This 2027 NFL draft quarterback class was projected to be the best group of prospects in years. However, after just a few weeks of the 2026 college football season, a major shakeup has already changed how we view many of these players.
After the first six weeks of the college football season, here’s my top 10 quarterback prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft.
2027 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings
1. Drew Mestemaker | Oklahoma State
Drew Mestemaker has emerged as the top quarterback in this draft class through the first weeks of the season. Mestemaker led the nation in passing yards last season at North Texas and ranked second in passing touchdowns, behind only 2026 No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. After last season, North Texas head coach Eric Morris was hired to lead Oklahoma State, and Mestemaker followed him to Stillwater. This has given Mestemaker a bigger platform to showcase his talents against tougher competition. He has been excellent so far, most notably throwing for 317 yards and two touchdowns, and rushing for 109 yards and a score in an upset win over Oregon. As of now, Mestemaker looks to be the most NFL-ready quarterback in this class.
2. CJ Carr | Notre Dame
CJ Carr is arguably the safest pick in this draft class. He doesn’t have the dazzling athleticism and highlight-reel playmaking some players on this list do, but it’s hard to imagine him being a complete bust. Carr was more of a game manager last season, with Notre Dame’s having the best running back duo in the country. This season, he has taken a big step forward and is leading the Fighting Irish offense with his arm. While not a runner per se, Carr is mobile in the pocket and can make throws on the move. He might never be a Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson type, but he could easily make an NFL roster and perform at a level comparable to Bo Nix or Bryce Young. Carr also has another year of eligibility and could return to school if he decides to.
3. Trinidad Chambliss | Ole Miss
Something about Trinidad Chambliss gives me confidence he will be a good NFL quarterback. His age and size make him a less-than-desirable prospect on paper. However, Chambliss arguably has the best football IQ on this list. He always seems to know where to go with the ball and delivers the right throw on the money almost every time. Chambliss has the mobility that most great modern NFL quarterbacks have. He has a Patrick Mahomes-esque ability to extend plays with his legs, but turn that into deep throws downfield, rather than running himself. If Chambliss were three inches taller and three years younger, he would be the No. 1 player on this list.
4. Dante Moore | Oregon
Many projected Dante Moore as the top prospect in this class coming into the season. However, things haven’t gone great so far. He did not play at a super high level over the first couple of weeks of the season, and then suffered a serious concussion against USC, which has caused him to miss another game already, and he could miss more time. Moore likely would have been the second quarterback drafted if he left school last year, but he came back to Oregon to win something with the Ducks and further his development. While commendable, that hasn’t gone according to plan. There is still a lot to like about Moore, and he could still be a good NFL quarterback, but his stock is quickly dropping. Once he returns for Oregon, he will need to play at a high level to elevate his status again.
5. Arch Manning | Texas
Arch Manning was the other projected top quarterback in this class heading into the season. Manning has been viewed as a future No. 1 overall pick since high school, but that big jump hasn’t come. Manning improved a lot last season, so many expected him to take that leap this season. While Texas has played a tough schedule, Manning still has many of the same processing issues as last season and is making far too many mistakes. He has the size, athleticism, raw arm talent and, most importantly, the last name to be a great NFL quarterback. However, Manning still lacks the mental side of the game. He still has time to improve his stock in the second half of this season, but for now he looks more like a late first-round or early second-round pick than the first guy off the board.
6. Jayden Maiava | USC
Jayden Maiava is arguably the country’s most underrated quarterback. Since transferring to USC, he has produced at a high level. Last season, he ranked fifth in the nation in passing yards and currently ranks second in both passing yards and passing touchdowns this season. Lincoln Riley coached four current NFL starting quarterbacks: Caleb Williams, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts. While Riley hasn’t reached the highs he’d hoped for in college, he is great at developing NFL quarterbacks. Maiava is 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, and has a massive arm. He could end up being the steal of this draft.
7. Darian Mensah | Miami
Darian Mensah’s stock is soaring, and he could arguably be ranked much higher on this list. He transferred from Duke to Miami to follow in the footsteps of 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. Mensah finished second in the nation in passing yards last season and has been nearly flawless this season. He has a 15-0 TD-INT ratio and leads the nation in QBR. Mensah’s biggest flaw right now is the limited competition he’s faced this season. The only real defense he’s faced in 2026 was Clemson, and it was his worst game so far. However, if Mensah can maintain this level of play in Miami’s big games down the stretch — particularly in the College Football Playoff — he could climb this list and become a first-round pick.
8. Julian Sayin | Ohio State
Julian Sayin is a tough prospect to judge. Over the last couple of seasons, his job has been to throw it in the vicinity of arguably the greatest wide receiver in college football history, Jeremiah Smith. Sayin has been excellent for Ohio State, and everything is working in his favor. It’s hard to imagine Sayin being a total bust in the NFL, but he might be more of a career backup than a future star at the next level.
9. Austin Simmons | Missouri
Austin Simmons has become a serious prospect so far this season. He was at Ole Miss last season, but got injured and never got his job back because of Trinidad Chambliss. Simmons transferred to Missouri and has shown why Lane Kiffin once considered him such a sought-after talent. Simmons has a laser arm and can throw outside the numbers like anyone in this class. He has the size and athleticism to play at the next level, but he still needs to show he can perform consistently for the rest of the season. Simmons was criticized for being too turnover-prone at Ole Miss, and he’ll need to show his mental game has improved as the season goes on.
10. LaNorris Sellers | South Carolina
LaNorris Sellers is the player to take in this class if you aren’t afraid of a serious project. Sellers was a high-level high school prospect, and after his first season at South Carolina, many thought he could be a future No. 1 overall pick. The main pro comparison was Cam Newton, because of his size, running ability and huge arm. However, Sellers has regressed the past two seasons. He is still mobile, but his throwing sharpness has faded.
To his credit, Sellers has had three different offensive coordinators in his three seasons as a starter, all with very different systems. Over the last two weeks, Sellers has shown flashes of that elite prospect again, most recently leading South Carolina to a big win over Florida. However, he will need to maintain that level for the rest of the season to return to a first- or even second-round pick. Right now, he looks like a third-round pick for a franchise that would sit him for a year or two and develop the mental side of his game.
