2027 NFL Mock Draft 2.0
Draft order is based on current standings, courtesy of Tankathon.
Houston Texans
Jeremiah Smith
WR 
Ohio State
C.J. Stroud has been playing well, but the Texans have learned the hard way how thin their receiving corps is without Nico Collins. When Collins missed time this season, Houston’s passing offense lost its anchor and the offense stalled. Smith is the most dynamic receiver in this class and one of the cleanest prospects at the position in recent memory. A complementary piece of that caliber would be transformative for an offense that has shown real upside when healthy but has no margin for error when its best receiver is unavailable.
Tennessee Titans
Colin Simmons
EDGE 
Texas
Cam Ward has had two rough seasons, but Tennessee is not blowing up a quarterback investment after two years — the new stadium opens in 2027 and the front office is committed to making it work. What the Titans need is pass rush. They have been missing a plus edge rusher since Harold Landry departed, and Jermaine Johnson II is in the final year of his deal. Simmons gives Tennessee the piece they have been waiting for. Paired alongside 2026 first-round pick Keldric Faulk, the Titans suddenly have a young, high-ceiling edge duo to build their defense around for years to come.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Leonard Moore
CB 
Notre Dame
Tampa Bay extended Baker Mayfield just before the season started, and buyer’s remorse set in almost immediately — he played poorly before getting injured, and the extension has not even kicked in yet. Drafting a quarterback here would be a sunk cost on top of a sunk cost. What the Buccaneers need is secondary help, and Moore is a long, press-capable corner who can be a genuine No. 1 in Todd Bowles’ defense. Getting the secondary right is something Tampa Bay can actually control while the quarterback situation sorts itself out.
Los Angeles Chargers
Cam Coleman
WR Texas
Justin Herbert’s contract makes a quarterback pick a non-starter regardless of how the season has gone. The Chargers are in the market for weapons — both Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston are in the final year of their contracts in 2027, and Los Angeles cannot bank on retaining both. Coleman transfers straight from catching passes alongside Arch Manning at Texas into a situation with Herbert and immediate opportunity. He is a contested catch specialist with size, leaping ability, and the route running to be a genuine No. 1.
Miami Dolphins
Arch Manning
QB Texas
Manning slides to five not because of questions about his talent, but because the four teams ahead of Miami had more pressing needs than quarterback. Malik Willis was always a bridge solution, and a class this deep at the position gives the Dolphins every reason to commit. The nepotism narrative had real oxygen early in the season when Manning was inconsistent, but anyone still making that argument by December wasn’t watching the tape. He became significantly more decisive and more accurate as the year progressed, and the ceiling is everything that was advertised. Miami finally gets its franchise quarterback.
New York Jets
Dante Moore
QB 
Oregon
The Jets watched Manning go one pick earlier and do not flinch. Aaron Glenn has been building toward this moment since he traded away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams for picks, and Moore is a more than worthy consolation prize. Geno Smith is not a long-term answer at 36, and Moore — with the pro-ready tools and the arm talent to run a complex NFL offense — steps in as the face of the franchise. New York still has picks at No. 11 and No. 12 to keep building around him.
New Orleans Saints
Dylan Stewart
EDGE 
South Carolina
The Saints are watching Cameron Jordan’s career wind down and have not identified the next foundational pass rusher to anchor their defense. Stewart is the kind of high-motor edge rusher who can step into that role — he does not need to be Jordan to be an impact player, he just needs to be a consistent presence off the edge in an NFC South that is becoming increasingly pass-heavy. His sack celebrations have drawn some attention, but that is a far cry from a character concern. New Orleans uses this pick to address one of their most glaring long-term needs.
Washington Commanders
Charlie Becker
WR 
Indiana
The Commanders have built something real offensively, but the receiver room is aging. Stefon Diggs signed just a month before the season at 32, and Terry McLaurin is 31 — Washington cannot count on either as a long-term building block. Becker is a versatile receiver who creates mismatches in the short and intermediate game and gives the Commanders a young complementary weapon they can develop alongside whoever is on the roster when those veteran deals run out.
