With both the NFL and college football seasons about to begin in earnest, it’s a great time to check in with the top prospects headed into the 2027 NFL Draft.
This is my first crack at this year’s big board, ranked 1-30, including two receivers slotted ahead of the quarterback with a very famous last name.
1. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Smith might not be the first pick, but he could be one of the best non-QB prospects to enter the draft in a few years. With ideal height-weight-speed benchmarks and outstanding feel for the game, Smith is as polished and gifted a receiver as you’ll see come out of the college game. It has been a minute since a receiver was this well-regarded prior to turning 21 years old (which Smith does in November). He reminds me of Andre Johnson coming out of Miami. The sky is the limit.
2. Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
Moore is nearly an elite athlete with great production to match. In 26 college games, he’s recorded seven interceptions (one run back for a TD) and 18 passes defended. There are very few lockdown man-to-man corners in college, but the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Moore is one of them. The Irish are willing to glue Moore to opponents’ best receivers and let him go to work. He’s a willing tackler, but Moore could take another step by improving his consistency there and getting a bit stronger. Other than that, there’s little not to like or even love about his game.
Leonard Moore 46 Yard Pick 6 Days until Notre Dame Football☘️⏰ pic.twitter.com/C6785yBCqS
— Ryan Fravel (@Fravel_Ryan) July 22, 2026
3. Cam Coleman, WR, Texas
This might appear a tad ambitious of a ranking after a semi-frustrating season at Auburn, but most of Coleman’s issues were QB-related there. That shouldn’t be an issue in Austin. Lining up opposite Ryan Wingo, with Arch Manning throwing Coleman passes, appears to be a dream setup. He’s authored some jaw-dropping catches in summer practices and could be in line for a monster season, assuming he can refine his route-running and cut down on the concentration drops. At 6-3 and 205 pounds, Coleman has a built-in-a-lab frame. He’s an aerial acrobat and looks like a future top-10 pick, with just a shade more consistency.
4. Arch Manning, QB, Texas
If we’re being honest with ourselves, Manning lands this high — and potentially could be the No. 1 pick — largely because of pedigree and excellent physical traits. He’s got the Hall of Fame name and skills to make it there. Manning struggled early last season (and might not have been fully healthy), falling back into some lazy mechanics and misfiring on some layups. There were even times when Manning seemed gun-shy, especially in losses to Ohio State and Florida, and the narrow win over Kentucky.
From about the Mississippi State game on, Manning was lights out. It’s the best stretch of ball we’ve seen from him, capped with a showcase performance in the bowl win over Michigan. His athletic gifts were on display in that one, from scrambling to throwing off balance and navigating some muddy pockets. It’s all there.
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Manning hasn’t yet shown consistent No. 1-pick tape for a whole season, but his arrow is pointed upward and he has one of the best supporting casts in America. Justin Herbert and Drake Maye entered the NFL with similar physical profiles — and some of the same questions from scouts.
It’s not a stretch to see how Manning could go first overall, even if you’d prefer he put up a full season’s worth of high-level play.
5. Dylan Stewart, Edge, South Carolina
Stewart is one of the most gifted, physically blessed defenders in the college game. His sophomore season was a bit disappointing in terms of production, with 4.5 sacks in 11 games — and only 2.5 of them in SEC play — while dealing with a back injury that slowed him down. But the 6-foot-6, 247-pound Stewart has elite get-off, plus great bend, twitch and closing speed. He’s also found other ways to be disruptive, with six forced fumbles the past two seasons combined. There’s no reason why he can’t be a top-10 pick, but there’s also room to grow. Stewart could be stronger at the point of attack taking blocks head on, and you’d like to see more consistent sack production, but he’s a monster prospect.
6. Colin Simmons, Edge, Texas
It’s probably a two-man race for top Edge prospect honors between Simmons and Dylan Stewart. Although Stewart might be the twitchier player, Simmons is a little more well-rounded. He’s a near-constant source of pressure, similar to Abdul Carter at Penn State, finding ways to disrupt even when he doesn’t take down quarterbacks. He does that plenty, too: 21 sacks, along with 26 TFLs and six forced fumbles in his first two seasons. That’s elite production in one of college football’s most competitive conferences. The Longhorns will use Simmons in a “joker” role, standing him up and moving him up and down the line and even dropping him into coverage. He’s a piece some NFL coordinator will love to use, with a Khalil Mack-like ceiling down the road.
7. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Had Moore left college this spring, he might have been a first-round pick — possibly as high as No. 2 to the Jets. That’s not to say that he was on par with Fernando Mendoza, and some teams won’t view Moore as positively as they will Arch Manning as a pro prospect, but there’s still a lot to like.
