Wilson's 2027 Mock Draft: Five Quarterbacks Go Round 1, Arch Manning Not Among Them

With September behind us, Mock Draft 2.0 looks a lot different from version 1.0 – and a lot of that has to do with the quarterbacks.

We've talked for months (and in some cases, years) about why this class was so deep at quarterback. And in many ways, it is – just not in the manner some of us predicted. Not only has Arch Manning not looked like the No. 1 overall pick, compared to recent draft classes,  but he also hasn't even looked like a first-rounder . I know that will anger some of you, but I encourage you to read this and draw your own conclusions based on the data.

Dante Moore hasn't been nearly as efficient either. You can blame a poor offensive line, receivers that struggle to get open, or losing offensive coordinator Will Stein to Kentucky, but it's also often the case that highly drafted QBs go to bad NFL teams. Yes, these are excuses for why Moore's play has regressed, but it's also what he can expect at the next level.

Even with Manning and Moore not playing up to expectations, the QB class has been pleasantly surprising. CJ Carr and Drew Mestemaker are making real cases as first-rounders , but I'm assuming both return to college for their 2027 seasons until further notice.

There have even been rumblings that Manning could return to Texas again, and honestly, it might be in his best long-term interests. Because after several mock drafts where I've thrown around some variation of "Manning's traits are special, his play just needs to match it," I'm leaving him out of this mock draft altogether.

I do have Moore, who is currently injured, in this mock, however. In part because he was my QB1 over the summer, in part because he would have been the second quarterback drafted last April had he declared for the draft. He hasn't forgotten how to play at a high level , though I do like other QBs in the class more than him right now.

And that brings us to Darian Mensah and Trinidad Chambliss. Mensah is getting legit QB1 buzz from some scouts, while Chambliss might be the most NFL-ready of the group .

OK, let's get to it!

Note: The draft order was determined using the reverse Super Bowl odds at DraftKings Sportsbook . The Jets have three first-round picks: their own, the Cowboys' from the Quinnen Williams trade and the Colts' from the Sauce Gardner trade. The Cowboys have the Packers' selection from the Micah Parsons trade. The Browns have two first-round picks: their own and the Rams' from the Myles Garrett trade.

NFL Mock Draft Round 1

Round 1 - Pick 1

Jeremiah Smith

WR

Ohio State

• Jr • 6'4" / 222 lbs

Projected Team

Miami

PROSPECT RNK

2nd

POSITION RNK

1st

REC

44

REYDS

823

YDS/REC

18.7

TDS

9

Smith is the best player in college football, and it may not be particularly close. And if the Dolphins feel like Malik Willis is a better option than any of the QBs in this class, Smith is an easy choice here.

Round 1 - Pick 2

Colin Simmons

EDGE

Texas

• Jr • 6'3" / 246 lbs

Projected Team

Tennessee

PROSPECT RNK

6th

POSITION RNK

2nd

Simmons has been dominant (suspect post-sack celebrations aside), and you could argue he's been better than David Bailey and Abdul Carter -- two former top-three edge rushers -- at this point in their final college seasons.

Round 1 - Pick 3

Darian Mensah

QB

Miami (Fla.)

• Jr • 6'3" / 205 lbs

Projected Team

Arizona

PROSPECT RNK

NR

POSITION RNK

NR

PAYDS

1438

RUYDS

79

INTS

0

TDS

17

The Miami QB has been one of the most efficient college quarterbacks in recent history through the first five weeks.

Round 1 - Pick 4

Leonard Moore

CB

Notre Dame

• Jr • 6'2" / 197 lbs

Projected Team

Cleveland

PROSPECT RNK

3rd

POSITION RNK

1st

If you're looking for holes in Moore's game, well, good luck to you. He's a special talent and reminds me of Patrick Surtain II.

Round 1 - Pick 5

Trinidad Chambliss

QB

Ole Miss

• Sr • 6'0" / 210 lbs

Projected Team

N.Y. Jets

PROSPECT RNK

32nd

POSITION RNK

4th

PAYDS

1222

RUYDS

108

INTS

3

TDS

12

Chambliss has been one of the best QBs in college football so far this season, and while he'll be a 25-year-old rookie, there's no denying how consistent he's been against SEC competition -- which isn't something you can say about a few of the highly touted passers in the class.

