The 2026 NFL Draft class has been tabbed as one of the weaker draft classes in recent memory. There are still some very good players in it, don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t have the depth or top-end talent we usually see, especially at premium positions like quarterback and edge rusher.
The 2027 class, however, is supposed to be one of the better draft classes in recent memory. But you have to remember, people were saying that about 2026 – particularly with the quarterbacks – and look how that turned out.
Still, it’s hard to deny that the top-end talent in 2027 isn’t much better than in 2026. So to test that theory, we’re going to take a look at some of the top players in next year’s draft and try to get an idea of where they would go if they were in the 2026 draft class.
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Before Dante Moore announced he would be returning to Oregon in 2026, there was a real debate over who the first overall pick in this draft class would be. Many believed it would be Fernando Mendoza, but Moore had a lot of fans in draft circles. I still think Mendoza would’ve gone first overall, but Moore was essentially a lock to end up being the second pick in the draft had he entered it.
You can speculate on whether or not Moore returned to college to avoid going to the New York Jets, but it’s safe to assume that had he entered the draft, he would be a Jet in a little more than two weeks. Now, he takes the risk of playing poorly and falling out of the top-five. But if he plays well, he could be the No. 1 overall pick next year. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out, but I don’t think he would make it past the second pick if he were in the draft this year.
Verdict: Top-2
Most Likely Landing Spot: New York Jets
Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Arch Manning didn’t have a great start to the 2025 season, but he actually ended the year playing some really good football. Over his final six games, Manning threw for 1,714 yards (285 per game), 14 touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing for 206 yards (34.3 per game) and five scores. He didn’t do enough to feel comfortable entering the draft this year, but if he can play the entire year like he finished last season, he could be the first overall pick in 2026.
If the 2027 class was included in this year’s crop, I think Manning would be the QB3 behind Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore. But I don’t think he’s clearly behind Moore. Again, he showed a lot of promise down the stretch, and his name value along could propel him above Moore. Still, I’d say he’d probably go third to Arizona.
Verdict: Top-3
Most Likely Landing Spot: Arizona Cardinals
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Carnell Tate was Ohio State’s WR2 last season and could go in the top-10 this year. Can you imagine how high Jeremiah Smith would go if he were in this class? If Smith were in this draft class, he would be the No. 1 player on the board, but with three really good quarterbacks, he’d probably come off the board fourth overall to the Tennessee Titans. I mean, the kid already has 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns in just two seasons.
The Titans have a rising star in Cam Ward under center, but they need to get him some weapons on the outside. They already added Wan’Dale Robinson, but they need a dominant outside wideout like Smith. If Tennessee had the option to draft Smith this year, but wouldn’t get him until 2027, I still think they’d use the fourth overall pick on him.
Verdict: Top-4
Most Likely Landing Spot: Tennessee Titans
Cam Coleman, WR, Texas
Cam Coleman’s talent has been evident ever since he stepped on the field as a true freshman at Auburn. Through two seasons with the Tigers, Coleman’s been their top target, catching 93 passes for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns, but he’s never had great quarterback play. Now, he’s transferring to Texas to pair up with Arch Manning, and expectations are through the roof for the former five-star recruit.
If Coleman were in this draft class, he might be the WR2 behind Jeremiah Smith. I think it would be close between him and Carnell Tate, but I wouldn’t be surprised if someone bet on his upside over Tate’s. In fact, if I were a team picking, I’d probably take him over Tate, and there are a lot of teams in the 7-10 range that could use receiver help.
Verdict: Top-10
Most Likely Landing Spot: New Orleans Saints
Colin Simmons, DE, Texas
Colin Simmons was a five-star for a reason. In his first year in college, Simmons played 181 pass rush snaps, and still finished the year with 46 pressures and nine sacks in the SEC. Do you know how insane that is for a freshman? He then followed that up with a 59-pressure, 12-sack sophomore campaign where he finished with one sack in each of his final five games. If he were in this draft class, I still think David Bailey would be the top defensive end, but with Rueben Bain’s arm length concerns, Simmons could beat him out for DE2.
Verdict: Top-10
Most Likely Landing Spot: Kansas City Chiefs
Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
Jordan Seaton is viewed as one of the top offensive tackles in the draft next year. He played two seasons at Colorado, where he was an excellent pass blocker, giving up two sacks and seven pressures in 2025. Now, he moves to LSU to help protect Sam Leavitt and test his skills against some of the best edge rushers in college football in the SEC.
Verdict: Top-12
Most Likely Landing Spot: Miami Dolphins
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State
Julian Sayin was a Heisman finalist in his first season as a starter while completing 77 percent of his throws for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns with eight interceptions. That’s pretty damn impressive. He’s not the biggest guy in the world, isn’t very mobile and doesn’t have the biggest arm, but he’s smart and accurate with the football.
If Sayin was in this combined draft class, I think he’d be the consensus QB4. He’s not as good as Mendoza, Moore and Manning, but he’s clearly better than the Trinidad Chambliss and Ty Simpson crowd. He could maybe go to Cleveland at No. 6, but Miami at No. 11 or Los Angeles at No. 13 seem much more plausible.
Verdict: Top-15
Most Likely Landing Spot: Miami Dolphins
Dylan Stewart, DE, South Carolina
Dylan Stewart has a ton of potential. He’s one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the SEC, but he had a pretty disappointing sophomore season. In 2024, he was great, logging 51 pressures and 6.5 sacks, but those numbers dropped to 37 pressures and 4.5 sacks in his sophomore year. Granted, his team wasn’t very good, but he still fell off.
Regardless, his potential is through the roof. He’s 6-foot-5, 245 pounds and is a tremendous athlete. If South Carolina is improved this year, he should be much better than he was in 2025 and should be a first round pick next April. If he were in this draft class, I think he’d be in the same tier as Akheem Mesidor, but given his age, he’d probably come off the board first. No. 15 to Tampa Bay would probably be his ceiling, but it’s hard to see him getting past Dallas at No. 20.
Verdict: Top-20
Most Likely Landing Spot: Dallas Cowboys
Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
Leonard Moore has been everything the Notre Dame Fighting Irish could have wanted and more. In his first two seasons with the Irish, Moore has played 801 coverage snaps and has given up a 50 percent completion rate, 494 yards and five touchdowns while picking off seven passes and breaking up 14 more on 104 targets. He’s being targeted once every eight coverage snaps, and he’s held his own.
Moore wouldn’t be ahead of Mansoor Delane or Jermod McCoy, but there would be a case to be made for him being above Avieon Terrell in this draft class. Depending on how the board fell, he could go as early as No. 12 to Dallas or, ironically, as late as No. 20 to Dallas. There are a few teams in between, such as Tampa Bay, Detroit, Minnesota and Carolina, who could also use CB help.
Verdict: Top-20
Most Likely Landing Spot: Minnesota Vikings
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
Trinidad Chambliss went from a DII quarterback to one of the hottest names in college football in one season. In 2025, he was spectacular, throwing for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns and three picks with 527 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He led Ole Miss to the Semifinals and was set to hit the draft, but after a legal battle with the NCAA, he’s returning to Ole Miss in 2026.
If Chambliss was in this draft class, I think he and Ty Simpson would be fighting for that QB5 spot. They’d both be borderline first rounders, but I think Chambliss would probably end up going on day one. Teams love to get fifth-year options on quarterbacks, and there are teams like Pittsburgh and Cleveland picking in the 20s and plenty of teams picking early on day two that could move back into the first round for someone like Chambliss.
Verdict: First Round
Most Likely Landing Spot: Pittsburgh Steelers
