Jordan ReidApr 30, 2026, 01:00 PM ETCloseJordan Reid is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. Jordan joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter and ESPN Radio. He played quarterback at North Carolina Central University and then went on to coach there from 2014-18.Follow on XMultiple Authors
play1:10Why Daniel Jeremiah leans Dante Moore over Arch Manning for 2027 No. 1 pickDaniel Jeremiah joins Rich Eisen and explains why he is leaning toward Oregon quarterback Dante Moore to be the first selection in next year’s NFL draft.
play0:49Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy bursts free for a 73-yard TDKewan Lacy goes untouched for a 73-yard touchdown to give Ole Miss a 7-3 lead.
Why Jordan Reid has Arch Manning No. 1 in his 2027 NFL mock draft (2:30)ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid joins “Unsportsmanlike” to break down his 2027 NFL mock draft. (2:30)
Why Daniel Jeremiah leans Dante Moore over Arch Manning for 2027 No. 1 pickDaniel Jeremiah joins Rich Eisen and explains why he is leaning toward Oregon quarterback Dante Moore to be the first selection in next year’s NFL draft.
Daniel Jeremiah joins Rich Eisen and explains why he is leaning toward Oregon quarterback Dante Moore to be the first selection in next year’s NFL draft.
Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy bursts free for a 73-yard TDKewan Lacy goes untouched for a 73-yard touchdown to give Ole Miss a 7-3 lead.
Already looking ahead to the 2027 NFL draft? With the 2026 draft concluded, it’s time to start embracing the hype.
Sure, we’re still dissecting team fits, best (and worst) picks and the overall landscape of last week’s draft. There are also still 12 full months of studying tape, watching games and traveling to predraft events before we get to next year’s first round. But the 2027 class has the chance to rival 2024 as far as the depth at quarterback and the sheer volume of talent, both on offense and in general.
To get an early gauge on the class, I’m finding first-round landing spots for top prospects in my way-too-early mock draft. A few notes before we get rolling:
Here are my early first-round projections for April 2027. Four quarterbacks are projected to go in Round 1, with three going off the board right away. And the first is a player you might have heard of.
Even after they drafted Carson Beck in the third round last week, QB is absolutely in play for the Cardinals if they have a high pick.
Why Daniel Jeremiah leans Dante Moore over Arch Manning for 2027 No. 1 pick
Every year a QB ascends from the pack and shoots up the draft. Carr could be that guy in 2027 after an encouraging first season as a starter. He finished last season with 2,741 passing yards and 24 touchdowns to six interceptions. He has a snappy release and excellent command at the line. And Carr has polished throwing mechanics, with his eyes, base and throwing motion all tying together.
The sample is small (12 starts), but expanding on his 2025 season would put him in position to be taken by a team such as the Browns, who will likely be willing to take a swing at a QB early despite selecting three in the past two drafts.
The Steelers have been in the QB wilderness since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season. With Aaron Rodgers expected to do the same shortly, is this Pittsburgh’s best opportunity to swing for a franchise QB?
Kewan Lacy goes untouched for a 73-yard touchdown to give Ole Miss a 7-3 lead.
Echoles took a major leap last season, going from a half-sack in 2024 to five sacks in 2025 and nine tackles as a freshman to 68 as a sophomore. His pass-rush disruption comes and goes in spurts, but he creates trouble for blockers because of his combination of quickness and strength. Echoles needs to work on his ability to take on double teams but could be attractive for the Chargers, as Dalvin Tomlinson is 32 years old and on an expiring contract.
Bolden is an instinctive and intelligent safety, which is why he’s tasked with being the communicator on the back end of Georgia’s defense. Despite his slight frame (6-foot, 185 pounds), Bolden isn’t afraid to run the alley and crash down in run support. He’s able to play multiple secondary spots and has good ball skills. The Eagles lost Reed Blankenship in free agency and didn’t pick a safety until Round 7 last week, so Bolden could be a nice fit.
Pierre was a breakout star last season, finishing with eight sacks. His impact went beyond pressuring quarterbacks, though, as he also forced three fumbles last season. He’s capable of standing up as a 3-4 outside linebacker and playing with his hand in the dirt. He’s a scheme-versatile defender, which would make him a great match with Mike Macdonald’s defense in Seattle, especially considering Boye Mafe’s departure and DeMarcus Lawrence’s age.
Coleman-Williams was fantastic as a freshman in 2024 but tailed off a bit last season while struggling with drops. The talent is clear, and many are expecting a bounce-back year. He’s a three-level threat with excellent vertical speed to stack defenders. Coleman-Williams also has unique body control to put his frame into positions to catch passes outside of the strike zone. If he can recapture his freshman form, he could be that big-time receiver the Bills desperately need.
