2027 NFL Draft preseason positional rankings: Quarterbacks

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Editor’s note: This is the 11th and final installment of Dane Brugler’s 2027 NFL Draft Summer Scouting series. Previous rankings: Wide receivers | Defensive tackles | Running backs | Linebackers | Cornerbacks | Interior offensive linemen | Offensive tackles | Safeties | Edge rushers | Tight ends

Let’s be honest: It will be tough for the 2027 quarterback class to live up to the immense hype.

Entering the season, two quarterbacks sit in the top tier, followed by a drop-off to the second and third tiers — both of which are crowded and jumbled.

Can LSU’s Sam Leavitt, a gamer with plenty of fans around the league, learn to play with more restraint and cut down on the YOLO moments (especially now that he’s in the SEC)? Ohio State’s Julian Sayin is incredibly accurate, but his physical tools are average, and he needs to show more answers against the pass rush.

UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava, Minnesota’s Drake Lindsey, USC’s Jayden Maiava … the list goes on and on. And let’s not forget about Brendan Sorsby, who won’t have any 2026 film and whose past issues make him an unknown. He is still expected to be in the early-round mix next spring.

I expect this list to fluctuate over the next eight months. Going into the season, though, here are my top draft-eligible quarterbacks for the 2027 NFL Draft:

(Notes: An asterisk represents a draft-eligible underclassman. Heights and weights are what NFL teams have on file for each player, per league sources.)

1. Arch Manning, Texas (6-4, 230)*

I wrote a lot of words earlier this week about Manning and why he starts the season at No. 1 — you can find my thoughts here.

2. Dante Moore, Oregon (6-3, 215)*

Best trait: Passing touch

Moore is a loose passer with a quick setup and release. He has a high batting average in the screen game because the ball gets out fast with both velocity and placement. He also shines on intermediate and downfield throws because of his feathery touch.

Last season, Moore completed 54.5 percent of attempts beyond 20-plus yards, including 15 touchdowns. His physical traits (size, mobility, arm) are more good than great, and those won’t change, but his feel for layering throws should translate well to the pro game.

Moore’s downfield touch on the Washington tape was outstanding. Both plays below came on third down and were great examples of “perfect throws beat good coverage.”

Must improve: Tendencies under pressure

For the most part, Moore is a sound decision-maker, although his inexperience tends to pop up. At times, he appears to predetermine where he’s going, as on the first play from scrimmage against Indiana, which D’Angelo Ponds intercepted and returned for a pick six. Other times, he struggles to be decisive under pressure. In overtime versus Penn State, Moore had a wide-open touchdown to Kenyon Sadiq on the corner route but quickly found the checkdown at the first hint of pressure.

NFL teams are hoping to see him consistently get his eyes in the right place when pressured. This play from the Washington tape is an example of him being decisive with his reads while subtly navigating the pass rush — evidence that he can do it:

2027 NFL Draft outlook

A five-star recruit out of high school, Moore was the No. 3 quarterback (behind Manning and Nico Iamaleava) in the 2023 recruiting class and a top-five overall recruit. Coming out of the Detroit area, he was a huge get for UCLA — and started right away — but spent just one year with the Bruins. Prior to the 2024 season, Moore transferred to Oregon, where he backed up Dillon Gabriel before emerging as one of college football’s top quarterbacks in 2025. He finished last season with 71.8 percent completions, 3,565 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Had he declared, Moore would have been drafted very high in the 2026 NFL Draft — likely No. 2 by the New York Jets. However, he wanted one more year of college experience to continue developing mentally and physically; scouts say he is now in the 218-pound range after hovering under 205 last year. Returning to Eugene made sense, and it should make Moore better equipped for the long term.

3. CJ Carr, Notre Dame (6-2, 215)*

Best trait: Feel for the position

I get it — “feel for the position” sounds vague. But Carr shows a ton of promise in critical areas for such a young player. Considering his lineage and football upbringing, that shouldn’t be a surprise.

