Misryoum looks at a way-too-early top five for the 2027 NFL Draft, highlighting Arch Manning and a QB-heavy projection.
The 2026 NFL Draft may be fresh in everyone’s mind, but the quarterback dominoes already start falling toward 2027.
Way-too-early boards often feel premature. and they are—prospects can rise fast. fall harder. and breakouts can arrive the following Saturday.. Still. the pattern is familiar: drafts like 2018 and 2024 saw quarterbacks flood the top of the order. and the 2027 class is being watched for the same reason.. Misryoum’s early projection leans into where teams may actually spend—at the position that resets franchises—while keeping an eye on how college seasons could reshape the pecking order.
Why 2027 already looks QB-heavy
In the NFL, quarterback volatility is constant, and the margin for “wait and see” shrinks with each season.. That reality tends to pull teams forward when a new group of signal-callers appears to have real starting-prospect value.. Even if some names are only “favorites” this far out. the demand is durable: franchise builders would rather take a swing on a potential starter than gamble on a short list of alternatives later.
Misryoum also expects teams to evaluate quarterbacks not just by talent. but by readiness—how they handle pressure. move within the pocket. process reads quickly. and protect the ball when the game tightens.. That’s why the early conversation is less about who’s “best” today and more about who can look most like a future starter by next spring.
Misryoum’s way-too-early top five for 2027
1. **Arch Manning, QB (Texas)**
Arch Manning’s draft stock is tied to both performance and narrative, and the narrative is already loud.. Misryoum’s read is that the details matter more than people think—if he has a strong season and gives Texas a real shot to reach the College Football Playoff. the odds of him landing as the top pick become difficult to ignore.. The combination of arm strength. mobility. and the kind of visibility that puts every drive on a national stage is exactly what franchises want when they’re betting on a quarterback.
2. **Dante Moore, QB (Oregon)**
Moore enters the conversation with a reputation built on talent. but the next step is what separates “high-end prospect” from “clear No.. 1.” Misryoum wants to see him rise to the occasion in 2026—especially when defenses tighten the margin and turnovers become harder to justify.. If Moore shows improvement in decision-making and ball security. he could become the most serious challenger to Manning’s early lead.
3. **Jeremiah Smith, WR (Ohio State)**
Quarterback talk tends to dominate early. but elite wide receivers can change the math quickly—especially when teams believe they’re one quarterback away from contending.. Jeremiah Smith fits that mold as a player who could be too valuable to pass up. even if the draft order stays quarterback-friendly.. Misryoum’s projection keeps him near the top because a high-impact receiving option paired with a developing quarterback can look like a blueprint. not a gamble.
There’s also a team-level reason he stays in play: if Ohio State’s season turns into something championship-level. the spotlight can amplify how scouts and front offices connect production with pro readiness.. A scenario where a star quarterback and a star receiver both trend upward wouldn’t be shocking in a class like this.
4. **Brendan Sorsby, QB (Texas Tech)**
Sorsby is the kind of prospect who can climb simply because the tools translate—and because the opportunity is real.. Misryoum’s early view is that his ceiling is tied to how convincingly he can showcase arm strength and playmaking ability across a big schedule.. Texas Tech can be a stage where scouts see whether a quarterback can create outside structure. win with timing and touch. and stay composed when the play breaks down.
If Sorsby looks like a quarterback who can run an offense while keeping defenses honest, it’s easy to imagine him climbing beyond the early fourth-slot expectation.
5. **Colin Simmons, EDGE (Texas)**
After four offensive-minded picks. it’s time for a defensive advantage—because the NFL increasingly values pass rush with similar urgency to quarterback upgrades.. Colin Simmons fits that logic as a prospect built around explosion off the line and the ability to force pressure in prime-time moments.. With Texas expected to be on a national stage and paired with strong quarterback attention. an EDGE rusher who consistently wins leverage could be impossible to ignore.
Misryoum also thinks the draft process sometimes rewards certainty in what an elite defensive player can do immediately: disrupt the pocket, impact third downs, and make an offense uncomfortable every week. Even in a QB-heavy year, teams still chase game-wreckers.
What could change the board by next spring
A year from now is an eternity in college football, and Misryoum expects volatility.. One big development can swing a top-five projection: a quarterback’s improvement in consistency. a receiver’s ability to stay explosive against top coverage. or an edge rusher’s production spiking when the defensive coordinator dials up the right matchups.
Injury is the most obvious risk, but performance is the bigger lever.. Scouts aren’t just collecting highlights—they’re looking for repeatability: can a quarterback make the right throw when the game speeds up. can a receiver separate without help. can an edge rusher turn speed into sacks with technique rather than luck.
The human impact of those “way-too-early” rankings
For players, these rankings land like a spotlight with a timer attached.. A prospect doesn’t just want to be talented; he wants to be trusted. and that trust comes from execution under pressure.. For fans. it offers a narrative road map from spring hype to autumn evaluation. and it turns one season into a career-defining proving ground.
Misryoum’s early list isn’t a promise. It’s a reminder that in every draft cycle—especially one that could mirror past quarterback surges—the teams that win the future are often the ones that identify the right blend of readiness and upside before the rest of the league catches up.