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A 2027 NFL Draft class that once looked to be rife with star power is suddenly sparking a good deal of mystery at the top of the first round.
That uncertainty starts, of course, with the quarterbacks. With Texas' Arch Manning floundering in the early season before finding steadier ground in recent weeks and Oregon's Dante Moore now out for the season, there's no clear pecking order for the top passers.
But with several teams facing pressure to replace their incumbent starting signal-callers, the demand for solutions behind center isn't likely to wane anytime soon.
Here's our latest first-round projection, using ESPN's current average draft position for each team to establish a first-round order:
For as transcendent a talent as Smith is, it's no sure thing that he becomes the first receiver since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996 to be taken first overall. Still, with no quarterback having established himself as clearly worthy of the top spot, the case is getting stronger for the Ohio State star to land here. Cam Ward is finally showing some encouraging signs of growth, though it remains clear that he's not getting nearly enough help from his receiving corps. Smith could change that in a hurry by giving the No. 1 pick someone who can be trusted to come down with deep heaves.
It takes a truly special cornerback to be selected No. 2 overall, which is as high as any other cornerback has gone in the modern draft era. Moore sure seems like he shapes up as exactly that, though. A true lockdown presence in coverage, the 6-2, 197-pound cover man changes the way a defense functions, as teams wholesale avoid testing him. In joining 2026 first-rounder Chris Johnson, Moore would help Jeff Hafley get this build off the ground floor.
This move might only be in play if the Chargers part ways with Tuli Tuipulotu, with whom the team couldn't reach agreement on a long-term extension this summer. Yet Los Angeles will need to confront its precipitous fall from the contending class, and it's not out of the question that the team might balk at his price tag. Stewart's singular explosiveness as an edge rusher could compel teams to look past his on-field blow-ups, and he could take his place as a much-needed cornerstone for the Bolts.
Amid a full-scale collapse of what Howie Roseman so carefully built over the years, the Eagles have resisted drastic in-season change. But in one form or another, an overhaul looks inevitable next offseason. Perhaps Roseman doesn't want to rush a quarterback decision while facing that terrain. But it might also be difficult for him to bypass the opportunity to truly turn the page on what's a bygone era as Jalen Hurts' future remains clouded. Even as the front-runner to be the first passer chosen, Mestemaker still has considerable room to grow – and he might even end up a 2028 prospect rather than a '27 one. Nevertheless, he's the kind of centerpiece who could make a rebuild much more palatable.
In a class in which more physically gifted passers have largely faded in the early season, Carr figures to be a quarterback who could have staying power. His advanced feel for reading defenses and consistently clean mechanics allow him to keep his offense on schedule, which NFL teams will surely admire. Pedestrian physical tools and a play-it-safe style might leave some wondering about his ceiling, but predictable efficiency at quarterback is something the Jets would likely leap at.
No longer just the clear-cut choice as the No. 1 linebacker in this class, Cole has positioned himself to be considered in the top tier of defenders. As teams shift to a heavier dose of under-center looks, the 6-3, 235-pounder is exactly the type of countermeasure capable of snuffing out big plays before they get started. He'd be a boon to a Jets defense that might be at an impasse until it collects more top-tier young talent.
Ranking 31st in both rushing EPA per play allowed and pressure rate, according to Next Gen Stats, New Orleans has a clear problem that starts up front. Echoles is the kind of do-everything defensive lineman who could transform the landscape of Brandon Staley's group.
Between the potential for the team to miss out on a top-five pick and the sudden scarcity of top-tier quarterback options, Arizona could end up in a no-man's land for draft options behind center – at least in the early going. Rather than force the issue, the Cardinals might be wise to simply nab a blue-chip talent at another premium position. Simmons' pass-rush prowess is unmatched at the college level, and his persistence and power in stuffing the run have made him a complete edge defender.
After hitting it big with this year's Sonny Styles pick, the Commanders would really stand to benefit from another immediate contributor in a vulnerable secondary. Like Styles, Hampton is a supersized player (6-2, 205 pounds) at his position who regularly exerts his will against the opposition. He could use a dose of Styles' restraint when trying to blanket receivers, but he's a thoroughly frustrating matchup for any pass catcher to take on.
