Early, early, early look at 2027 NFL Draft

Yes, it's still October. Yes, we have not even reached the halfway point of the 2026 NFL Season. And, yes, the NFL Draftis more than 6 months away.

We don't care.

The Miami Dolphins are 0-5 coming off their bye week and prospects for wins are as slim as college football turning up its nose at a 24-team playoff. Almost everyone has the Dolphins picking in the top five of the next draft. The Los Angeles Chargers, inexplicably 0-6, would have the No. 1 pick if the draft was held today. The Dolphins would be selecting second. The teams meet on Dec. 27 at Hard Rock Stadium in what could be the battle of the No. 1 pick.

Anyway, it's time for an EARLY, EARLY, EARLY peek at which players could be sitting among those top five picks, just waiting to be plucked

by a bad NFL team.

We know a lot can happen between now and late April. Remember no one a year ago had a quarterback for the Indiana Hoosiers going No. 1 in the NFL Draft. With that in mind, here are 5 players likely to be among the first to hear their names called by Roger Goodell on April 29 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Whether any of them end up in South Florida depends on if the Dolphins stay where they are in the draft order or trade down.

Drew Mestemaker might be best quarterback available

Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Drew Mestemaker (17) passes the ball in the third quarter against the UCF Knights at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The quarterback everyone thought would be the top pick, Texas' Arch Manning, almost was benched this week. And, let's fact it - the Dolphins gave away the player (Quinn Ewers, now with the Jaguars) who beat him out two seasons ago. Manning might even stay in school another season.

Another highly rated QB who also may return to school is Notre Dame's CJ Carr.

Right now, the QB linked to the Dolphins is .... Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker. Give yourself a break if you just said, "Who?"

Mestemaker, on no one's radar in August, arguably has been the best quarterback in college football so far. He is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound sophomore with a strong arm who has led the Cowboys (4-2) to surprising success. Going into the Colorado game on Saturday, he had passed for 1,940 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also has rushed for two more TDs.

Oct 17, 2026; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Austin Simmons (13) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The second-best quarterback might be Missouri's Austin Simmons. Anyone who watched the Tigers' 45-17 dismantling of the Florida Gators several weeks ago - 23 of 30 for 340 yards and two TDs - already knows about Simmons, who stands 6-4, 220, hails from Pahokee and throws left-handed.

We'll give a nod to Miami's Darian Mensah, who has led the undefeated Hurricanes to the No. 1 ranking after transferring from Duke. But let's see how he plays against Notre Dame in a couple weeks and finishes the season.

Oct 17, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah (10) throws during the first half against the Florida State Seminoles at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Best player on the board? Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) runs past Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Jamari Sharpe (22) during the NCAA football game

Defenses game-plan for him. Double-team him. Maim and bruise him.

No matter. Jeremiah Smith, out of Chaminade-Madonna HS and born in Miami Gardens, simply catches the ball and scores TDs for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

He has caught 52 passes for 984 yards and 12 TDs - in seven games. He has topped 150 yards in receptions in four games in 2026. He is the favorite for the Heisman Trophy.

Did we mention he's 6-4, 220?

Did we mention he runs a 4.32 40-yard dash?

History may be against Smith.

Only two receivers have been selected first overall in what is known as the common-draft era (since 1967 when the NFL and AFL merged). Keyshawn Johnson was the last - selected by the Jets 30 years ago, 12 years after the New England Patriots made WR Irving Fryar the top pick of the 1984 draft.

Best edge rusher is Colin Simmons

Texas Longhorns edge Colin Simmons (1) sacks Florida Gators quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. (9) during the second half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Oct. 17, 2026.

Texas' Colin Simmons has a nation-best 10.5 sacks and 16 tackles for a loss. He's 6-3, 246-pounds of pass-rushing talent with a great first step, who offensive coordinators must take into account when drawing up their game plans. ESPN’s Bill Connelly named Simmons his "Half-season Defensive Heisman" winner.

Simmons, however, suffered a high ankle sprain in the fourth quarter of last week's loss to Florida and will miss some time. He was having a monster game with eight tackles, four for a loss, and one sack before leaving the game.

Still, any team looking for a boost in its pass rush will gladly take Simmons off the board.

Cornerback Leonard Moore best DB on the board

Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, center, breaks up a pass intended for Michigan State wide receiver Chrishon McCray (13) during a NCAA football game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.

Notre Dame's Leonard Moore does not have great stats this season, but here's the rub. Offenses do not pass his way, much the way Deion Sanders used to take away one side of the field when he patrolled the secondary for the Falcons, 49ers and Cowboys all those years ago.

Moore, in fact, was still looking for his first interception heading into the weekend. But he has seven interceptions and 22 pass breakups during his three-year career.

Tackle Jordan Seaton is best offensive lineman

Sep 19, 2026; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; LSU Tigers offensive tackle Jordan Seaton (77) blocks Mississippi Rebels defensive end Kam Franklin (5) during the second quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Standing 6-5, 307, Jordan Seaton anchors the LSU offensive line, having not allowed a sack in 2026. Most mock drafts have him going anywhere from No. 3 to No. 10 in the first round.

Seaton, who played for IMG Academy in Bradenton, started his collegiate career with Colorado, where he was the first true freshman in school history to start at offensive tackle and was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year. He started nine games and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors his sophomore season - despite being injured and missing the final three games.

Early mock drafts and Dolphins' 1st-round pick

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) throws a pass during the first half against the Florida Gators at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Oct. 17, 2026.