Matt MillerJan 15, 2026, 06:30 AM ETCloseMatt Miller is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. A Missouri native, Matt joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live and ESPN Radio. Prior to joining ESPN, Matt spent 11 years as a senior draft analyst at Bleacher Report.Follow on X
play0:43Ahmad Hardy runs for 10-yard rushing touchdownAhmad Hardy runs for 10-yard rushing touchdown
play0:33Jeremiah Smith’s TD grab on 4th down draws Ohio State closerOhio State QB Julian Sayin connects with Jeremiah Smith on fourth down for a 14-yard touchdown.
play0:34Texas’ defense forces a sack-fumble on Diego PaviaTexas’ Colin Simmons drops Diego Pavia and forces a fumble that sets up the Longhorns in Vanderbilt territory.
play0:20Ellis Robinson IV had an interception vs. KentuckyEllis Robinson IV had an interception vs. Kentucky
EJ Manuel: Smart move by Dante Moore to return to Oregon (1:25)EJ Manuel and Mike Tannenbaum react to Dante Moore’s decision to return to Oregon instead of entering the NFL draft. (1:25)
Jeremiah Smith’s TD grab on 4th down draws Ohio State closerOhio State QB Julian Sayin connects with Jeremiah Smith on fourth down for a 14-yard touchdown.
Texas’ defense forces a sack-fumble on Diego PaviaTexas’ Colin Simmons drops Diego Pavia and forces a fumble that sets up the Longhorns in Vanderbilt territory.
Texas’ Colin Simmons drops Diego Pavia and forces a fumble that sets up the Longhorns in Vanderbilt territory.
Ellis Robinson IV had an interception vs. KentuckyEllis Robinson IV had an interception vs. Kentucky
The declaration deadline for the 2026 NFL draft was on Wednesday. That means two things. First, we know who is going to be part of this year’s class (though players in the College Football Playoff have until Jan. 23 to decide). Second, we have a better idea of how the 2027 class might look.
Next year’s group of pro prospects has the opportunity to be special. It already had headliners in Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Texas quarterback Arch Manning. But it got even better on Wednesday, when Oregon quarterback Dante Moore — thought to be a top-five pick in 2026 — announced his return to the Ducks for next season. And we’re still not sure if Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss will be part of the class, too, which we’ll dive into below.
Who are the top names to know for next year? Let’s take a first look at the Class of 2027. Players in each position group are listed in alphabetical order.
Ahmad Hardy runs for 10-yard rushing touchdownAhmad Hardy runs for 10-yard rushing touchdown
Lacy transferred from Missouri before the season and was excellent for the Rebels, showing off explosive open-field ability and track speed on a 5-foot-11, 200-pound frame. Lacy rushed for 1,567 yards — third in the FBS — and scored 24 touchdowns. Lacy’s runaway speed is so fun to watch on tape, and he consistently finds ways to run to daylight and then pull away from defenders. Like Hardy, he also has Round 1 upside.
Coleman was the No. 2 player in the transfer portal because of his 13 touchdowns over the past two seasons at Auburn. The 6-foot-3, 201-pounder showed some of the best flashes in college football but was somewhat held back by Auburn’s inconsistent quarterback play, catching 56 passes for 708 yards this season. QB play shouldn’t be a problem at Texas with Manning under center. Coleman has the potential to be an early Round 1 selection if he can turn his speed and strength into developed assets.
Jeremiah Smith’s TD grab on 4th down draws Ohio State closer
Ohio State QB Julian Sayin connects with Jeremiah Smith on fourth down for a 14-yard touchdown.
Williams has plenty of “wow” plays on tape along with unreal body adjustment and agility in the open field, but scouts must weigh those pluses against his drop issues. Williams has had 18 drops in two seasons, and his 13% drop rate in 2025 was fifth highest in the FBS. The 6-foot, 178-pounder is electric, but he needs a season with fewer drops and more production (four TDs in 2025 after eight in 2024) to live up to the hype he generated as a freshman.
If you like Harold Fannin Jr. and Eli Stowers, you’re going to love Carter. The 6-foot-2, 245-pounder had 55 catches for 624 receiving yards and five touchdowns this season while showcasing a knack for making plays after the catch. Carter is a matchup nightmare for linebackers and safeties, especially when aligned in the slot. He should have a big season catching passes from Sorsby.
At 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, Green is a massive red zone threat, using that size to grab seven touchdowns on 33 receptions this season. Green’s role will change in Lane Kiffin’s offense, but his jump-ball ability and basketball background make him a post-up target in the end zone. His movement ability and flexibility should also lead to more opportunities flexed out as a wide receiver.
