NFL Insiders Sound Off on Potentially 'Historic' 2027 Draft Class With Arch Manning, More

While the 2026 NFL draft is seemingly short on elite quarterback prospects, next year's class could prove to be the complete opposite.

According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, there was no team that "showed significant interest" in trading a 2027 first-round pick over the first two days of the 2026 NFL draft, which speaks to how teams view next year's class.

An anonymous NFL team executive told Howe, "People are definitely holding on to those (first-rounders) because it could be an historic QB class."

Texas' Arch Manning, Oregon's Dante Moore, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers and Ohio State's Julian Sayin are all in line to potentially be part of the 2027 draft class, and any of them could be in line to be top-five picks depending on how they perform during the 2026 season.

Manning, Moore and Sellers all had the opportunity to enter this year's draft, but when they chose to return to college for another year, it elevated Indiana's Fernando Mendoza to the No. 1 overall pick and Alabama's Ty Simpson to No. 13.

Picking Arch Manning's Best Game

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While the talent of the possible 2027 quarterback class is undeniable, not everyone in the NFL is convinced it will be as strong as some currently believe.

An anonymous coach told Howe, "I think the ability of that class remains to be seen. This past class was hyped extensively, and it didn't turn out that way."

With regard to the hype for the 2027 QB class, a scout added, "People say that every year. You never know how next season plays out. All those QBs are 'ifs.'"

While the Raiders are hopeful Mendoza will be their new franchise quarterback, other QB-needy teams passed on Simpson, allowing the Los Angeles Rams to take him as the heir apparent to Matthew Stafford.

The teams that passed on Simpson seemingly did so with an eye toward the 2027 class, as the likes of the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins could all be in the market for a quarterback.