2027 NFL Mock Draft Where QBs Comprise Top-5 Picks

Move over, Jeremiah Smith. The Ohio State wide receiver may actually reach "generational" status as the No. 1 prospect in the 2027 draft class, but the incoming crop of talent will be defined by what's believed to be an all-time group of quarterbacks.

The NFL is gearing up for next April's event based on the belief that numerous signal-callers will be worthy of first-round pick consideration, with a number getting top-10 hype.

Nearly a year ahead of time, the idea that each of the top-five picks could turn into a quarterback doesn't just feel possible; it may even be likely.

Obviously, so much will play out over the next 11 months. The draft stock of certain prospects will vacillate. Specific NFL franchises must align properly. Even so, a universe exists where everything falls into place and professional football sees five quarterbacks taken among the first five picks for the first time in league history.

[Editor's Note: The top-five projection is based on reverse FanDuel Super Bowl odds, with the Atlanta Falcons having the seventh-longest odds after being switched out for the Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders.]

1. Miami Dolphins: QB Darian Mensah, Miami

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Darian Mensah's name atop the 2027 class may come as a surprise, even for diehard college football fans.

Those who watched him closely saw the former Duke Blue Devil elevate a program and provide some of the nation's best quarterback play despite an inferior supporting cast.

An opportunity exists after joining the Miami Hurricanes to elevate his individual status to the point where the conversation as a future No. 1 overall pick is no longer surprising.

Mensah finished the 2025 on a high note. He posted a 76.5 Total QBR, 65.5 completion percentage, 7.4 yards per attempt, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions after Oct. 1, according to ESPN's David Hale. He was deadly against the blitz, with 20 touchdown passes and no interceptions. His 12 games with two or more scoring tosses led all Power Four quarterbacks. He didn't throw an interception in the red zone, either.

The 21-year-old needs to protect the football after eight fumbles last season and improve his overall pocket movement. Otherwise, he's been outstanding at two different stops between Tulane and Duke. At Miami, he joins a program that made an appearance in the National Championship Game last season.

For the Miami Dolphins, Malik Willis gets a one-year tryout. His contract is structured in a way where the organization can release him in 2027 with a June 1 designation and not take on extra dead-cap space, per Over the Cap.

Furthermore, the Dolphins simply can't pass on an elite quarterback prospect if the team does land next year's No. 1 overall pick.

2. New York Jets: QB Arch Manning, Texas

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Another Manning lands with a New York franchise, albeit with the Jets in this particular case. Arguments can be made whether Arch Manning is deserving of top consideration, but the growth he showed during his first full season as a starter at Texas implies his ascension will continue into upper echelon status.

During the Longhorns' final eight games of the 2025 campaign, when the team managed a 7-1 record, Manning completed 62.1 percent of his passes with 15-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also ran for 155 yards and contributed four total touchdowns in Texas' Citrus Bowl victory over the Michigan Wolverines, to subsequently be named the game's MVP.

Manning is a natural thrower from multiple arm slots, who has the type of athleticism and playmaking ability as a runner that harkens back to his grandfather's game. He's also very different when compared to his uncles, because the latest Manning isn't fundamentally sound. Too often throws miss due to sloppy footwork and mechanics. The 22-year-old's growth potential is gargantuan if he becomes more consistent with his technique, working from a solid base from the ground up through his release.

The Jets organization should be salivating over the possibility to not just land a top-shelf quarterback prospect but Manning specifically. Owner Woody Johnson is known for wanting to make splashes and the organization can't acquire a bigger name or more high-profile option to play in the country's biggest market. With two more first-round picks in the team's back pocket without needing to trade up, this setup is the Jets' best-case scenario.

3. Arizona Cardinals: QB Dante Moore, Oregon

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The Arizona Cardinals and Jacoby Brissett find themselves at an impasse as the team's expected starting quarterback, because the latter wants a reworked deal for this season.

"A source told ESPN that the two sides are 'significantly' far apart," Josh Weinfuss reported.

