Week 1 of the college football season in September 2026 absolutely cranked up the hype machine for the 2027 quarterback class, and if you weren’t paying attention, you missed some fireworks. This mock draft from last September had Dante Moore, the QB1 on the preseason big board, going No. 1 overall to Miami, dropping 378 yards and three touchdowns in Oregon’s win over Boise State. Yeah, you read that right.
The QB Race Heats Up
Moore, who would’ve been the No. 2 pick in the 2026 draft if he hadn’t decided to stay at Oregon, kept his QB1 spot locked down, even after just one week. But he’s not alone. Arch Manning, the preseason QB2, absolutely lit it up too, going 20 of 27 for 305 yards with four touchdowns and just one interception as Texas rolled over Texas State. These two looked just like the versions we saw at points last season, and if that kept up, we were in for seven months of non-stop talk about them. This mock draft has *four* quarterbacks cracking Round 1. Ohio State’s Julian Sayin already impressed with his patience, accuracy, and keeping the offense on schedule from summer tape. USC’s Jayden Maiava also brings arm talent, mobility, and aggressiveness for big plays. His production profile already looks like a future first-rounder, a case strengthened by the FRED model.
Beyond the Signal Callers and Draft Day Chaos
Don’t think this class is just about the QBs, though. Oh no. The depth along the offensive line is real, with Jordan Seaton leading the way. And then there’s Jeremiah Smith. This dude from Ohio State is projected to go No. 2 overall to Arizona, and get this: the writer says he’s *better* than Marvin Harrison Jr. coming out of Ohio State. Seriously. Smith pulled in 8 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns early in the season, averaging 18.9 yards per reception. If his 2026 season played out like 2024 and 2025, they were already comparing him to Julio. That’s insane! Defensively, the class is just as stacked: defensive line, edge rusher, and secondary. And let’s not forget the chaos already brewing with the draft picks: the Jets are sitting on *three* first-rounders, grabbing the Cowboys’ from the Quinnen Williams trade and the Colts’ from the Sauce Gardner trade. The Cowboys even got the Packers’ pick from the Micah Parsons trade. Talk about wheeling and dealing!
So, looking back at this September 2026 mock draft, the 2027 NFL Draft was already shaping up to be absolutely loaded. You just know these college ballers were battling it out for seven more months after that first week, climbing big boards and making their cases. What did it all mean for the Dolphins? The mock even asked if they’d be in the market for a QB or if Malik Willis was their long-term answer. The storylines were already wild, and the 2027 draft class was set to be one for the ages.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply