Wilson’s 2027 NFL mock draft: Arch Manning falls out of Round 1 where five QBs are taken

Smith is the best player in college football, and it may not be particularly close. And if the Dolphins feel like Malik Willis is a better option than any of the QBs in this class, Smith is an easy choice here.

Simmons has been dominant (suspect post-sack celebrations aside), and you could argue he’s been better than David Bailey and Abdul Carter — two former top-three edge rushers — at this point in their final college seasons.

The Miami QB has been one of the most efficient college quarterbacks in recent history through the first five weeks.

If you’re looking for holes in Moore’s game, well, good luck to you. He’s a special talent and reminds me of Patrick Surtain II.

Chambliss has been one of the best QBs in college football so far this season, and while he’ll be a 25-year-old rookie, there’s no denying how consistent he’s been against SEC competition — which isn’t something you can say about a few of the highly touted passers in the class.

Echoles’ power, hand usage and ability to be disruptive against the run are all over the tape, and his first-step quickness gives him more pass-rush value than a pure run-stuffer.

Seaton hasn’t allowed a sack this season, and even though the Panthers used their 2026 first-rounder on Monroe Freeling, there are still questions at left tackle beyond this season.

Hampton has been one of the few bright spots for Clemson this season, and whether the Steelers miss Joey Porter Jr. or not, they need to reinforce the cornerback position.

Becker is the king of the back-shoulder throw, but he also has legit deep speed and would give the Bucs a big-bodied deep target in a post-Mike Evans world.

Dante Moore has struggled through the first month of the 2026 season, in part because the offensive line has been awful, in part because his receivers have struggled to get open, and in part because of the vicious headshot he took against USC. But here’s the thing: Highly drafted QBs typically go to teams with poor O-lines, so Moore absolutely needs to play better (we got a brief glimpse of that early in the USC game before he was injured). But he also would have been the No. 2 pick in the 2026 draft had he declared, so it’s not like he’s forgotten how to play. A strong second half of the season puts him right back in the conversation.

Stone was battling injuries early in the season, and he hasn’t looked like the 2025 version of himself. But if he can get back to that, he’s a first-round talent all day long.

Goosby, who would’ve likely been a first-rounder had he declared for the ’26 draft, has a huge frame and high-end athletic traits that allow him to anchor effectively against power. That said, he remains a raw prospect who can struggle with quicker pass rushers.

My comp for Baugh going back to summer scouting was Le’Veon Bell. Turns out he’s better than the Michigan State version of Bell and is currently the best back in college football.

Johnson has been quietly dominant for the Gophers, both in the run game and in pass protection. He was 28th on my big board heading into the season, and he’s exceeded that through the first month, allowing exactly zero pressures.

Like Clemson teammate Ashton Hampton, Heldt is one of the few reasons for optimism. He has 17 pressures and five sacks and would fill a need in New Orleans.

Page has had a strong start to the 2026 season, allowing just three pressures and no sacks. He was a top-50 player this summer and has a chance to crack the first round.

Coleman has been up and down so far this season for the Longhorns (and you could say that for the offense as a whole), but he flashes first-round, big-play talent, something the Patriots’ WR room has been missing for a very long time.

A high-floor tackle who could kick inside at the next level, Lauck is stout at the point of attack and also thrives in zone-blocking schemes because of his mobility and athleticism. He hasn’t allowed a sack all season.

Cole is an explosive off-ball linebacker and edge rusher who pairs stout point-of-attack run defense with fluid coverage skills and multi-alignment pass-rush traits. He has missed exactly zero tackles this season.

He’s been really good through six games. He’s one of the best anticipation throwers in the class, and his ability to layer balls to the second level is second to none. He would excel in a Kevin O’Connell system.

A USC transfer, Thompkins has shown real inside-out versatility: He can win with power, athleticism or bend around the edge.

Sean Payton loves athletic tight ends, and Jamari Johnson is in the same conversation as former Oregon standouts Kenyon Sadiq and Terrance Ferguson.

The Bengals defense has improved in 2026, but they still need more at corner, and Jones gives them a long, physical press-man defender with the zone instincts and ball skills to create turnovers.

Ran Carthon, Florida alum and my co-host on the “With the First Pick” NFL Draft podcast, put Oyebadejo on my radar a few weeks ago, and while he is raw, he’s also been dominant against SEC competition — no matter where he lines up.

The Lions have two of the best safeties in football … when they’re healthy. Benefield is a tackling machine coming downhill, but he’s been good in coverage, too.

Duff is one of the best contested-catch receivers in college football, and that label can be a double-edged sword. Yes, he’s physical at the catch point, but it could also be an indication that he struggles to consistently separate. Either way, he’d be a welcome addition in Philly, where the loss of A.J. Brown seems to be a bigger deal than maybe the organization initially figured when it shipped him to New England.

Green is a more physical version of Kyle Pitts. He suffered a knee injury on Sept. 19, but luckily it didn’t require surgery, and he should be back in a few weeks.

Pierre doesn’t know that he’s undersized by edge-rusher standards because he’s a twitched-up pass rusher who plays with elite leverage, explosive bull-rush ability and the ability to make plays either off the edge or off-ball.

Woo boy, the Ravens have real needs along the interior O-line, mostly because guys can’t stay healthy. Pieper, who plays guard but has also taken snaps at center during his college career, is a really good athlete who has allowed just one pressure this season.

Stewart is a top-five talent who is going to have to prove to NFL teams that his recent suspension isn’t a reflection of who he is as a teammate.

While it’s tough to separate his success from the “Jeremiah Smith Experience” making everyone around him better, that’s a much better problem to have than trying to talk yourself into a highly touted quarterback whose tape isn’t matching the preseason expectations.

Viliamu-Asa suffered a knee injury late last season, but you wouldn’t know it watching him in ’26. He’s a terror as an off-ball LB or coming off the edge, combining high-level run-stopping instincts with smooth, safety-like coverage skills.