Forget everything you thought about the 2027 NFL Draft’s top quarterbacks. The latest mock draft projects both Arch Manning and C.J. Carr to return to school, completely shaking up the top of the board and forcing teams to re-evaluate their entire draft strategy. This isn’t just a minor reshuffle, folks; we’re talking about a full-blown earthquake at the position everyone scrambles for.
The Quarterback Carousel Is Spinning Wildly
Manning, the Texas phenom, apparently hasn’t developed enough to comfortably make the jump to the pros. But here’s the real kicker: he “may also not be interested in another year tied to Steve Sarkisian.” Whoa. That’s a huge statement and tells you everything about the dynamic there. Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s C.J. Carr has shown more comfort this year, evolving from what’s described as a “robot afraid to do wrong” into a more natural passer. He’s not quite “all the way there yet,” though. The Fighting Irish are likely cooking up a tempting package to keep him around for another College Football Playoffs run.
With those two giants out of the picture, it completely changes who sits at the top. Suddenly, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, a sophomore at 6’3″, 215 lbs, is projected to go #1 overall to the Miami Dolphins. He’s performed like the best quarterback prospect so far this college season. Miami, by the way, is one of just two winless teams post-Week 6, so they’re in full rebuild mode. Good news for them, Malik Willis’ contract isn’t an issue if they want to hit the reset button at QB.
Draft Shocks and Stunners at the Top
If Mestemaker going first isn’t wild enough, get this: Austin Simmons, a senior QB from Missouri, is projected to go #2 overall to the Arizona Cardinals. This is where it gets crazy. Simmons is currently ranked as the *100th overall prospect* and the *10th best quarterback*. A massive jump to #2 overall is unheard of! While Saturday wasn’t his best day, the dude is a big quarterback with a strong arm who operates well in the pocket, throwing with great touch and anticipation. It just shows you how much teams fall in love with certain traits when the top-tier guys decide to stay put.
And rounding out the top three? The Tennessee Titans are projected to snag Jeremiah Smith, the Ohio State junior wide receiver. This guy is the best player in this entire draft class, period. It’s a testament to the QB shake-up that he “lasts” until #3. Oh, and keep an eye on the Jets and Browns; those teams are absolutely loaded with future capital. The Browns have two first-round picks from prior trades, and the Jets? They’re sitting on three first-rounders in 2027. Imagine what they could do!
This whole mock draft, by the way, used Super Bowl odds in reverse order as of October 17th to figure out the draft order. With Manning and Carr staying, the entire landscape has shifted. We’re in for a wild ride watching the rest of this college football season unfold to see who truly rises and who falls before the 2027 NFL Draft kicks off next April 29-May 1 in Washington D.C. What other surprises are brewing? We’ll be watching!
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.
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