Round 1 - Pick 6

Will Echoles

DL

Ole Miss

• Jr • 6'3" / 315 lbs

Projected Team

N.Y. Giants

PROSPECT RNK

15th

POSITION RNK

3rd

Echoles' power, hand usage and ability to be disruptive against the run are all over the tape, and his first-step quickness gives him more pass-rush value than a pure run-stuffer.

Round 1 - Pick 7

Jordan Seaton

OT

LSU

• Jr • 6'5" / 311 lbs

Projected Team

Carolina

PROSPECT RNK

7th

POSITION RNK

2nd

Seaton hasn't allowed a sack this season, and even though the Panthers used their 2026 first-rounder on Monroe Freeling, there are still questions at left tackle beyond this season.

Round 1 - Pick 8

Ashton Hampton

CB

Clemson

• Jr • 6'2" / 205 lbs

Projected Team

Pittsburgh

PROSPECT RNK

8th

POSITION RNK

2nd

Hampton has been one of the few bright spots for Clemson this season, and whether the Steelers miss Joey Porter Jr. or not, they need to reinforce the cornerback position.

Round 1 - Pick 9

Charlie Becker

WR

Indiana

• Jr • 6'4" / 208 lbs

Projected Team

Tampa Bay

PROSPECT RNK

12th

POSITION RNK

3rd

REC

27

REYDS

477

YDS/REC

17.7

TDS

8

Becker is the king of the back-shoulder throw, but he also has legit deep speed and would give the Bucs a big-bodied deep target in a post-Mike Evans world.

Round 1 - Pick 10

Dante Moore

QB

Oregon

• Sr • 6'3" / 220 lbs

Projected Team

Atlanta

PROSPECT RNK

11th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PAYDS

926

RUYDS

-7

INTS

0

TDS

9

Dante Moore has struggled through the first month of the 2026 season, in part because the offensive line has been awful, in part because his receivers have struggled to get open, and in part because of the vicious headshot he took against USC. But here's the thing: Highly drafted QBs typically go to teams with poor O-lines, so Moore absolutely needs to play better (we got a brief glimpse of that early in the USC game before he was injured). But he also would have been the No. 2 pick in the 2026 draft had he declared, so it's not like he's forgotten how to play. A strong second half of the season puts him right back in the conversation.

Round 1 - Pick 11

David Stone

DL

Oklahoma

• Jr • 6'3" / 315 lbs

Projected Team

Las Vegas

PROSPECT RNK

13th

POSITION RNK

1st

Stone was battling injuries early in the season, and he hasn't looked like the 2025 version of himself. But if he can get back to that, he's a first-round talent all day long.

Round 1 - Pick 12

Trevor Goosby

OT

Texas

• Sr • 6'7" / 325 lbs

Projected Team

L.A. Chargers

PROSPECT RNK

5th

POSITION RNK

1st

Goosby, who would've likely been a first-rounder had he declared for the '26 draft, has a huge frame and high-end athletic traits that allow him to anchor effectively against power. That said, he remains a raw prospect who can struggle with quicker pass rushers.

Round 1 - Pick 13

Jadan Baugh

RB

Florida

• Jr • 6'1" / 225 lbs

Projected Team

Washington

PROSPECT RNK

20th

POSITION RNK

2nd

RUYDS

613

YDS/ATT

6.5

REYDS

35

TDS

11

My comp for Baugh going back to summer scouting was Le'Veon Bell. Turns out he's better than the Michigan State version of Bell and is currently the best back in college football.

From Indianapolis Colts Round 1 - Pick 14

Greg Johnson

IOL

Minnesota

• Sr • 6'6" / 325 lbs

Projected Team

N.Y. Jets

PROSPECT RNK

17th

POSITION RNK

2nd

Johnson has been quietly dominant for the Gophers, both in the run game and in pass protection. He was 28th on my big board heading into the season, and he's exceeded that through the first month, allowing exactly zero pressures.