Moore had some humbling moments vs. heavy pressure last season and is still too willing at times to dump off short at the first signs of trouble. But with more time and experience, those tendencies can be worked out. Oregon has some offensive line questions, however, which will bear watching as the season plays out.
Although Moore’s raw tools are not mind-blowing, he has enough to thrive. He possesses very good touch and natural accuracy, including to the intermediate and deep parts of the field. Moore throws with a smooth release with good timing and rhythm. With the right NFL play caller and talent around him, Moore can be a productive passer who makes far more positive plays than negative ones.
8. Will Echoles, DT, Ole Miss
The 6-3, 315-pound Echoles is a dense-framed power player with violent hands and a demeanor to match. He’s a terrific run defender but also can impact passing downs. Echoles notched five sacks, 39 pressures (per PFF) and six batted passes at the line in spite of only average length. Ole Miss asked a lot of Echoles, who played a whopping 765 defensive snaps last season, including an absurd 81 in the playoff loss to Miami, and he somehow seemed to get better as the season progressed. Echoles was named Sugar Bowl Defensive MVP against Georgia and even earned a few snaps as a lead blocker on offense last season.
9. Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
Goosby first made a name for himself on the national stage when he stepped in at left tackle down the stretch for an injured Kelvin Banks Jr. and held his own. Since then, Goosby hasn’t left the spotlight — and he certainly won’t this season while protecting Arch Manning’s backside. Goosby hits all the physical benchmarks you want in a left tackle, with ideal size (6-7, 325), length and the athleticism to neutralize edge rushers and get out on the move as a run blocker. He needs to cut back on penalties and keep a better pad level, but Goosby looks like a high-floor prospect with a pretty darned high ceiling as well.
10. Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia
Robinson isn’t yet on Leonard Moore’s level and isn’t the physical marvel as the Notre Dame star, but he has the playmaking instincts and elite coverage feel you’re looking for in a top corner. Robinson has the loose hips and speed to carry receivers downfield, and he will undercut routes, high-point and find the ball in the air vs. man or zone. He operates like a ballet dancer in coverage, but Robinson is more than a willing tackler and will get physical despite only average size . You’d ideally like to see him add some weight to his 6-foot, 180-pound frame, but that’s tomorrow’s worry. Already he has the confidence necessary to lock up against top receivers and should get only better in his second year of starting.
11. Trey’Dez Green, TE, LSU
Next year’s tight end class might not be as deep as the 2026 group, but there are a few really interesting prospects, including Green. He’s a nifty mover for a 6-foot-7 pass catcher with a massive wingspan, using his basketball skills to post up defenders as a red-zone and over-the-middle threat. Although Green hasn’t been a high-volume receiver to date, he’s averaged a touchdown once every four-plus catches in two seasons. He’s been more of a mismatch piece and really hasn’t been asked to block much, leaving that element of his game more unrefined, but entering his age-20 season, Green possesses star power as a pass catcher.
12. Brauntae “Tae” Johnson, S, Notre Dame
Johnson is a rangy, quick-trigger safety who burst onto the scene last season. He redshirted in 2024 after a preseason foot injury and played only three games but took over as free safety in 2025 and became a centerpiece of a loaded Irish secondary. The 6-2, 200-pound Johnson is a single- or two-high safety who arrives at the ball with great timing and even can cover receivers and undercut routes to make plays on the ball. They even used him in a “spy” role against athletic quarterbacks, and Johnson’s tackling was one of his strengths last season, even as he could use more body armor to his frame. If he can stay healthy, Johnson has a chance to be a top-15 pick.
13. Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana
One of the great breakout stories for the eventual national champs, Becker became a big-play artist and clutch target for Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers last season. He earned the WR3 role last season with his acrobatic plays over the middle and downfield, averaging a whopping 20 yards per catch at 6-foot-4. Becker had only 34 grabs, but 27 of them came in the final seven games, and he was arguably their best “money” receiver in crunch time, with critical grabs against Penn State and Ohio State; touchdowns vs. Alabama and Oregon; and two critical third- and fourth-down conversions in the national championship vs. Miami. With Omar Cooper and Elijah Sarratt off to the NFL, Becker is expected to be Curt Cignetti’s WR1 this season. Style-wise, he’s similar to Alec Pierce and Christian Watson, but Becker’s speed and separation aren’t quite as good yet.
14. Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
Mestemaker is a quick-rhythm passer with a quality arm who has risen the ranks from unknown former walk-on at North Texas to a potential savior for the Cowboys program. With massive production in a smaller sample size, averaging 318.1 pass yards in his 15 college starts and authoring a 604-yard outing vs. Charlotte, Mestemaker has opened eyes with his accuracy, timing and anticipation in a hot-potato offense. Just how good his arm is might be up for debate as pressure can rattle him at times. And Mestemaker’s frame appears to be a little lean. He followed head coach Eric Morris to Stillwater on a reported two-year NIL deal, and some believe he could stay in school another year. But just in case, NFL scouts already have the Week 2 game vs. Oregon (and QB Dante Moore) circled in red ink.
15. Justin Scott, DT, Miami
Scott might be a traits-over-production prospect right now, but he’s an enticing prospect who won’t turn 21 years old until January. The 6-4, 302-pound interior rusher has some twitchy, basketball-like skills on the inside, with unusual get-off, power, decent length and grip strength. With only two career sacks, even while playing on a loaded Hurricanes line, Scott must show that he can produce more consistently. If that happens this season, Scott could end up with a Round 1 landing spot.
16. Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
Seaton is an athletic, rangy left tackle with good length and rare foot quickness for his size. His tape shows an explosive first step, a plus kick-slide and the ability to smoothly move to the second level. Pass protection is his clear calling card right now, and that’s a big one for scouts, but Seaton could use more anchor strength and still shows some deficiencies in the run game. If the reports are true that Seaton has toned his body and shed some bad weight, it could lead to a big season in Baton Rouge. The tool kit is there to be great, but consistency remains an issue.
17. KJ Bolden, S, Georgia
Bolden is another in a long line of precocious Bulldogs DBs with clear NFL potential. After playing right away as a freshman, he took over for first-rounder Malaki Starks as a full-time starter in 2025. Bolden’s lean frame makes him a better fit on the back end, where his range really shines. His processing skills also allow Bolden to arrive at the ball with great timing, either in pass coverage or run defense. He still must show he can match up with tight ends one-on-one down the seam and be able to hold up long term physically, but Bolden has all the DNA to be a quality back-half safety. He also had a blocked punt last season.
18. Yhonzae Pierre, Edge, Alabama
Pierre really came on last season in Bama’s “Wolf” role, earning a starting spot early in 2025 and becoming a terror as a stand-up rusher. With springy athleticism, a hot motor and clear finishing ability, the 6-3, 250-pound Pierre is one to watch. He was dominant against Tennessee and played some quality all-round ball down the stretch, appearing more comfortable and diagnosing plays better from a two-point stance. Pierre made several big stops in short yardage and could be poised for a huge 2026 campaign, even with a smaller frame and some tackling consistency issues.
19. Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Jones is a true press-man corner with rare length and an NFL-caliber frame. He’s steadily improved with more time and could be a high riser with another strong season matching up against SEC receivers. Jones has oilier hips than your typical tall corner and should run in the 4.4 range whenever he tests. He’s also a willing tackler and a pretty darned good one, too. PFF had Jones for 11 catches allowed last season, with 13 PBUs. If he can cut down on the grabbiness and show a little more comfort in zone and off coverage, Jones could develop into a Riq Woolen or Nahshon Wright-like corner.
20. David Stone, DT, Oklahoma
Stone is hard to miss with the No. 0 uniform, but he also was the Sooners’ defensive anchor last season, regularly showing up on tape with disruptive plays and unusual range for an interior player. There are multiple examples of Stone working down the line and tackling much smaller, quicker players in space. He’s a high-motor disruptor with what appear to be unusually long arms. Stone’s production has been meager, but he was close to a few safeties last season and often opened up plays for others. If he can be a little more gap-sound and tone down his hyper-aggressiveness at times, Stone could be a top-20 pick.
21. Will Heldt, Edge, Clemson
The 6-7, 263-pound Heldt arrived from Purdue and upgraded a defensive line that included top-35 picks Peter Woods and T.J. Parker. Heldt is a long-armed, high-motor defender with a great GPS for the ball. His sack total (12.5 over his past 25 games) is modest, and Heldt might never be a true edge bender who can corner on rails. His physical traits are good for the position, but quickness and ankle flexion are questions. Even still, Heldt projects as a plus run defender who can win from two- and three-point stances.
22. CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
Carr was impressive in his first season starting last year, overcoming an 0-2 start to lead the Irish to 10 straight victories. With capable size and athleticism, Carr is not a physical marvel, but he possesses strong mechanics and processing skills for a younger passer. There’s a smoothness to his delivery, with strong touch and ball placement. Carr is also a tough cookie, prepared to stand tall in the pocket and deliver passes when the heat is on. Some talent evaluators see more of a higher-floor prospect than a higher-ceiling one, but his second season starting could give us more information on Carr’s true upside. Flourishing without two first-round running backs would be a great sign after Notre Dame lost Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price to the NFL. The Irish have a loaded roster, but the skill-position talent doesn’t appear mind-blowing. There was some real buzz emanating from the Manning Passing Academy sessions this summer, where some observers say Carr looked as good throwing the ball as Arch Manning or any other QB in attendance.
