The college football season kicked off with the anticipation of up to seven quarterbacks being potential first-round picks in the 2027 NFL draft. Notable names included Arch Manning from Texas, Dante Moore from Oregon, and Julian Sayin from Ohio State. They were joined by Trinidad Chambliss from Ole Miss, Darian Mensah from Miami, CJ Carr from Notre Dame, and LaNorris Sellers from South Carolina. The number of teams in need of quarterbacks for the next year added intrigue to these predictions.
Five games into the season, concerns have emerged regarding four of these quarterbacks. The quarterback draft landscape for 2027 has experienced a significant shift within the first third of the college season. A player previously seen as a borderline first-round pick a month ago now tops ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper’s quarterback rankings: Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker.
Mestemaker ranks as the No. 2 overall player in the 2027 draft class, according to Kiper. His journey is noteworthy. Originally, Mestemaker didn’t play quarterback for his high school football team. He served as a punter and played safety before stepping into the quarterback role. He walked on at North Texas in 2024 and became the starting QB by 2025. After throwing for over 4,000 yards, Mestemaker transferred alongside coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State.
“Mestemaker’s skillset is impressive,” Kiper explained. “He excels at scanning the field and maintaining patience in the pocket. He has a strong arm to complete various throws, with 30 passes going for over 20 yards this season, ranking him third in the FBS. His mobility also allows him to gain substantial yardage on the ground.”
Mestemaker exhibits notable toughness and competitiveness. With only 20 career starts and not turning 21 until January, he presents significant potential for growth.
Kiper’s top five quarterback prospects for the 2027 draft are:
- Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
- Darian Mensah, Miami
- Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
- CJ Carr, Notre Dame
- Austin Simmons, Missouri
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