Mel Kiper Jr. Makes Bold Quarterback Prediction for 2027 NFL Draft
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Mel Kiper Jr. set the stage for a hyped quarterback class to dominate the 2027 NFL Draft.
Two quarterbacks have gone in the first round of each of the last two drafts after six went among the first 12 picks in 2024. Next year's opening night could return to a busy start under center.
Kiper predicted that five quarterbacks will get drafted in next year's first round. The ESPN draft guru can even see a higher tally.
"The 2026 group fizzled, but the excitement around the 2027 class seems real," Kiper wrote. "That's at least in part because a handful of the quarterbacks we thought might come out in 2026 decided to stay in college for another go-around after it was clear they needed more experience and to refine some parts of their games. That means more prepared passers and less projection in 2027. And I'll go out on a limb and say we get five -- maybe even six -- quarterbacks in Round 1 next April."
Kiper identified Oregon's Dante Moore and Texas's Arch Manning as potential No. 1 overall picks. After that, he's "most sold" on Notre Dame's CJ Carr, Miami's Darian Mensah, and USC's Jayden Maiava as first-round selections. However, those aren't the only college prospects with a chance.
Kiper named several other "maybe" candidates. He compared Ohio State's Julian Sayin to Brock Purdy and is intrigued by Drew Mestemaker entering the 20-year-old's first season at Oklahoma State. Kiper can also see Sam Leavitt joining the discussion with a strong season at LSU but wondered whether NFL teams would be scared off by Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss turning 25 before the draft.
"There's probably a dozen guys who could get into Round 1, but that doesn't mean anything unless some of these QBs actually perform," Kiper noted. "It's probably going to be five first-round quarterbacks when it's all said and done, but I'll leave the door open for someone to rise."
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