Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker is the top passer in Dane Brugler’s updated midseason rankings for the 2027 NFL Draft. Brugler announced the change on Tuesday night.
It is a big climb. In a preseason quarterback ranking of the class in August, Mestemaker was fourth among draft-eligible passers, behind Arch Manning of Texas, Dante Moore of Oregon and CJ Carr of Notre Dame, and was described as a more realistic 2028 prospect because of his limited experience.
Where the consensus stands
Brugler’s update comes as the rest of the industry reshuffles a crowded quarterback group. On the consensus big board compiled by NFL Mock Draft Database, which blends 54 big boards and more than 200 mock drafts and was refreshed on Wednesday, the top five are:
- Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
- Arch Manning, QB, Texas
- Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
- Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
- Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Mestemaker sits 11th on that board, the fourth quarterback behind Manning, Moore and Darian Mensah of Miami, which shows how far ahead of the consensus Brugler has moved him. Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss and Carr are 13th and 15th.
Manning’s stock has taken the most heat this month. Pro Football Mania still has him fifth overall but noted he threw two fourth-quarter interceptions against Oklahoma, one returned for a touchdown.
The non-quarterbacks at the top
Jeremiah Smith remains the consensus No. 1 prospect and is first on Pro Football Mania’s board and on Scouting Grade’s board. Texas pass rusher Colin Simmons, Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore and South Carolina pass rusher Dylan Stewart round out the group most analysts treat as the elite tier.
What it means for the 2027 order
The 2027 draft runs April 29 through May 1 in Washington, D.C. The teams most likely to pick near the top are the winless Titans, Dolphins and Chargers, along with the 1-4 Cardinals, Buccaneers and Saints.
Several of those teams already have a young starter, which is one reason early mocks are splitting between quarterbacks and Smith at No. 1.
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