Carr is efficient with his operation and understands how to find vulnerable matchups. He moves with rhythm in his feet and throws a pretty ball, giving his targets the chance to make plays. At the line of scrimmage, he frequently makes adjustments to put the offense in favorable looks. Off the field, feedback is glowing regarding his mental comprehension and how his preparation translates to game day.

Against NC State, Carr was aggressive with what the defense gave him. Here, he checks at the line and throws with anticipation from the far hash on the man-beating route combination:

This next play, Carr shows nice recognition attacking the middle-field void versus zone. He keeps his eyes left in his drop and delivers between the hashes once the tight end wraps the linebacker.

This touchdown isn’t the most difficult throw, but Carr’s operation is the takeaway. He identifies pressure pre-snap and strengthens the pass protection. He knows if the safety works down and his protection holds up, he can exploit the middle of the field.

Must improve: Rookie mistakes

While I am encouraged by his grasp of the position for his age, Carr had his share of mistakes in year one as a starter. On some plays, he showed stubborn trust in the play design, but he didn’t have the same decisiveness on others. His pocket movement was more abrupt than contained and needs to be developed. He didn’t always account for all 11 defenders and would put the ball in harm’s way (see his two interceptions vs. Pitt).

With Notre Dame expected to put more emphasis on the passing game in 2026, Carr’s development will be interesting to track.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

Highly recruited out of high school, Carr, grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, passed on the Wolverines for the chance to create his own path. After redshirting in 2024, Carr won the Irish starting job last season and almost immediately looked like he belonged. He finished with a 24-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio and helped Notre Dame finish the regular season with 10 straight wins.

Carr has good but not remarkable physical traits for the position, which is why some NFL scouts question his long-term ceiling while still liking his foundation. Notre Dame understandably relied on the run game last season (Carr ranked 84th in the FBS in pass attempts), but with running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price now in the NFL, more will be on the quarterback’s shoulders in 2026.

NFL scouts will have Nov. 7 circled — the Irish face Miami in South Bend.

4. Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State (6-3, 210)*

Best trait: Attacks every inch of the field

Operating in an up-tempo version of the Air Raid, Mestemaker is a tall, fluid passer who isn’t shy tossing it all over the yard. Despite his inexperience, he shows natural instincts for the position, including the ability to calmly climb, adjust his platform and hit receivers in stride.

No part of the field was off-limits last season, but Mestemaker was especially dialed in on pass attempts over the middle.

North Texas led the FBS last season in scoring offense (45.1 points per game), and utilizing its quarterback’s mobility helped open the playbook. Here, from the pistol, Mestemaker comfortably uses his legs and hits the sail route for a chunk gain.

Must improve: Mental reps

All college quarterbacks are relatively young in football years, but Mestemaker is a unique case, as he has one year of starting experience since middle school. He needs to continue maturing physically and filling out his frame. He needs to tweak his mechanics and release point to improve the consistency of his ball placement, specifically on pass attempts to his left.

Most importantly, Mestemaker needs those valuable mental reps to slow his eyes and raise his comfort level reading out the play.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

How do you properly rank a unique prospect like Mestemaker? His raw talent is incredibly enticing, but there is no substitute for experience at quarterback. Mestemaker was an all-district performer in high school — but at safety and punter. He was the backup quarterback, even as a junior and senior.

Mestemaker went overlooked at multiple recruiting camps before walking on at North Texas. He won the starting QB job as a redshirt freshman in 2025 and thrived for the Mean Green (68.9 percent completions, 4,379 passing yards and 39 total touchdowns). Mestemaker had multiple transfer options this past offseason but opted to follow his coach, Eric Morris, from UNT to Oklahoma State.

Given his lack of experience, Mestemaker is a more realistic option for the 2028 NFL Draft. But he is draft-eligible now, and the buzz among NFL teams shouldn’t be ignored. I am eager to see his development against better competition, especially when Oregon visits Stillwater in Week 2.

5. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss (6-0, 208)

Best trait: Instinctive playmaker

After starting last season as the backup QB, Chambliss stepped in due to injury and made it impossible to take him off the field.

He has an explosive release — the ball comes out very quickly with above-average velocity, whether in the pocket or throwing off platform. There is a high level of poise to his reactive athleticism, too, which makes him a nuisance for pursuit and allows him to create outside of structure. Though short, Chambliss has decent thickness to his frame, which helps him break tackles.

Chambliss had several “whoa” moments during a win over Georgia in the College Football Playoff, but this play is the most translatable. He effortlessly buys time under pressure and unleashes a dot on the move that goes almost 50 yards in the air.

Must improve: Coverage recognition

There is nothing Chambliss can do about his height (NFL-verified 5-11 7/8 inches), but I would like to see him improve his processing, both before and after the snap. He faced a massive jump in defensive speed last season, going from Division II to the SEC, and it took time for his eyes to catch up. Being quicker to understand what defenses are doing will only make him more dangerous.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

Chambliss spent four years at Division II Ferris State, the first three as a backup. As the full-time starter in 2024, he led the program to the national championship, posting 51 total touchdowns (26 passing, 25 rushing).

Prior to the 2025 season, Chambliss transferred to Ole Miss with the expectation of being the backup behind Austin Simmons. However, Simmons injured his ankle in Week 2 — Chambliss grabbed his opportunity and didn’t look back. He became SEC Newcomer of the Year and led the Rebels to a 13-2 season, including two wins in the College Football Playoff.

Chambliss has gone from fun story to a legitimate NFL prospect who will test the comfort levels of scouts to think outside the box. He will be a 25-year-old rookie; he stands under six feet tall; not everything on his college tape will translate cleanly to the NFL. But there is a place at the next level for an instinctive playmaker like him.

6. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina (6-4, 245)*

Best traits: Physical gifts

There aren’t many quarterbacks with Sellers’ talent and traits. A unique dual-threat weapon, his superpower is how he creates conflict for defenses with the ball in his hands. Sellers has rare explosiveness for a 240-plus-pounder and flexes a power arm, which shows in both his velocity and distance as a passer. On the move, he has the strength to shrug off defenders and the burst to outpace pursuit, allowing him to buy time or pick up chunk yardage with his legs.

Given South Carolina’s pass-protection woes, Sellers struggled to develop rhythm within the pocket. But that also allowed him to show off his explosive athleticism and escapability. Several of Sellers’ best throws on tape come out of structure, when he is forced to change throwing platforms and hit targets moving right to left.

Must improve: Accessing easy buttons

Sellers has the talent to make incredibly difficult plays look easy. But too often, the inherently simpler throws appear difficult. His accuracy in the quick game can be erratic, and he’s shown a discouraging lack of timing on basic in-structure throws.

Regardless of an inconsistent supporting cast, Sellers’ efficiency at the first level needs to improve. Last season, he completed just 66.9 percent of his throws of between zero and 10 yards, down from 76.7 in 2024. (For comparison, Fernando Mendoza was at 88.1 percent and Moore at 81.8 in 2025.)

2027 NFL Draft outlook

Sellers put himself on the NFL radar in 2024 with a standout redshirt freshman season, creating buzz among scouts that he could be a future high draft pick. His play fell short of those expectations last season, although the Gamecocks’ play calling, offensive line and receivers did their quarterback few favors. South Carolina this offseason hired Kendal Briles as offensive coordinator and made several upgrades to support its quarterback.

If Sellers struggles in 2026, it will be hard for NFL teams to buy him as an early-round option and future starter. But any degree of on-field progress and consistency will give them optimism that he is on the right track and there is more to be cultivated, which could land him in the first round.