My top tight end for the 2027 class, Johnson has occasionally overshadowed teammate and likely top-50 pick Kenyon Sadiq. Johnson shines on tape despite not being the Ducks’ TE1 thanks to his all-around size and strength at 6-foot-5 and 257 pounds. He has sure hands and excellent burst even with a big frame, and shows the power to play inline if needed, which differentiates him from many college tight ends.
Baker stepped into the Longhorns’ lineup as a first-year starter and played 13 games without giving up a sack. The 6-foot-4, 308-pound sophomore has the frame of a guard but proved himself against a loaded schedule filled with SEC teams and an elite Ohio State defense. Baker needs to reduce his penalties (11) but has the profile of a future first-rounder if he plays as well in 2026 as he did this season.
Goosby made waves by returning to Texas instead of entering the 2026 draft, where he would have been a likely top-32 pick as one of the few true left tackle prospects. With only one sack and seven pressures allowed this season, Goosby quickly established himself as an elite pass protector, but I particularly like his toughness in run blocking. The 6-foot-7, 312-pounder has a chance to be OT1 and drafted higher than the Longhorns’ last left tackle, Kelvin Banks Jr., who went No. 9 in 2025.
Seaton arrived in Boulder with big expectations and lived up to them. The 6-foot-5, 330-pounder has been a rock-solid blindside protector with excellent reactive agility and uses his power to anchor in pass protection. Seaton didn’t give up a sack in 2025 and was penalized only four times. He was thrown into the fire as Shedeur Sanders’ bodyguard as a freshman and has done nothing but impress since then.
Echols has been a big part of LSU’s success upfront and will be relied upon even more with Leavitt now at QB. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Echols is a natural pass protector with a strong base and explosive hands. His natural leverage at guard stands out on tape, and he uses his surprising length for his frame to lock out defenders. He is ideal for a zone blocking scheme and has top-100 potential.
Green moved to left tackle last season, where he proved his ability after some early struggles. But NFL teams still see Green as a guard, where he played in 2024. His play power makes for easy anchoring against defensive tackles, and he has the heavy hands and quickness in space to hold up in pass protection. Green was a likely top-125 pick had he declared for the 2026 draft and will be seen as a potential Round 2 player in 2027 with continued development.
Wilson will start as the top center on my board after an impressive 2025 season. At 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, he has ideal size for the pivot position in a zone scheme and uses quickness and agility to win battles for positioning and leverage. Wilson’s second-level game is his calling card, even if the lack of elite size shows up at times. A two-year starter, Wilson’s experience and consistency are two of his top traits.
Daley was an All-American at Utah in 2025, posting 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in his first season as a starter before suffering a season-ending lower-body injury. Daley’s 6-foot-4, 255-pound frame features elite bend and speed around the corner for a college rusher, and he’s tough enough in the run game to be a difference-maker. He transferred to Michigan and profiles as a future top-50 pick if he can duplicate his production against Big Ten competition.
If there’s a defensive player at the top of the 2027 draft board, it’ll be Simmons. The sophomore emerged as one of the elite pass rushers in FBS in 2025, posting 12 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss while earning second-team All-America honors. Simmons dominated despite being the focus of opposing defenses and has rare speed off the snap. Scouts have already compared his game to Micah Parsons and Von Miller.
Stewart will be right alongside Simmons in the race for the top defensive player on my 2027 big board. The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder posted 4.5 sacks and 12 TFLs last season despite getting an inordinate amount of attention from opposing offenses. He has the elite bend and flexibility to be a nuisance to tackles, and he uses his length and speed to keep blockers off-balance. With added strength and more consistent production, Stewart could be a top-five pick.
Holmes stepped into the starting lineup after an injury to Skyler Gill-Howard and never looked back. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Holmes posted 4.5 sacks and was nearly unstoppable in the Big 12 title game. As he gains more experience, Holmes has early-round potential based on the first-step quickness and powerful bull rush he showed this season.
Stone broke out in 2025, even overshadowing teammate Gracen Halton at times. At 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, Stone has the ideal body type and quickness to be a 3-technique. His violent hands and explosive first step are first-round traits, and his tape this season showed power, quickness and run-stuffing ability. His production was limited (2.5 sacks), but more should be expected in 2026.
Washington surprised some in the NFL by returning for the 2026 season, and he was immediately penciled in as the top defensive tackle in the class. Washington dominates with his strength and anchor ability at 6-foot-3, 330 pounds. He has rare burst for his size and controls gaps with power and lateral agility. He was probably a Round 1 target in the 2026 class and will have a strong case for DT1 next season.