Forget waiting for the actual 2027 NFL Draft, USA TODAY Sports just dropped a mock that’s got everyone talking: *four* Texas Longhorns players are projected to go in the first nine picks! Yeah, you read that right. Not only do they have UT quarterback Arch Manning slated as the No. 1 overall selection, but three more Longhorns are right there with him. This is a prediction that obviously hinges big-time on how the 2026 season shakes out for the Longhorns and if Manning even decides to go pro after it, but if it happens, it would be an absolutely wild class.
Arch Manning: The No. 1 Pick Arizona Is Already Eyeing
The biggest headline, no doubt, is Arch Manning projected to go No. 1 to the Arizona Cardinals. Now, the Cardinals haven’t publicly said they’re looking past this season, but let’s be real. With the competitive NFC West landscape and their own roster shortcomings, Arizona looks like the odds-on favorite to snag that top pick. And if they do, Manning could be their guy. Last year, the hype around him was a little much, but by season’s end, everyone saw why it was there. He’s got this preternatural feel for the position and all the tools to escape the rush and make plays. Any coaching staff would jump at an ascendant talent like that, even if he’s not a finished product. He’d instantly bring some relevance to a franchise that needs to make up serious ground.
The Longhorn Invasion: Three More Stars Heading Top 10
Manning isn’t the only Texas player making waves at the top of this mock draft. Right behind him, at No. 4, is Texas left tackle Trevor Goosby, projected to the Tennessee Titans. The Titans invested in Cam Ward’s pass-catching arsenal this offseason, but it looks like they might need to reconfigure their front next year, especially after Dan Moore Jr.’s alarming debut season. Goosby, at 6-7 and 325 pounds, moves fluidly and looks like a more promising blocker than any tackle from last year’s draft.
Then at No. 7, the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to snag wide receiver Cam Coleman. Fernando Mendoza’s repeated rocky showings in the preseason have highlighted the Raiders’ need for more weapons downfield, and Coleman could be just that. He’s big (6-3, 204 pounds), strong, and fast, the kind of pick Al Davis would have loved. He hasn’t had the best quarterback play in his first two years since transferring from Auburn, but this mock suggests he could be one of the elite playmakers in the draft class. Rounding out the Longhorns’ top-nine take is EDGE Colin Simmons, projected to the Washington Commanders at No. 9, with the Commanders showing a desire to make an.
Look, these are just projections, and a lot hinges on how the 2026 college season plays out for these guys. But if this mock draft is even half-right, we’re looking at a serious Texas takeover in the NFL. Get ready, football fans, because the future could be wearing a lot of burnt orange.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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