5 2027 NFL Draft QB Prospects Capable of Jumping Into Top-10 Conversation

The excitement building for the 2027 NFL draft is largely based on the depth of the quarterback class. Decision-makers around the league have already been jockeying to position their respective franchises to benefit from a loaded group.

"The most underrated part of free agency and the least talked about, most significant thing I've heard over the last couple of weeks is how much teams are trying to hoard draft picks in 2027," ESPN's Adam Schefter said on his podcast a month prior to this year's draft. "It's amazing how when potential trades come up, oftentimes, teams are targeting picks in the draft of 2027. They are looking at that quarterback class and all the great players in next year's draft and saying, 'I want in.'

"The value of those players right now is greatly anticipated. It's going to be a quarterback deep, strong draft—which adds to the value of those picks."

Earlier in the week, we highlighted the five prospects who should be viewed as the primary candidates for next year's No. 1 overall pick. Those options included three quarterbacks: Arch Manning, Dante Moore and Darian Mensah.

With anticipation high around college football's current crop of signal-callers, more possibilities should be discussed in case someone experiences a Cam Ward-like rise through the draft cycle.

Five more will enter the conversation as potential top-10 picks if they provide strong performances this fall.

Julian Sayin, Ohio State

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When it comes to Julian Sayin, the answer to what he needs to show this fall is simply more of everything.

Sayin joined the Ohio State Buckeyes program as a 5-star recruit and the top quarterback in the 2024 class. He'll enter this season as a second-year starter, which should allow him to expand his game and provide scouts with a clearer picture of his traits and overall skill set.

As a first-year starter, Sayin played extremely well, with 3,610 passing yards and 32 touchdowns. After Ohio State's 2025 campaign, he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and second-team All-Big Ten.

From an evaluation perspective, the 6'1", 208-pound signal-caller already has a good feel for the position, particularly with surveying the field and finding an open target. He plays like a point guard on grass. However, Sayin lacks standout physical tools and really struggled when pressured by talented defenses.

"That second year for a quarterback is always huge when you're trying to take that next step," Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day said to On3's Chris Low (h/t Chase Brown of Eleven Warriors). "Julian is more mature physically and more mature mentally as a leader. He's got a good handle on what we're trying to do, and when you have experience and have played in these big games, won some of them and lost some of them, there's no substitute for that. Think about it. His first start was against Texas at home."

Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith added: "He's such a smart player and has a really good head on his shoulders. That's refreshing. We've got a veteran group coming back up front. You've got a veteran quarterback. It's not his first time starting now. He can handle a lot, and you've got a lot of explosive skill players."

Considering how talented Ohio State's roster is, Sayin must also overcome the knock that he's a product of a quarterback-friendly system who benefits from numerous outstanding offensive weapons, including Smith.

If the redshirt sophomore further develops and shows he's capable of being more than a facilitator, his draft stock will skyrocket.

CJ Carr, Notre Dame

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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish haven't had a quarterback drafted in the first round since Brady Quinn in 2007. CJ Carr should be the next after 20 years of largely underwhelming performances at the game's most important position.

Carr has legitimate tools that can truly be displayed during his second season leading the Irish offense.

The 6'2", 215-pound sophomore redshirted in 2024 before taking the reins and immediately posted similar statistics (66.6 completion percentage, 2,741 yards and 24 passing touchdowns) as the upperclassmen, Riley Leonard and Sam Hartman, who preceded him. Carr's breakout year now gives him an opportunity to build and show improvement over the course of the 2026 campaign.

Carr shows good eyes and decisiveness when he drops back to pass. His mechanics are sound. He anticipates throws and layers them between levels. The 20-year-old is also athletic and able to extend plays, though he can improve his decision-making when he works outside of structure.

Furthermore, Carr enters a season where he no longer has the luxury of handing the ball to either Jeremiyah Love or Jadarian Price, both of whom turned into first-round selections. Opponents will have an opportunity to pin their ears back and get after Carr far more than they did in 2025. How the underclassman responds to the added pressure will be a huge indicator of his draft status for next April.

Jayden Maiava, USC

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Lincoln Riley used to be viewed as a kingmaker among quarterback developers after turning Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray and Caleb Williams into high draft picks, with three being No. 1 overall selections. However, his latest protege, Jayden Maiava, appears to be overshadowed among the 2027 crop despite displaying enough ability to become a high first-round selection.