Arizona Cardinals
Darian Mensah
QB 
Miami (FL)
Jacoby Brissett is the Cardinals’ starter and has not given Arizona any reason to feel good about it. Rookie Carson Beck is on the roster but is an unknown quantity at this level — he does not take the team out of quarterback draft consideration. There is also an argument that Mensah is the first quarterback taken in this class given his résumé and what he has done at Miami. Either way, Arizona lands a franchise quarterback with something to prove. But Mensah is a legitimate consolation prize. He led Duke to the ACC Championship in 2025 — throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 34 touchdowns — before a transfer saga that triggered a legal battle with his former school ended with him landing at Miami. Through four games with the Hurricanes this season, he is 4-0 with a 228.0 passer rating. The questions about how his game translates from system to system have been answered. Arizona gets a franchise quarterback with a track record of producing at every stop.
Cincinnati Bengals
Trevor Goosby
OT Texas
Protecting Joe Burrow has been the Bengals’ white whale since he arrived. The offensive line has improved but remains a concern, particularly at tackle where injuries have been a recurring theme. Goosby is a long, athletic tackle who projects best on the right side, where Cincinnati has had the most durability problems. Offensive line investment is rarely the flashiest pick, but it is frequently the most important one.
New York Jets
(via IND)
Will Echoles
DL 
Ole Miss
The Jets acquired this pick in the Sauce Gardner trade and used their own first-rounder on a quarterback. Now they turn to the defensive line, which has needed young contributors who can generate interior pressure. Echoles is a disruptive interior presence who can create problems as a pass rusher from the inside. New York has invested heavily on the offensive side of the ball — both tackles, two wide receivers, a tight end, and Breece Hall’s extension — and now uses this pick to shore up the front.
New York Jets
(via DAL)
Ellis Robinson IV
CB 
Georgia
The Jets acquired this pick as part of the Quinnen Williams trade — the earliest of the two first-rounders Dallas owned. New York sent Sauce Gardner away and immediately uses a third first-round pick to begin replacing him in the secondary. Robinson is a long, press-capable corner who can grow into that kind of role. The Jets have invested first-round picks on both tackles, two wide receivers, and a tight end — plus extending Breece Hall — to build around the offense. Now they use consecutive picks to rebuild a secondary that lost one of its anchors.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Trinidad Chambliss
QB Ole Miss
Aaron Rodgers has announced this is his final NFL season, which means the Steelers cannot keep kicking the quarterback can down the road. Chambliss is the most compelling story in this class — a zero-star recruit who went to Ferris State, won a D-II national championship, transferred to Ole Miss, and inserted himself into first-round conversations with a standout game against LSU. His size at approximately 5-11 is a legitimate concern, and at 24 he will be older than most rookies before he takes an NFL snap. But he has a quick release, genuine dual-threat ability, and elite improvisation when plays break down. Pittsburgh develops him behind Rodgers this season before handing him the keys.
Dallas Cowboys
(via GB)
Jordan Seaton
OT 
LSU
Tyler Guyton is entrenched at left tackle, and Dallas is looking to upgrade at right tackle. Seaton is a developmental tackle with the athleticism to project to either side long-term — getting a player of his caliber at 14 is the kind of offensive line investment that pays off over years, not weeks. The Cowboys do not have another first-round pick to spend on this, so getting it right here matters.
Detroit Lions
Ashton Hampton
CB 
Clemson
Detroit missed the playoffs last year and is looking to recapture what made them one of the NFC’s best defenses. The cornerback room is a place where the Lions have needed to add youth, and Hampton was identified by Mel Kiper as one of the breakout sleeper prospects heading into the 2026 season. He has the athleticism and physicality to develop into a starting corner in a defense that demands discipline and toughness in coverage. The Lions do not need to overhaul — they need to sharpen.
