This is the obvious pick for any QB-needy team that lands the #1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. The Browns have already invested heavily into their weapons and offensive line, adding Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, Harold Fannin, Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson, Spencer Fano, Teven Jenkins, Tytus Howard, and Elgton Jenkins in the last two offseasons--that's a solid group of young playmakers and protectors to surround your young QB with. Arch Manning offers a blend of elite pocket presence, high-end physical tools, and flashes of precision passing. That's hard to pass up on when you take a hard look at the mess that is the Browns' current QB room.
In a way similar to the Cleveland Browns, the Cardinals have constructed a supporting cast that a young QB can succeed with. Dante Moore has enjoyed clean pockets and a plethora of different weapons in his time at Oregon, so making the transition to an offense that features Trey McBride, Jeremiyah Love, Paris Johnson, and Marvin Harrison Jr. shouldn't be too jarring. Moore is a highly accurate pocket passer and a surgical processor who should find success once he improves his play under pressure. He would have almost certainly been the #2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the same holds true for 2027 if he stays on his current trajectory.
The Dolphins offense is in desperate need of an X-factor weapon, and Jeremiah Smith is not only that, but a generational prospect. It's unclear whether Malik Willis is the future in Miami, but acquiring Smith to be "the guy" in a WR room full of smaller players gives him little excuse not to be. Smith is a massive target who is dominant at the catch point, dominant after the catch, and a surprisingly solid route runner for his size. Jeremiah Smith is a rare prospect and no front office that is even somewhat comfortable with their QB situation should pass on him.
Dylan Stewart is a blue chip EDGE prospect and, even though the Titans have more glaring positions of need, he is somebody you simply can't pass up on. He's an alien athlete; nobody moves like him at his size and he can immediately transform the front seven of any NFL defense. He will demand chips and slide protections from the moment he steps on the field, yet he's only scratching the surface of his athletic upside. I expect Stewart to have his best season yet in 2026 and to solidify himself as the first defensive player off the board in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Cam Coleman is a dynamic, field-stretching weapon for Fernando Mendoza who can open up the Raiders offense and make things even easier for guys like Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty. The Raiders lack a true boundary weapon, and Cam Coleman offers elite deep speed, vertical route running, and dynamic spectacular catch ability. Coleman is a borderline blue chip prospect who would be WR1 in most other draft classes, and he and the Mendoza-led Las Vegas Raiders are a match made in heaven.
Leonard Moore is a spotless boundary CB prospect who I consider to be generational. He is similar in a lot of ways to Sauce Gardner, who the Jets drafted not long ago and entered the league as one of the best CBs in the NFL, if not the very best. Leonard Moore has that same potential (if not higher) with his elite blend of size, length, athleticism, press technique, and mirror ability. He has the full-stack skillset and athletic gifts to succeed in any NFL defense and become one of the best CBs in the league.
With the departure of Dexter Lawrence, the Giants are in need of a dominant presence on the interior of their defensive line, and David Stone offers absurd explosiveness and some of the most enticing high-end flashes of any DT prospect in the last few years. Stone is poised for his biggest season yet in 2026 thanks to his elite length, play strength, and dominant block deconstruction ability. If he takes the leap that his athletic traits and explosive flashes indicate, he will be one of the rare DTs worthy of a top 10 selection.
Colin Simmons is an athletically dominant, ultra-productive edge rusher who's posted 21 sacks and 29.5 TFLs in two seasons with the Texas Longhorns and is poised for another huge year in 2026. The Commanders have a solid EDGE room, but Simmons can bring real superstar ability to a defense currently lacking that centerpiece player. It's a bit early to project players into schemes given we're 17 games and a coaching carousel away from the 2027 NFL Draft, but Simmons would be a marvelous fit in the chaotic, multiple-front defense we can expect Daronte Jones to deploy in 2026 and beyond.