It's not like Maiava didn't play well last season. The USC quarterback led the Big Ten Conference with 3,711 passing yards and earned a Third-Team All-Conference recognition in a league that featured the Heisman Trophy winner and Sayin.

Maiava is the oldest quarterback on this list with extensive film between his two stops at UNLV and USC over the last two seasons. The fifth-year senior likely doesn't have the same ceiling as those already discussed, but this shouldn't be viewed as a slight. Maiava is plenty talented.

The 6'4", 225-pound prospect is adept at working from a clean pocket, with the type of pocket presence and movement needed to give himself quality windows on a consistent basis, even when pressured. His creativity as a passer when forced out of the pocket is impressive as well. Furthermore, Maiava is not afraid of tight-window throws or layering passes at all three levels. As a result, he ranked among the top 10 quarterbacks last season with 27 big-time throws, according to Pro Football Focus.

A couple of areas must be cleaned up: lower-body mechanics and willingness to attempt turnover-worthy throws. Improvement with the first can help with the second. Still, increased efficiency during his final season on campus will place Maiava where he belongs, as a legitimate option among a top-heavy positional class.

LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

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LaNorris Sellers has the physical makeup to be a runaway No. 1 overall pick, but the 20-year-old prospect requires continued refinement to warrant said status.

The promise of improvement is baked into every long-term projection. In Sellers' case, his upside is nearly limitless. Yet he didn't deliver on that potential a season ago. In fact, the 2024 Freshman All-American regressed.

From a size and athleticism standpoint, no one among this year's or next year's class stacks up with Sellers. He's a 6'3", 240-pound freight train in the open field and displays a huge arm when working from the pocket.

However, the redshirt junior's immense physical ability needs to be properly harnessed and refined. Sellers' creativity as a runner and playmaking ability outside of the pocket are special traits. When the underclassman sees an available target and stays tight with his mechanics, he fires lasers. Unfortunately, Sellers' passes are sprayed across the field far too often, especially if he is asked to work beyond his initial read. Last season, Sellers completed less than 60 percent of his passes in half of his outings.

To be fair, the quarterback could benefit from improved protection from the Gamecocks' front five. Plus, the play-calling of new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles should jolt South Carolina's offense after spending the last three seasons with the TCU Horned Frogs.

The give-and-take found within Sellers' game earmarks him as a developmental option with first-round potential. He needs a bounce-back year with marked improvement to establish himself as a legitimate top-10 option.

Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State

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Drew Mestemaker has the potential to experience the biggest rise of anyone in the 2027 class, regardless of position. The former walk-on emerged as the nation's passing leader during his first year as a collegiate starter. Mestemaker followed his head coach from North Texas to Oklahoma State this offseason, where he can have a Fernando Mendoza-like impact on the Cowboys' program.

The reigning Bulsworth Trophy winner (most outstanding college football player who began as a walk-on) threw at Oklahoma State's Pro Day this year and caught the attention of scouts. His natural arm talent is hard to ignore, even if it was for some time.

Mestemaker was never a starting quarterback at the prep level. Instead, he was forced to focus on playing safety and punting. The 0-star recruit persevered in his pursuit of being a collegiate quarterback. He eventually joined the Mean Green, found himself in the starting lineup during his redshirt freshman season and flourished as the triggerman in Eric Morris' high-flying offense.

The reigning American Conference Player of the Year has a quick release, excellent touch in the short-to-intermediate areas and the ability to throw accurately on the run. Mestemaker now needs to prove he can be the same quarterback for a second straight season against higher-level competition.

"Just a growth mindset," Morris told reporters about his quarterback's priorities. "Here's a kid that, when you look at it, he didn't play football at all in high school at the position he's playing right now … And although you had so much success last year, I think he's still in such a growth phase of his life."

"Obviously, the speed of the game is going to be a little bit faster playing P4 football. And being able to adjust to the speed of the game and realize how much faster he has to get some balls out, anticipate a little bit more, how much tighter some of the man coverage stuff is going to be."

Despite an unorthodox start to his collegiate career, everyone will likely know Mestemaker's name by the end of the 2026 season.