Get this: for the fourth year in a row, and a wild 10th time in the last 12, a quarterback just went first overall in the NFL Draft. Fernando Mendoza was the guy heading to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2026, keeping that QB streak alive. Now everyone’s wondering if a signal-caller makes it five straight in 2027. Early odds from DraftKings Sportsbook are out, and trust me, they’re already throwing up some massive names you need to know.
Manning Up To The Hype? You Bet.
Right now, the absolute top dog everyone’s looking at for that No. 1 spot in 2027 is Arch Manning, sitting at +225 odds. Seriously, it’s a family affair with this guy! His grandpa, Archie, went second back in ’71. His uncle Peyton was No. 1 in ’98. His other uncle, Eli, went No. 1 in ’04. Are you kidding me? Arch is next up in that lineage, and the early money says YES. He finally got his shot as a collegiate starter last season at Texas, and he did not disappoint. He threw for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns, and completed 61.4% of his passes. What’s wild is how he settled in, right? Five picks in his first five games, then just two in the final eight contests where he dropped 15 TDs and Texas went 7-1. He even dropped 221 yards and two scores in their bowl game win over Michigan! This season, through two games, he’s already got 500 passing yards, two picks, and is completing 67.2% of his passes. Oh, and he’s got a comeback win over Ohio State in Week 2 under his belt. This dude is built different.
QBs Everywhere, But One Wideout Is Making Noise
It’s not just Arch dominating the conversation. The next two guys on the board are also quarterbacks. Dante Moore, sitting at +400, lit it up for Oregon last season with 3,565 yards, 30 TDs, and a ridiculous 71.8% completion rate. This season, he’s already got 569 passing yards, five TDs, and zero picks through two games. But man, his Ducks took an ugly L to unranked Oklahoma State in Week 2, and Moore was just 14-for-29 passing. Yikes. Then there’s CJ Carr at +500, who tossed for 2,741 yards, 24 TDs, and six picks last season for Notre Dame, completing 66.6%. This season, he’s looking sharp, completing 71.4% of his passes for 492 yards and six TDs through two games.
But wait a minute! There’s a wide receiver tied for fourth on the board at +900, and he’s absolutely shaking things up. Jeremiah Smith. Folks are saying he’s arguably the best player in college football right now. This guy went off in Ohio State’s Week 1 win over Ball State, snagging eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns. And even when the Buckeyes fell to Texas in Week 2, Smith was still a beast, grabbing another eight catches. He’s making everyone wonder: could a wideout actually break the QB stranglehold on the No. 1 pick?
The early season buzz for the 2027 NFL Draft is already insane. Keep your eyes glued to Arch Manning’s continued dominance at Texas, and watch if Dante Moore can bounce back from that rough loss. But seriously, everyone needs to be tracking Jeremiah Smith. His performances this season could completely change the conversation around the top pick, proving a wideout can absolutely dominate the draft narrative.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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