The Falcons have long had a formidable collection of skill-position talent, but it's long felt as though the passing attack has been missing another piece. Becker would make for a lethal deep tandem with Drake London, who's carrying a disproportionate load in the receiving corps, and help give Atlanta a clearer sense of whether Michael Penix Jr. is the franchise's quarterback of the future.
Turning the page on Lamar Jackson just days after his thumb injury might seem premature. But with the two-time NFL MVP holding all the cards in contract negotiations necessitating some resolution this offseason, it feels as though Baltimore could be staring down the end of an era. If the Ravens do part with Jackson, the team could try to bring on another scintillating offensive catalyst in Chambliss. The stocky signal-caller's track record of turning things up a notch in crunch time against top competition should endear him to NFL decision-makers, and his comfort attacking the middle of the field should assuage any concerns about his height.
Game-changing defensive tackles don't come cheap. But if the Raiders want to jolt a defense that's surrendered 30 or more points in five consecutive games, getting a true difference-maker along the line might be the best route to do so. With six sacks on the season, Gilliam has shown he can be a mainstay in opposing backfields.
The protection plan for Bryce Young has come undone, with the quarterback taking 11 sacks in the last two weeks. Getting back on the right track might require a fresh start up front. Seaton's quickness as a pass blocker sets him apart from other offensive tackles in this class, making him a suitable partner to work opposite 2026 first-round pick Monroe Freeling.
A double-dip on Georgia defenders probably isn't a bad call for a unit hurting for playmakers, particularly on the back end. Though Robinson still has to master the finer points of his position, he boasts the requisite size, speed and ball skills to stick with top-flight receivers and make quarterbacks pay for testing him.
Despite his remarkably efficient start to the season, Mensah likely still has more to prove against much more formidable competition before he can cement a place in the first tier of quarterbacks. If he doesn't waver down the stretch, however, Mensah might be an attractive choice for a team that can look past his so-so arm strength and athleticism and instead build an offense around his precision. He might make particular sense for a Browns team that can't maximize its young offensive pieces until it turns the reins over to a more decisive passer.
General manager Nick Caserio said last week he's at a loss for why Houston's offensive line continues to be so problematic for the rest of the unit. With more swings necessary to address the issue, Williams certainly sizes up as one of the more appealing options. Though he's still coming into his own in his first year as a starter, the 6-8, 305-pound blocker has displayed the kind of rapid growth that has vaulted him into the Day 1 discussion.
John Harbaugh casting a net for Jeffery Simmons shows just how interested the Giants are in recapturing a highly disruptive defensive lineman. That effort in the draft could continue with Stone. Production still lags well behind potential when assessing the 6-3, 312-pounder, whose stock could slide if he doesn't display more consistency down the stretch. Nevertheless, there likely will be no shortage of coaching staffs eager to coax out the best of him.
Though Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke remain bookend tackles for Tampa Bay, a shaky interior line has only increased the volatility of the Buccaneers' offense. Johnson could be this year's Vega Ioane as a potential top-20 pick who can solidify the guard spot in a hurry for whichever team drafts him.
Taking a running back this early might be a non-starter to a Browns front office that doesn't prioritize the position in its investment approach. Still, Cleveland will have to ensure the ask of its next quarterback isn't too great, and improving a rushing attack that ranks 29th in expected points added per rush has to be a consideration.
Even though Jaxon Smith-Njigba has proven more than up to the task of carrying the Seahawks' offense, it's unreasonable to count on him to maintain such a heavy workload and blistering pace. Explosive plays are vital to Seattle's attack, and Coleman can provide them. His erratic play has left some questions about whether he can be trusted to be a true top target, but Sam Darnold can make the most of his skill set as a downfield weapon.
The George Pickens marriage appears to be fizzling out. With everything looking so difficult for an offense that was supposed to propel the team, Dallas might be due for a substantial change. Marsh is hardly a one-for-one replacement for Pickens, but his competitive flair would strike a sharp contrast with a pass catcher whose subpar run-blocking efforts were called out by coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Grappling with the likes of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins is never fun for opponents. That's the Steelers' reality for the foreseeable future, however, and sending off Joey Porter Jr. only complicates that task. At 6-4 and 205 pounds, Jones combines the size to pester both well-built receivers and the speed to stick close by each one.
