Every year, there is a problem when the NFL Draft comes along: too many teams need a franchise quarterback, and there are not enough to go around. This leads to teams already looking at the next draft class. The 2027 class of quarterbacks seems deep. Teams that need a quarterback could hope a player like Brandan Sorsby enters the supplemental draft, or hope to land a star in the next draft cycle.
The 2027 Draft is littered with top options, such as Arch Manning, Dante Moore, LaNorris Sellers, and Jayden Maiava. Still, one name is coming up as a potential sneaky riser, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
“The sneaky riser is Notre Dame's C.J. Carr. There's excitement about his development in some league circles. A few executives consulted for this story are watching Pittsburgh — which has started seven quarterbacks since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season — for a move up the draft board to capitalize on a quarterback class it has spent years studying,” Fowler wrote.
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Carr just finished his redshirt freshman year after sitting behind Riley Leonard in 2024. The grandson of legendary Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, and son of former Michigan quarterback Jason Carr, won the starting job over Kenny Minchey in 2025. He completed 195 of 293 passes for 2,741 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also scored three times running the ball.
Still, it is the growth at the end of the season that many scouts are excited about. His best games of the year came towards the end of the season, including the victory over Navy in which Carr completed 12 of 16 passes for 218 yards and three scores.
This has led to Carr getting some first-round grades from analysts. With another solid season from the quarterback from Notre Dame, he could be an early pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Every year, there is a problem when the NFL Draft comes along: too many teams need a franchise quarterback, and there are not enough to go around. This leads to teams already looking at the next draft class. The 2027 class of quarterbacks seems deep. Teams that need a quarterback could hope a player like Brandan Sorsby enters the supplemental draft, or hope to land a star in the next draft cycle.