LaNorris Sellers boasts the ultimate blend of arm strength, speed, and sack-breaking ability and a QB-needy team like the Steelers will be unable to resist his raw talent if he makes incremental improvements in 2026. The Gamecocks are positioned to be better offensively in 2026, making improvements to the offensive line by acquiring potential top 100 pick Jacarrius Peak and several other new faces. If Sellers is able to display growth when it comes to his accuracy and processing speed in 2026, you can count on the Steelers to run his card to the podium if they're picking at this spot next spring.
Ashton Hampton is a plug-and-play CB1 for the Minnesota Vikings defense, boasting elite length and play strength that allows him to be a roadblock in press coverage. The Vikings are hurting at the cornerback position, and Hampton offers true shutdown upside that would allow the rest of Minnesota's hectic Brian Flores defense to operate more aggressively. In addition to being a high-upside cover corner who excels in zone, Hampton is a downhill enforcer who blows up blockers and ball carriers on screens and swing passes. At his current trajectory, Hampton will absolutely be worth a high selection in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Will Echoles is a versatile, refined DT prospect who can immediately make plays against both the run and the pass. The Falcons lack a real every-down stalwart at the heart of their attacking single-gap defensive front, and Echoles brings that ability in spades with his experience in both even and odd fronts. He is not only a highly productive pass rusher (posted 39 pressures and 6 sacks in 2025), but also a reliable run defender (35 stops in 2025) capable of upkeeping gap integrity and making splash plays thanks to his pad level and sound block deconstruction technique. Echoles is a solid scheme fit in Atlanta and would be an immediate starter and contributor.
There are multiple DTs still on the board who could go here, but Ahmad Moten is the best fit for Glenn/Duker's attacking even front thanks to his absurd explosiveness and knack for making splash plays. Ahmad Moten Sr. is a special athlete on the interior defensive line and would make an immediate impact for the Jets. Between Moore and Moten, as well as David Bailey and D'Angelo Ponds from the 2026 Draft, the Jets defense would now be replenished with playmakers at each level of the defense.
With another big season in 2026, Tae Johnson will be a blue chip safety prospect thanks to his blend of athletic gifts, coverage instincts, and elite tackling ability. The Panthers' safety room is loaded with downhill talent, but they are sorely lacking a highly instinctive, versatile free safety with the range and ball skills to create turnovers. Tae Johnson is elite in this area and would instantly upgrade the Carolina defense.
The Bucs passed on Kenyon Sadiq last year, but in 2027 they opt for a more traditional in-line tight end in Jamari Johnson. Johnson boasts an intense combination of athletic traits, size, and route running ability that indicates he'll take another leap forward in 2026 and solidify himself as a 1st-round pick. Johnson would immediately be TE1 and Tampa Bay and a high-upside difference maker.
Sammy Brown offers the slowly-improving Bengals defense an explosive, high-effort difference maker at the second level who is constantly around the ball. While still unrefined in coverage, Brown is a rangy, explosive linebacker who neutralizes swing passes, screens, and outside runs before they can get going. Brown is a more reliable tackler and superior athlete to the other young guys in the Cincinnati LB room and would win the starting job with ease before week 1.
Justin Scott is the explosive, attacking 3-tech who can thrive in Dennis Allen's even front defense. The Bears lack a young, athletic player on the interior defensive line who can create splash plays in the backfield, and with a big 2026 season, Justin Scott has the potential to be that guy.
Kelley Jones offers the Dallas secondary a rare combination of size, speed, ball skills, and length. Assuming Christian Parker is still there next April, Jones would be a marvelous fit in an attacking-front defense that asks its secondary to limit explosive plays on the backend. The main hope for Jones in 2026 is that he develops into a more imposing presence at the LOS, more often utilizing his length to jam receivers at the LOS.
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is an ultra-versatile player who can wear a ton of different hats at the second level of a Houston defense that has its secondary and pass rush all figured out. While the Texans don't blitz much, therefore leaving one of his best attributes on the table, Viliamu-Asa still has the sideline-to-sideline speed, coverage chops, heavy hands, and spatial acuity to excel in DeMeco Ryans' stupid simple defense.