In truth, the Cardinals don't have any incentive to appease Brissett since he's only a bridge either to Carson Beck when the third-round rookie eventually starts a game this fall or whichever quarterback the Cardinals draft next year. Arizona could just as easily open the 2026 campaign with Gardner Minshew II as its QB1.

Beck may have an opening in front of him, but the odds favor the Cardinals getting their next franchise option in next year's first rounder.

In this particular case, Oregon's Dante Moore is the preferred choice, though his profile is something of a paradox. Obviously, the Ducks' starter is a smooth operator when working on time and in rhythm. In those cases, he's going to deliver the ball accurately and pick apart defenses, particularly against man coverage.

The issue remains how he performs when structure breaks down, particularly against talented defenses. Moore feasted on lower rungs of Oregon's competition in 2025. However, he struggled against the majority of Big Ten opponents. Excluding Rutgers, the third-team all-conference performer posted a 71.4 Total QBR, 6.6 yards per dropback, 13 touchdowns and nine turnovers when facing the rest of league.

For someone like Moore, who's often lauded because of his maturity and poise, he needs to perform better in big moments against top competition. That's where he can take the biggest step this fall and secure himself as an elite option in what looks to be a loaded positional class.

4. Cleveland Browns: QB Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State

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Todd Monken could put his stamp on the Cleveland Browns by drafting his preferred quarterback if/when the team doesn't succeed with Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson behind center.

Since this scenario has Cleveland sitting among the top four picks, the Browns didn't have a quality 2026 campaign.

Monken is a chameleon as a play-caller thanks to a level of adaptability that's led him from being a Division III quarterback all the way to an NFL head coach. But he made his bones at Oklahoma State under Mike Gundy thanks to a prolific vertical passing attack.

Obviously, Monken adapted his style when working with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns could go with someone like South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, who presents enormous physical upside. However, the franchise is ready to win sooner rather than later, and quarterback has continually been the biggest missing piece.

Drew Mestemaker should put up massive numbers again this fall after following his head coach Eric Morris from North Texas to Oklahoma State. Mestemaker led the FBS last season with 4,379 passing yards and an average of 9.5 yards per pass attempt.

Mestemaker is still evolving and learning the quarterback position after not starting at the high school level. The former walk-on now gets to face a significant bump in competition. His arm talent should remain obvious, while he continues to grow and post huge numbers. He can be the exact type of gunslinger to thrive under Monken's supervision.

5. Atlanta Falcons: QB CJ Carr, Notre Dame

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The Atlanta Falcons find themselves in a predicament of their own making, because the previous regime tried to outsmart the rest of the league only to see their quarterback succession plan implode.

Now, the organization sits at a crossroads where a recent top-10 pick may not even start this fall, while hoping another first-round disappointment can revitalize his career.

The Falcons are loaded with offensive skill talent and have been for multiple years. Kirk Cousins wasn't the stabilizing force the team thought the veteran could be, and Michael Penix Jr. remains the same quarterback he was at Washington.

With Penix and the offseason pickup of Tua Tagovailoa, the team isn't tied to either for the long term. If one works out, that's great. If the team finds itself among the Top 10 for the fifth time in the last seven years, it will be searching for a long-term answer at the game's most important position. The Falcons will do so with the intention of pairing the incoming QB with head coach/offensive play-caller Kevin Stefanski.

Carr may be coming off his first season as a starter, but he already showed that he can efficiently operate an offense and keep it ahead of the chains. He's also a natural thrower, who spins the ball well, even when pressured.

"No returning QB was blitzed at a higher rate in 2025 than Carr (36.7 percent of dropbacks)," Hale noted. "It didn't seem to bother him, as he completed 65 percent of his throws with 14 touchdowns and two picks when facing five or more pass-rushers. Still, defenses had few other options. When they didn't blitz, Carr averaged 9.4 yards per dropback, the best rate in the country."

For Carr, his biggest obstacle is proving he can operate at a relatively high level without having the nation's top two running backs in the same backfield. His ability to carry Notre Dame's offense to some degree will only inflate his draft value.