Philadelphia Eagles
Kade Pieper
IOL 
Iowa
The Eagles have leaned on veteran interior linemen for years and need to start planning for the next wave. Philadelphia’s offensive line identity is the backbone of what they do on offense, and IOL is a position where they cannot afford to let the depth erode. Pieper was named a sleeper prospect by Mel Kiper heading into the season — an Iowa interior lineman who fits the mold of what Philadelphia looks for: technically sound, physically ready, and capable of contributing early.
Atlanta Falcons
David Stone
DL 
Oklahoma
Atlanta’s defense has underperformed up front, and the Falcons cannot keep relying on veteran depth to generate consistent pressure. Stone gives them a high-motor interior disruptor who can move the pocket from the inside — interior pressure is often the missing ingredient on defenses that look good on paper but underperform on third down. He gives Atlanta a building block on the defensive line without requiring a scheme change.
Denver Broncos
Trey’Dez Green
TE LSU
Denver has invested heavily in the offensive line and the skill positions around Bo Nix, but tight end remains a real gap. A receiving tight end who can work the seam and the intermediate middle of the field would open up the entire offense for Nix, who has shown the ability to go through his progressions and find open targets when they are there. Green gives the Broncos a chess piece they have been missing — a weapon that defenses cannot ignore when he lines up in the slot.
Carolina Panthers
Jamari Johnson
TE Oregon
Carolina made the playoffs last year and is building on that momentum. The Panthers signed Darren Waller just before the season started to fill their tight end need, but banking on him as a long-term answer carries risk. Johnson is a converted athlete with speed and route savvy who can line up in the slot or inline — a younger, more durable option who keeps defenses from concentrating resources against Jaycee Horn’s side of the field.
New England Patriots
Yhonzae Pierre
EDGE 
Alabama
New England went to the Super Bowl in 2025 and the front office is not standing pat. Pierre is one of the more interesting prospects in this class — he posted 14.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks in 2025 and has continued to build on that as part of an Alabama defense that is 4-0. At 6-3 and 248 pounds with a speed-to-power rush profile, he has the tools to develop into a legitimate starting edge at the NFL level. His run defense will need refinement, but the Patriots have the coaching infrastructure to develop pass rushers who need work in that area.
Cleveland Browns
(via LAR)
CJ Carr
QB Notre Dame
Cleveland received this pick from the Rams as part of the Myles Garrett trade, and it arrives at an interesting moment for the Browns’ quarterback situation. Watson has played better after a rough Week 1 and is giving Cleveland some pause, but he is also in the final year of his contract and there is a long season ahead. The Browns cannot afford to wait on a quarterback answer indefinitely. Carr’s pedigree as the grandson of Bob Carr gives him a football IQ worth investing in, and Cleveland uses their own pick at 22 to keep building the roster around him.
Cleveland Browns
A’Mauri Washington
DL Oregon
With the quarterback need addressed one pick earlier, Cleveland uses their own selection to bolster the defensive line. Trading away Myles Garrett — one of the most dominant defensive players in the league — left a massive hole in the Cleveland front. Jared Verse helps, but the Browns need to keep adding talent up front. Washington is a versatile interior presence who can be a three-down player, and getting two first-round picks in the same draft cycle gives Cleveland a genuine chance to rebuild both sides of the ball.
Las Vegas Raiders
Kelley Jones
CB 
Mississippi State
The Raiders’ secondary has been a weak point for two seasons and the cornerback room remains a liability. Adding a zone-savvy corner who can develop into a reliable starter is the right move at this stage of the draft regardless of where the offense stands. Jones has the instincts and anticipation to hold up against the AFC West’s pass-heavy offenses and gives Las Vegas a genuine long-term building block in the back end.