The Patriots are riding out their one-year trial period with Kevin Byard, but an offseason pivot from the 33-year-old ballhawk might be necessary. Aggressive yet heady, Bolden is an extremely Mike Vrabel-coded defender. His versatility and range would afford defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr a good deal of schematic flexibility.
Bypassing a cornerback here might be seen by many as malpractice. But Lions general manager Brad Holmes has never been one to be boxed in by positional constraints, and it seems unlikely he'd stray from his ways with the top options in the secondary already accounted for. If Sam LaPorta's contract talks with Detroit reach a breaking point, Johnson could offer the offense a path forward, as Jared Goff would surely come to appreciate his reliability over the middle.
With his season cut short by a concussion, Moore figures to be one of the most perplexing evaluations of a draft class now riddled with questions at quarterback. While some teams might be reticent to invest heavily in the 6-3, 220-pound passer, Minnesota might make plenty of sense for him. The Kyler Murray experiment is becoming untenable, which could leave Kevin O'Connell and Co. back at square one this offseason. And though expecting to find a signal-caller capable of steering a contender might be a dicey proposition for a team likely to select on the back end of Day 1, Moore can be a deft distributor in an offense that affords him plenty of weapons.
Equipping Patrick Mahomes with at least one true threat at receiver might seem like the overwhelming top priority for an offense that has hit a wall in its two-game skid. But between Josh Simmons' inability to stay on the field and Jaylon Moore being on the final year of his deal, Kansas City is approaching a dangerous place on the future of its offensive line. A driving force behind Kentucky's surge this season, Heard has barreled into the first-round conversation with his punishing play.
No coach covets a jumbo Joker like Sean Payton does. The 6-7, 237-pound Green, who missed four games due to a knee injury, hasn't been the dominant force some envisioned him becoming this season. But NFL coaches will relish the opportunity to deploy one of the more imposing pass catchers to come through the college ranks in several years. Green could help provide Bo Nix with some simple solutions as a reliable weapon on contested catches, and his big-play potential could invigorate an attack that's too often settled for a methodical approach.
A rebooted defense already faced offseason uncertainty on the back end due to the expiring contracts of cornerbacks DJ Turner II and Dax Hill. Now, the secondary's instability has threatened to impede the progress of a unit capable of supporting Joe Burrow and Co. when the pass rush is clicking. At 6-0 and 203 pounds, McClain isn't the physical marvel that Duke Tobin tends to gravitate toward, but the former cornerback closes in on the ball in a hurry and has made great strides with his ball production (two interceptions, five passes defensed).
With its defense nearly devoid of true building blocks after the Jeffery Simmons trade, Tennessee will be under great scrutiny as it tries to supercharge the unit. Far more nimble than his 6-5, 300-pound build might suggest, Thompkins has shown considerable potential in a breakout season at Alabama. Though he might not measure up to Simmons on his own – few players do – Thompkins still could give Robert Saleh a figure around which to construct a fresh front.
DaVon Hamilton being lost for the season to a torn quadriceps muscle only further heightens the odds of Jacksonville fully resetting on the interior next year. Wrecking shop at the line of scrimmage shouldn't be a problem for Washington, who can create favorable looks for others and blow up the line of scrimmage when he doesn't draw a double-team.
Medical concerns continue to cloud the stock of Viliamu-Asa, who has torn his anterior cruciate ligament twice and missed time this year with a thumb injury. But if the Bills are comfortable with his outlook, he could be the kind of rangy and versatile presence at the second level that's necessary to help put this unit on more stable ground.
The best teams afford themselves the luxury of thinking ahead. Trent Williams said this summer that 2027 will likely be his last season, which could allow for a smooth succession plan if San Francisco wants to enact one. The prospect of using a first-round pick on a player coming off a torn patellar tendon might alarm a fan base rattled by rampant injuries, but Goosby might be too promising of a protector to pass up if he slides this far.
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