2027 NFL Draft Preseason Rankings - QB

The 2027 QB class could potentially be the best and most-hyped selection of signal callers since the 1983 class (Elway, Marino). Seven draft-eligible prospects have earned preseason first-round grades and another two dozen prospects have earned draft-worthy grades for next spring's draft.

1. Arch Manning / Texas

2025 Statistics

248 / 404 / 61.4% / 3,163 yds / 26 TD / 7 INT

92 carries / 399 yds / 4.3 avg / 10 TDs

A lock as the top selection in either 2027 or 2028, Manning is the next in line of great Manning QBs, following his grandfather (Archie) and uncles (Peyton and Eli) as franchise NFL QBs who played their college ball in the SEC. Manning had a rocky start to his college career last season but displayed significant improvement as the season progressed and began to fulfill his potential and extraordinary level of hype. Manning will be the most scrutinized prospect in college football this fall as he is a heavy Heisman Trophy favorite as the Longhorns enter the 2026 season as one of best teams in the nation. Manning's combination of size, arm strength, and athleticism is rare and makes him the prize for whoever "earns" the rights to the first pick next April.

Area for Improvement - Manning needs to display improved anticipation and touch to stay at the top of 2027 NFL Draft boards.

2. Dante Moore / Oregon

2025 Statistics

296 / 412 / 71.8% / 3.565 yds / 30 TD / 10 INT

73 carries / 156 yds / 2.1 avg / 2 TD

The former number one recruit in the nation (2023), Moore considered entering last April's draft but returned to pursue a national title in Eugene this fall. Moore possesses prototypical size, excellent arm strength, clean mechanics, and very good athleticism to be developed into an NFL franchise QB. Moore has only 20 career starts in college and the additional year of seasoning should improve his overall game. Moore looks like a near lock as a first-round pick next April.

Area for Improvement - Last winter, Moore opened up about his mental health struggles, including depression, experienced due to the pressure-packed nature of competing as a QB in the multi-billion dollar college football industry. Concerns are likely to follow him into the NFL since the pressure experienced at the college evel is significantly less than that received by being an NFL franchise QB. Moore deserves praise for his honesty but it may prove to be a hindrance when it comes time for an NFL team to use a top ten selection on him.

3. Julian Sayin / Ohio State

2025 Statistics

301 / 391 / 77% / 3,610 yds / 32 TD / 8 INT

42 carries / -44 yds / -1.0 avg / 0 TD

Perhaps not as athletically-gifted as Manning or Moore, Sayin may be the most advanced passer in college football with a complete package of tools to be a franchise NFL QB - excellent arm strength, refined accuracy including timing, touch, and placement, and a calm, relaxed leadership style that teammates respond well to. Sayin looks like a top ten selection in either the 2027 or 2028 NFL Draft.

Area for Improvement - Sayin appeared to hit the wall at the end of last season, "only" completing 67% of his passes for 2 TDs and 3 INTs in season ending losses to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game and in the quarterfinal loss to Miami. Sayin appeared rattled at times when pressured, made uncharacteristic misreads, and displayed some poor decision making in those two losses. Sayin will be closely scrutinized when he faces Indiana on 10/17 and Oregon on 11/7.

4. CJ Carr / Notre Dame

2025 Statistics

195 / 293 / 66.6% / 2,741 yds / 24 TD / 6 INT

41 carries / 33 yds / .8 avg / 3 TD

Carr, like Sayin, has only one year of starting experience in South Bend but the former 5-star recruit displayed the arm strength, accuracy, and leadership skills of an NFL starter. Carr struggled somewhat with his reads and progressions early last season in losses to playoff teams Miami and Texas A&M but improved significantly as the season progressed.

Area for Improvement - Carr only has 12 career starts and the best competition he faced was in his first two games, losses to Miami and Texas A&M, where he struggled. Carr should not face many significant challenges on the 2026 schedule until an October 17th road game at BYU and then home games against Miami (11/17) and SMU (11/21).

5. Sam Leavitt / LSU

2025 Statistics

145 / 239 / 60.7% / 1,628 yds / 10 TD / 3 INT

73 carries / 306 yds / 4.2 avg / 5 TD

Leavitt appeared to regress last season prior to undergoing season-ending Lisfranc surgery on his foot but he is one of the most experienced and battle-tested top QB prospects in the nation for next April's draft. Transferring into LSU from Arizona State, Leavitt has been fully cleared for training camp and is expected to make the Tigers contenders for the national title. Leavitt is a very good athlete with an NFL-quality arm, displays accuracy, timing, and touch, and is a proven leader. If Leavitt bounces back this fall, he will likely be a top 15 selection in next year's draft.

Areas for Improvement - Leavitt is entering perhaps the most pressure-packed QB job in the nation in Baton Rouge as the hiring of Lane Kiffin has ramped up expectations for the LSU football program. How Leavitt responds to these expectations will impact LSU's season and heavily influence Leavitt's draft standing next spring.

