The 2026 NFL Draft is barely in the rearview, but it's never too early to start looking ahead to 2027. While the 2026 draft was defined by the lack of quarterback play after the top pick Fernando Mendoza, the 2027 class is exactly the opposite.
In some early mock drafts, as many as six or seven quarterbacks are coming off of the board in the first round of what should be a loaded draft at the game's most important position. Headlining most of those lists is Texas QB Arch Manning, who has been viewed as the top dog in the 2027 class for a number of years.
ESPN NFL Draft experts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid both recently added themselves to Manning's list of believers, as both listed him as the top quarterback prospect in the draft heading into the 2026 season.
Manning got off to a rocky start in his first season as the starter in Austin. His first game was on the road against an elite Ohio State defense, and he followed up a tough day there with a below-average showing in a loss to Florida.
Article Continues Below
By the end of the season, however, Manning was starting to show the talent that made him a five-star recruit out of high school. He is accurate with the football and can be a lethal passer when kept clean in the pocket. On top of that, he has great size and is an elite athlete for the position in the running game, which he used to have strong games against both Texas A&M and Michigan to finish the season.
Now, after that strong finish, he is right back on the radar for the Heisman Trophy and the No. 1 overall pick once again heading into next season.
Manning will have to outperform a number of talented players, including Oregon's Dante Moore, Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker, Notre Dame's CJ Carr and Miami's Darian Mensah, to keep his spot at the top of the board. If the end of last season was any indication, the Texas star is more than capable of planting his flag there.
The 2026 NFL Draft is barely in the rearview, but it's never too early to start looking ahead to 2027. While the 2026 draft was defined by the lack of quarterback play after the top pick Fernando Mendoza, the 2027 class is exactly the opposite.