As mentioned above, Uiagalelei was one of several Ducks who opted to return to school despite being seen as Day 1 or Day 2 prospects in this past draft. He had six sacks last season and is expected to take another step in 2026. The 6-foot-5, 272-pound Uiagalelei has shown flashes and can win with his length, diverse set of moves and power profile. Byron Young’s free agency is looming, so the Rams could be in play for a player of Uiagalelei’s ilk.
Pairing Manning with Jeremiyah Love would give the Cardinals two elite building blocks. Manning, at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds, is a sturdy dual-threat quarterback. He finished with 3,163 passing yards, 26 touchdown throws and seven interceptions in his first year as a starter while adding 10 rushing touchdowns. Manning’s throwing motion, footwork and progressions are still inconsistent, leading to scattershot ball placement and holding on to the ball too long, but he continued developing as the season went on. He has all the traits of a No. 1 pick — he just needs to unlock the next stage of his development.
Quarterback would be a consideration if the Dolphins pick this high, but getting a truly elite receiver would be hard to pass up, especially with the Dolphins moving on from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle this offseason. Smith has a great blend of size and speed. He’s a swift vertical mover who eats up coverages in a hurry while showing exceptional strength at the catch point. Eight of Smith’s 12 receiving touchdowns last season came in the red zone, as he’s an upper-echelon player in that area. But he can also make big plays down the field. Andre Johnson and Julio Jones come to mind as easy NFL comparisons.
The Jets loaded up on skill position players in last week’s draft, getting tight end Kenyon Sadiq and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. in Round 1. But 2027 is a great time to draft a young quarterback. Despite being mocked as a high first-round pick in early 2026 projections, Moore decided to return to school and expand on his 20 career starts. He was one of the best passers in the country last season, finishing with 3,565 passing yards, 30 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. He’s a smooth operator but must do a better job of withstanding pressure, as his accuracy tends to wane when defenses hit him early.
There haven’t been two receivers drafted in the top five since 2003 (Charles Rogers and Andre Johnson), but that could happen in 2027 with Coleman and Smith. Coleman excelled in two seasons at Auburn despite inconsistent QB play, finishing last season with 56 catches for 708 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Transferring to Texas and pairing up with Manning could unlock even more production, as he’s a sure-handed target with good hands. That would be ideal for the Raiders, who need a No. 1 wide receiver to help the development of this year’s top pick, Fernando Mendoza.
With the unexpected retirement of Kaleb McGary and Jawaan Taylor on a one-year deal, the Falcons will be searching for a long-term answer at right tackle. At 6-foot-7 and 326 pounds, Goosby is a long-limbed prospect who still has plenty of room on his frame to add mass but has all the traits to be high-level starter at either tackle spot. His above-average length makes it challenging for rushers to bypass him off the edge, as he allowed only one sack last season. He is an upper-tier athlete with plenty of lower-body quickness to gain depth on his pass sets and make blocks outside of his island.
Left tackle Dan Moore Jr. didn’t provide much return after the Titans signed him to a four-year, $82 million deal in 2025, so the Titans could be in the market for an upgrade. Seaton transferred to LSU after two seasons at Colorado. He’s an easy mover as a pass protector, as his excellent feet allow him to easily mirror and match pass rushers. Seaton also has strong hands that help him shock and shut down rush moves at the point of attack. He enters next season with high expectations and needs to improve his run blocking to be drafted this high.
Like in 2024, it could be a while before the first defensive player is selected. Moore is a long, fluid prospect who is a high-quality press-man corner. He finished with five interceptions last season and allowed only 12 receptions. Moore’s length, speed and recognition of passing concepts also allow him to clog windows in zone coverage. He needs to improve as a tackler and can be overly handsy, but Moore reminds me of Christian Gonzalez and can be a true shutdown corner in the NFL. With Mike Jackson entering a contract year, Moore could be a great pairing with Jaycee Horn in Carolina — if he makes it this far.
The Saints haven’t been able to figure out edge rusher since Trey Hendrickson departed after the 2020 season and need a dynamic rusher opposite Chase Young. Stewart is an electric player with high-end lower-body flexibility, which helps him consistently race past blockers. Despite a slender frame, he has good initial pop in his hands, but he must get stronger to anchor and sustain as an edge setter. Stewart also needs to turn more of his pass rushes into sacks, as he had only 4.5 last season. Being more consistent with counter moves would lessen the amount of “almost” plays. If that happens, Stewart could be the first non-QB off the board.