Round 1 - Pick 15

Will Heldt

EDGE

Clemson

• Sr • 6'6" / 260 lbs

Projected Team

New Orleans

PROSPECT RNK

22nd

POSITION RNK

3rd

Like Clemson teammate Ashton Hampton, Heldt is one of the few reasons for optimism. He has 17 pressures and five sacks and would fill a need in New Orleans.

From Green Bay Packers Round 1 - Pick 16

Elijah Paige

OT

USC

• Jr • 6'7" / 315 lbs

Projected Team

Dallas

PROSPECT RNK

67th

POSITION RNK

11th

Page has had a strong start to the 2026 season, allowing just three pressures and no sacks. He was a top-50 player this summer and has a chance to crack the first round.

Round 1 - Pick 17

Cam Coleman

WR

Texas

• Jr • 6'3" / 204 lbs

Projected Team

Minnesota

PROSPECT RNK

10th

POSITION RNK

2nd

REC

12

REYDS

208

YDS/REC

17.3

TDS

4

Coleman has been up and down so far this season for the Longhorns (and you could say that for the offense as a whole), but he flashes first-round, big-play talent, something the Patriots' WR room has been missing for a very long time.

Round 1 - Pick 18

Trevor Lauck

OT

Iowa

• Sr • 6'5" / 314 lbs

Projected Team

Houston

PROSPECT RNK

35th

POSITION RNK

5th

A high-floor tackle who could kick inside at the next level, Lauck is stout at the point of attack and also thrives in zone-blocking schemes because of his mobility and athleticism. He hasn't allowed a sack all season.

From Dallas Cowboys Round 1 - Pick 19

Chris Cole

LB

Georgia

• Jr • 6'3" / 235 lbs

Projected Team

N.Y. Jets

PROSPECT RNK

102nd

POSITION RNK

6th

Cole is an explosive off-ball linebacker and edge rusher who pairs stout point-of-attack run defense with fluid coverage skills and multi-alignment pass-rush traits. He has missed exactly zero tackles this season.

Round 1 - Pick 20

Jayden Maiava

QB

USC

• Sr • 6'4" / 230 lbs

Projected Team

Minnesota

PROSPECT RNK

NR

POSITION RNK

NR

PAYDS

1744

RUYDS

-4

INTS

3

TDS

17

He's been really good through six games. He's one of the best anticipation throwers in the class, and his ability to layer balls to the second level is second to none. He would excel in a Kevin O'Connell system.

Round 1 - Pick 21

Devan Thompkins

DL

Alabama

• Sr • 6'5" / 300 lbs

Projected Team

Chicago

PROSPECT RNK

101st

POSITION RNK

13th

A USC transfer, Thompkins has shown real inside-out versatility: He can win with power, athleticism or bend around the edge.

Round 1 - Pick 22

Jamari Johnson

TE

Oregon

• Sr • 6'5" / 255 lbs

Projected Team

Denver

PROSPECT RNK

27th

POSITION RNK

1st

REC

11

REYDS

176

YDS/REC

16

TDS

1

Sean Payton loves athletic tight ends, and Jamari Johnson is in the same conversation as former Oregon standouts Kenyon Sadiq and Terrance Ferguson.

Round 1 - Pick 23

Kelley Jones

CB

Mississippi State

• Sr • 6'4" / 205 lbs

Projected Team

Cincinnati

PROSPECT RNK

23rd

POSITION RNK

3rd

The Bengals defense has improved in 2026, but they still need more at corner, and Jones gives them a long, physical press-man defender with the zone instincts and ball skills to create turnovers.

Round 1 - Pick 24

Emmanuel Oyebadejo

DL

Florida

• Sr • 6'6" / 299 lbs

Projected Team

Jacksonville

PROSPECT RNK

NR

POSITION RNK

NR

Ran Carthon, Florida alum and my co-host on the "With the First Pick" NFL Draft podcast, put Oyebadejo on my radar a few weeks ago, and while he is raw, he's also been dominant against SEC competition -- no matter where he lines up.

Round 1 - Pick 25

Ty Benefield

S

LSU

• Sr • 6'3" / 216 lbs

Projected Team

Detroit

PROSPECT RNK

5

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2027-nfl-mock-draft-arch-manning-first-round-quarterback/)._