The Jets' roster is too talented for them to be bad enough for Arch Manning, but they are fortunate to have three first round picks to play around with for finding their QB of the future. Chambliss is a true dual threat quarterback whose anticipation and conviction attacking the middle of the field and overall accuracy indicate he could enter the 1st round conversation with another big season in 2026, regardless of the fact he'll turn 25 before his first NFL game.
Brandon Baker is a well-rounded guard prospect with adequate size, plus-athletic traits, and plug-and-play ability as a pass protector for a Chargers offensive line that desperately needs the help.
The Saints win the NFC South in this mock draft scenario despite having one of the worst cornerback rooms in the NFL. Despite picking later here than many might expect, Ellis Robinson IV and his elite athletic traits falls to New Orleans, offering immediate NFL starter-caliber play in the short-term and high-end CB1 upside in the long-term.
In the Broncos' hybrid defense that emphasizes edge pressure, A'Mauri Washington will bring the sheer power and mass necessary to absorb double teams, two-gap, and collapse the pocket.
Trevor Goosby is an impressive athlete at the OT position who offers limitless upside thanks to his movement skills, length, and ever-improving hand usage. Jacksonville's offense is seeing exciting improvement under Liam Coen, and securing their future at left tackle will continue to unlock their potential.
Trent Williams can't play forever, and Jordan Seaton is the ideal plug-and-play replacement thanks to his gifted pass protection. Seaton has a lot to prove as a run blocker in 2026, but his pass blocking chops are rare for a player as young as he is.
The Lions continue to retool their offensive line by spending more premium capital on Greg Johnson, as massive, well-rounded lineman who can play either guard position or center. Johnson has adequate movement skills in an elite frame, technical refinement, and serious power to displace run defenders.
Yhonzae Pierre is a powerful, athletic pass rusher who converts speed to power very well, but also is just scratching the surface of his potential given how unrefined his moveset is. While the pass rush consistency is a work-in-progress, Pierre offers the hot motor, run defense aggression, and versatility that is asked of New England's edge rushers.
The Eagles continue to stack their defense with SEC talent by adding KJ Bolden to lead their safety room and start immediately. Bolden is a perfect fit as a split-field safety for Fangio's two-high, disguise-heavy defense due to his ever-improving assignment-soundness in both man and zone, elite reactive athleticism, and experience being asked to wear many different hats in Georgia's defense.
Kade Pieper is next up in a laundry list of Iowa Hawkeye interior offensive linemen, landing in a familiar spot that once belonged to Tyler Linderbaum. Assuming Declan Doyle remains with Baltimore in 2027, Pieper is a marvelous fit for their wide zone-heavy run offense thanks to his elite athleticism and proven capability in Iowa's similarly zone-heavy rushing attack.
Charlie Becker is a dangerous vertical threat with rare catch point dominance who can offer Patrick Mahomes II and the Chiefs offense a true downfield weapon. Kansas City will almost certainly be lacking a go-to weapon by next April, so aqcuiring a starter at X wide receiver is a no-brainer.
Austin Siereveld is a rugged mover in the run game who can start immediately on a Browns offensive line that is in need of interior help. With weapons addressed and a QB of the future taken 1st overall, ensuring the offense runs smoothly by adding talent to the trenches is a recipe for success in Cleveland.
Ryan Coleman-Williams is a dangerous playmaking threat who offers the Bills' offense a blend of route running, elite after-catch elusiveness, and upside as a vertical threat. The Bills lack a true three-level separator in their WR room, and Coleman-Williams offers that ability in spades. This would be a polarizing pick given the concentration drops, but it's hard to pass up on rare route running talent like this.
The Seahawks take guards in the first round two times in three years, doubling down on a trenches-heavy formula that yielded them a Super Bowl in 2026. Cayden Green is a polished pass protector with excellent mass and play strength who can start immediately opposite Grey Zabel, but also offers swing tackle versatility in a pinch.
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