Seattle Seahawks
Greg Johnson
IOL 
Minnesota
Seattle has made real strides on offense but the interior offensive line needs to get younger. The Seahawks’ run game is central to what Mike Macdonald wants to do on offense, and keeping the interior of the line healthy and productive is a prerequisite for that working. Johnson is a technically sound interior lineman who can contribute early in pass protection and develop into a run-game anchor as the roster continues to be built around him.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jadan Baugh
RB 
Florida
Jacksonville has shown offensive potential but has not had a reliable between-the-tackles runner to take pressure off their quarterback and control the clock. Baugh was named a sleeper prospect by Mel Kiper heading into the season and has backed it up — a physical, downhill runner with the receiving ability to be a three-down back. The Jaguars have needed a genuine backfield anchor, and Baugh fits the profile of what this offense has been missing.
Buffalo Bills
KJ Bolden
S Georgia
Buffalo is in win-now mode but cannot ignore the depth and youth needed to sustain a contending roster over a multi-year window. The safety room needs a long-term answer, and Bolden is a rangy, high-football-IQ player who was making plays all over the Georgia secondary — including against Trinidad Chambliss in the College Football Playoff. He is comfortable in coverage and can come down and play against the run, exactly what a Bills defense built around physicality and discipline demands.
New York Giants
Justin Scott
DL Miami (FL)
The Giants have invested on offense and now need to shore up the defensive line. The defense has been a work in progress and interior pressure is the area that has been most inconsistent. Scott gives New York a disruptive interior presence who can help collapse the pocket — pressure from the inside is what unlocks the rest of a secondary scheme, and the Giants have needed that piece for two seasons.
Chicago Bears
Trevor Lauck
OT Iowa
The Bears have made real strides on offense under their young quarterback, but Braxton Jones was signed to only a one-year deal and Chicago needs a long-term blindside protector. Protecting their quarterback investment is the most important task in front of this organization, and Lauck gives them exactly that — Iowa has a track record of producing NFL-ready offensive linemen, and he fits the mold of what Chicago needs on the left side: physically ready and technically sound with room to grow.
Baltimore Ravens
Zabien Brown
CB Alabama
Baltimore’s secondary needs to plan for the future. Marlon Humphrey and Chidobe Awuzie are both over 30, and the Ravens need a long-term cornerback to develop alongside Nate Wiggins. Brown is a long, physical corner who has been one of the most projected first-round cornerbacks in this class all year — he fits the Ravens’ press-heavy scheme and gives Baltimore the young corner they have been missing at the top of their depth chart. Getting him at 29 in a draft where corners were taken early is outstanding value.
Minnesota Vikings
Drew Mestermaker
QB 
Oklahoma State
J.J. McCarthy was traded, Kyler Murray is on a one-year deal, and Minnesota does not have the luxury of waiting another season to address its quarterback situation. If Murray walks in the offseason, the cupboard is bare. Mestermaker gives the Vikings a developmental option with the arm talent to run a complex offense — and if Murray re-signs, they have the runway to bring him along before handing him the job.
Kansas City Chiefs
Nick Marsh
WR Indiana
Xavier Worty has not lived up to expectations, and the Chiefs need a reliable weapon for Patrick Mahomes at receiver. Marsh is a precision route runner who tested well athletically and shows up in contested-catch situations — a sure-handed complementary piece who gives Mahomes another dependable option when the big play is not there. Getting that kind of Mahomes-friendly weapon on a rookie deal this late in the first round is exactly how Kansas City has sustained this dynasty.
San Francisco 49ers
KJ Duff
WR 
Rutgers
KJ Duff turned down bigger NIL offers elsewhere to stay at Rutgers and finish what he started under Greg Schiano, and that decision has only elevated his stock. At 6-6 and 225 pounds, he leads college football with 22 contested catches this season and is averaging 18.1 yards per catch on 29 receptions for 550 yards and seven touchdowns. He is not the fastest receiver in this class, but he is never really covered — his size and sticky hands create a mismatch that very few corners in the country can handle. San Francisco adds a red zone weapon and a mismatch tool that Kyle Shanahan will find creative ways to deploy.