23. Ahmad Moten Sr., DT, Miami
There was buzz that Moten might declare early for the 2026 draft after a breakout season, and he was trending toward being a top-50 pick in a lighter DT class. At 6-3 and 310 pounds, he’s a scrappy, disruptive penetrator who has far exceeded expectations. Moten also has shed bad weight and refined his body, allowing his natural quickness and gap-shooting ability to flourish. He appears to lack great length and needs to develop some countermoves when his initial rush stalls, but there’s a possible late first-round talent who can thrive in a rotation.
24. Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson
Brown’s tape is an easy watch. He’s a highly athletic, run-and-chase linebacker with backgrounds in track and wrestling, and those traits have allowed him to be a hyper-productive defender the past two seasons. Brown’s size (6-2, 235) could be an issue, but he has a rocked-up physique, arrives at the ball in a hurry and can deliver a thump on contact. He’ll struggle to stack and shed against bigger blockers and needs to become more facile in coverage, but Brown has the look of a downhill “Mike” or “Will” backer with ball-finding skills.
25. A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
The NFL is still a big-man business, and Washington fits the bill in that department. He’s a wide-bodied nose tackle or shade player who has elevated his game each of the past three seasons. Only certain teams and defenses might grade him in the first-round range, but Washington has the take-on strength, burst and unusual quickness to be scheme-diverse. He’s still learning how to harness his physical gifts and become more of a playmaker (1.5 sacks, 6 TFLs in around 1,000 defensive snaps), but his eight batted passes last season demonstrate another way he can close down pass lanes.
26. Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss
There are a handful of backs capable of making a run at the first round, including Florida’s Jadan Baugh and Mizzou’s Ahmad Hardy, but Lacy excites me the most right now. He’s a hard-slashing back, able to carve through contact and drag defenders for extra yards. Lacy can also get to the edge readily, has excellent cutback potential and has shown better patience. His ball security and receiving hands are open to scrutiny, but Lacy is an explosive playmaker who could be an offensive centerpiece one day.
27. Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson
Hampton is newer to cornerback after being recruited to play receiver, but he’s settled in nicely the past few seasons and has the pro-ready build to be a fast riser this season. He possesses ideal size, at 6-2 and 200-plus pounds, to be a boundary corner and has enough speed to stay in phase with faster receivers, keeping more plays in front of him. Hampton is also a willing and effective tackler who’ll drive downhill hard on the ball. If he can learn to be less handsy and turn his head around quicker to make more plays on the ball, the first round could be his landing spot.
28. Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon
A popular name among scouts this summer, Johnson really took off in the second half of last season. Feel free to think of him as the TE equivalent to Indiana WR Charlie Becker: a prospect who tantalized talent evaluators with a half-season’s worth of production. Johnson averaged 18.2 yards per catch over his final nine games, including some nifty grabs like this one-hander vs. James Madison in the playoffs:
Top 🔟 Plays from the 2025-26 CFP🔥
No. 🔟: Oregon’s Jamari Johnson with a one-handed grab to give the Ducks an early lead over JMU in the CFP First Round!#CFBPlayoffpic.twitter.com/GdrrxB4VOu
— CFP (@CFBPlayoff) February 9, 2026
With Kenyon Sadiq in the NFL, Johnson figures to be a higher-volume receiver and could elevate all the way to TE1 status with a big season. Johnson has spoken about wanting to improve his blocking and all-around game, but the 6-4, 245-pounder has the soft hands and YAC potential you don’t often find in the college game.
29. Trevor Lauck, OT, Iowa
Iowa won the Joe Moore Award for college football’s best offensive line in 2025, and it’ll have a unit capable of repeating, led by Lauck. He performed at a high level in his first extended action as the Hawkeyes’ starting left tackle last season, allowing zero sacks. At 6-5 and 315 pounds, he has solid size and length for the position, and his technique already looks advanced for a relatively inexperienced player. Lauck is not a people mover in the run game and will get a little high in his pass sets, especially as games wear on, but his pass-pro skills and high floor make him an easy prospect to appreciate.
30. Damon Wilson II, Edge, Miami
<
p style=”text-align:left”>I’ll take a chance on giving a top-30 spot to Wilson, who was a terror for Missouri last year and could be the Hurricanes’ best rusher with Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor in the NFL. Wilson is not a pure take-on player with great power, but he has a battery of pass-rush moves at his disposal and shows excellent burst and range from the edge.
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