6. Jayden Maiava / USC

2025 Statistics

265 / 403 / 65.8% / 3,711 yds / 24 TD / 10 INT

54 carries / 157 yds / 2.9 avg / 6 TD

Maiava has steadily and consistently improved and has three years of starting experience, one at UNLV and the last two years in the Big Ten at USC as he has proven to have the arm strength, accuracy, athleticism, and leadership skills to be developed into a reliable, long-term NFL starter. Coach Lincoln Riley has a proven track record of developing NFL QBs and Maiava looks like the next in line. Maiava could work himself into first-round consideration with a strong senior season in LA.

Areas for Improvement - Maiava is too turnover prone after throwing 26 combined INTs over his three years as a starter, including ten thrown last season. Maiava needs to refine his decision-making and not trust his arm when checking down is the better option.

7. Darian Mensah / Miami, Fl

2025 Statistics

334 / 500 / 66.8% / 3,973 yds / 34 TD / 6 INT

59 carries / -32 yds / -.5 avg / 1 TD

Mensah enters his third different team in three seasons, previously starting at Tulane and then last year at Duke before transferring to Coral Gables for the 2026 season. Mensah will be expected to pick up where Carson Beck left off last January against Indiana in the National Championship Game. Mensah has NFL size, very good arm strength, is highly experienced in pass heavy offenses, and performs well in pressure situations. Mensah will be surrounded with the best talent that he has yet to play with this season and will be expected to elevate his performance in a similar manner to his teammates. Mensah could hear his name called within the first 32 picks next year.

Area for Improvement - Mensah needs to refine his timing and touch to bring it up to the NFL level. Mensah has never had this degree of expectations, talented teammates, or media attention that he will be engulfed by this fall. How he handles all of this will be noted by NFL talent evaluators.

8. LaNorris Sellers / South Carolina

2025 Statistics

178 / 293 / 60.8% / 2,437 yds / 13 TD / 8 INT

149 carries / 270 yds / 1.8 avg / 5 TD

Sellers is coming off a down year last season in Columbia and needs a big bounce back year to get back in the good graces of the scouting community. Sellers has premium size (listed as 6'3" / 238 lbs) and elite running skill - he is reminiscent of a young Cam Newton carrying the ball. Sellers has fantastic arm strength and can deliver every pass in the NFL route tree. Sellers is one of the best deep ball throwers in college football.

Area for Improvement - Sellers needs significant improvement in his accuracy, timing, touch, and ball placement, all of which fall below the NFL standard. Sellers needs to cut down on his interceptions - he has thrown for 15 INTs over the past two seasons as the starter.

9. Brendan Sorsby / ex-Cincinnati

2025 Statistics

207 / 336 / 61.6% / 2,800 yds / 27 TD 5 INT

100 carries / 580 yds / 5.8 avg / 9 TD

If the scouting process were just about skills and production, Sorsby would be a first-round lock. Sorsby has an excellent arm, displays NFL-quality accuracy, timing, touch, and ball placement and is a surprisingly good athlete who is a running threat outside the pocket. Sorsby is highly experienced with three-years of starting experience. Unfortunately for Sorsby, character and past behavior are also taken into account and regarding those issues, Sorsby has a HUGE red flag attached to his name.

Areas for Improvement - Decision-making. Sorsby is a gambling addict with a love of sports betting. Sorsby placed nearly 2,900 bets totaling more than $90,000 over a four-year period. His wagers included at least 40 bets on Indiana football games while he was QB for the Hoosiers in 2022! In April 1963 NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle suspended Packers RB Paul Hornung and Lions DT Alex Karras for the 1963 season after it was discovered that they bet on NFL games. Sports gambling is more socially accepted today than 60 years ago but betting on your own team seems like a step too far. Sorsby will not play football this season and will enter the 2027 NFL Draft next spring so along with decision-making, there will be a degree of rust that may hinder Sorsby's development as an NFL QB. Sorsby will be the most divisive prospect in the draft next winter.

10. John Mateer / Oklahoma

2025 Statistics

247 / 397 / 62.2% / 2,885 yds / 14 TD / 11 INT

149 carries / 431 yds / 2.9 avg / 8 TD

Mateer is a gutsy, hard-nosed team leader who is ultra-competitive and extremely tough. Mateer is a fantastic athlete who is a true threat outside the pocket. As a passer, Mateer displays the arm strength to deliver any pass in the NFL route tree - the ball arrives with good velocity.

Areas for Improvement - Mateer needs to improve his accuracy, timing, touch, and ball placement, especially on intermediate routes. Mateer need to improve how he operates from the pocket and become a more disciplined passer - he gets too easily rattled by pressure in his face. Finally, Mateer needs to refrain from forcing passes into coverage. Mateer looks like a solid mid-round, developmental prospect who could be a high-level backup QB in the NFL for a decade.

Watch List - Josh Hoover / Indiana, CJ Bailey / North Carolina State, Drew Mestemaker / Oklahoma State, Demond Williams / Washington, Byrum Brown / UCF, Gunner Stockton / Georgia, Conor Weigman / Houston, Trinidad Chambliss / Ole Miss, Nico Iamaleava / UCLA, Marcel Reed / Texas A&M, Steve Angeli / Syracuse, Beau Brungard / Youngstown State, Kevin Jennings / SMU, and Beau Pribula / Virginia.