7. Darian Mensah, Miami (6-3, 205)*

Best trait: Willingness to attack middle-field windows

Short, intermediate or deep, the middle of the field is Mensah’s playground. Comfortably working from the pocket, he anticipates developing windows over the middle and drives the ball to spots. Mensah is just as effective layering throws with touch between levels or deep. His pre-snap recognition and compact release give him full access to middle-field targets.

Mensah completed 81.3 percent of his attempts between the numbers last season, including several examples on the Clemson tape.

Must improve: Progression timing

Like most quarterbacks, Mensah is at his best when he stays on time — he triggers when his back foot hits the top of his drop, and the ball comes out with accuracy. But when he hesitates or is late getting to his second or third reads, the passing windows become much more crowded and he lacks top-tier velocity to compensate.

Mensah throws with touch, but the ball doesn’t consistently explode off his hand, especially when out of rhythm, which increases the importance of his timing. Though he threw only six interceptions last season, there were several more “almost” interceptions on tape (Mensah’s 21 turnover-worthy plays last season ranked ninth most in the FBS, according to PFF).

2027 NFL Draft outlook

A two-star recruit out of San Luis Obispo, Calif., Mensah turned heads at Tulane in 2024 after becoming a starter as a redshirt freshman. Capitalizing on his success, Mensah entered the portal and transferred to Duke. He completed 66.8 percent of his throws for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns last season for the Blue Devils.

Unfortunately for Duke, that success made him a target for rival Miami. After the dust settled, Mensah joined the Hurricanes (and reportedly received a total NIL package of close to $10 million).

Some scouts see Mensah as a future NFL starter because of his quick release and passing instincts; others aren’t sold that he has a starter-level ceiling because of his only-adequate physical traits (size, arm, speed) and see him as a Day 3 prospect. However, between the returning talent at Miami and a manageable schedule, the stage is set for Mensah to have a Heisman-worthy season.

Top 25 senior quarterbacks prospects:

1. Chambliss
2. Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech (6-3, 238)
3. Jayden Maiava, USC (6-4, 218)
4. John Mateer, Oklahoma (6-0, 220)
5. Byrum Brown, Auburn (6-3, 235)
6. Josh Hoover, Indiana (6-0, 201)
7. Jaden Craig, TCU (6-2, 227)
8. Kevin Jennings, SMU (6-0, 184)
9. Rocco Becht, Penn State (6-1, 213)
10. Avery Johnson, Kansas State (6-2, 198)
11. Steve Angeli, Syracuse (6-2, 213)
12. Beau Brungard, Youngstown State (5-11, 208)
13. Katin Houser, Illinois (6-3, 226)
14. Gunner Stockton, Georgia (6-0, 210)
15. Chase Mason, South Dakota State (6-3, 237)
16. Noah Fifita, Arizona (5-8, 191)
17. Jordan Cooke, Idaho State (6-3, 241)
18. Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona (6-2, 217)
19. Jaylen Raynor, Iowa State (6-0, 207)
20. Walker Eget, Duke (6-3, 241)
21. Beau Pribula, Virginia (6-2, 209)
22. Aidan Chiles, Northwestern (6-3, 217)
23. Devon Dampier, Utah (5-10, 205)
24. Owen McCown, UTSA (6-1, 196)
25. Braxton Woodson, Navy (6-3, 216)

Top 15 draft-eligible prospects:

1. Manning
2. Moore
3. Carr
4. Mestemaker
5. Sellers
6. Mensah
7. Sam Leavitt, LSU (6-2, 213)
8. Julian Sayin, Ohio State (6-1, 212)
9. Drake Lindsey, Minnesota (6-5, 230)
10. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA (6-5, 210)
11. Demond Williams Jr., Washington (5-11, 195)
12. DJ Lagway, Baylor (6-3, 235)
13. CJ Bailey, NC State (6-5, 218)
14. Dylan Raiola, Oregon (6-3, 230)
15. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M (6-1, 185)