The 2027 NFL Draft is one of the most hotly anticipated in recent memory, and that’s being driven by a quarterback class that’s already being compared to those of 1983, 2018, and 2024.
The New York Giants shouldn’t be paying particular attention to the quarterbacks this year. The hope is that Jaxson Dart will take the next step in his development and realize the star potential he flashed as a rookie. However, this class has historic potential that will drive teams’ decisions and could force talented
players at other positions down the board to the Giants.
So while our preview of this year’s college season — and next spring’s draft — will concentrate on positions of (potential) need for the Giants, we have to be at least aware of the quarterback class.
The top tier
Dante Moore (Oregon) – Moore almost declared for the 2026 draft as a red-shirt sophomore, but ultimately decided that he would be better served by going back to school and getting another year of experience. Even so, Moore was in contention with Fernando Mendoza to be QB1 and was praised for his poise in the pocket and being a natural thrower of the football. He has plus (though not quite elite) arm talent with good accuracy, precision, and velocity, and is also a plus athlete.
Arch Manning (Texas) – No player was under more pressure than Arch Manning last year, and it definitely showed at the beginning of the year. The scion of the First Family of Football was disappointing (to say the least) to start Texas’ season, but did improve as the season wore on. He has the tools to be an elite prospect with size, arm talent, athleticism, and football IQ that could draw comparisons to Andrew Luck — if he takes the next step and realizes his potential.
Watch these guys
The top tier of quarterbacks is enough to get the national media excited for the upcoming draft, but it’s this tier, however, that is getting scouts hyped. This second tier of quarterbacks who could take the next step to jump into the top tier or establish a strong second tier is what could make this class historic. Any one of these quarterbacks has the potential to establish himself as a first-round talent with a strong year.
Sam Leavitt (LSU) – Leavitt was promising at Arizona State over the last two years, but it was also clear that he still has untapped upside. Leavitt transferring to LSU should help him. While Lane Kiffin’s offense gets dinged for being too simplistic for the NFL, he’s also shown over the last two years to be willing to incorporate “Pro” concepts when the quarterback can handle it.
John Mateer (Oklahoma) – Mateer is an unconventional quarterback who resembles nothing quite so much as a mashup of Baker Mayfield and Philip Rivers. He lacks elite measurables and his throwing motion is fugly, but it also works. He struggled with a thumb injury last year, but was electric before he got hurt. A fully healthy season could have him right back in the first-round conversation.
Darian Mensah (Miami) – Transferring to Miami worked wonders for the draft stock of Cam Ward and Carson Beck, and Mensah could be the next in line. He was only at the periphery of the national conversation at Duke, but scouts were certainly intrigued by his tools. Mario Cristobal has previously coached Justin Herbert, Tyler Shough, Ward, and Beck, and Mensah could be the next quarterback he helps put in the NFL. At the very least, getting to play with Malachi Toney should be good for Mensah’s profile.
Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State) – Mestemaker is the “who!?” in this year’s draft class, at least as far as the national media is concerned. He’s a former walk-on who played for North Texas before transferring to Oklahoma State for the 2026 season. Mestemaker has good size (listed at 6-foot-4, 211 pounds), solid arm strength and accuracy, and enough athleticism to scramble and extend. He’s also well-regarded for his leadership, locker room presence, and football IQ. He might not be an unknown for long and could be hearing his name a lot more over the coming months.
Jayden Maiva (USC) – Maiva could wind up being one of the hottest names in the draft as the season progresses. He has all the traits the NFL looks for, with good size (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), plus arm strength, and the ability to attack tight windows with well-placed passes. He can extend plays with his legs. Maiva does need to improve his play against the pass rush, but he has a chance to hear his name called in the first round if he continues to improve.
Julian Sayin (Ohio State) – Sayin is undersized, listed at 6-foot-1, 208 pounds. He had flashes of brilliance in 2025. No quarterback has it easier than the guy who gets to throw to Jeremiah Smith, and he was extremely efficient last year (78.9 percent completion, 3,065 yards, 30 touchdowns, 5 interceptions). Sayin is already considered a potential first-round pick, and could cement that status with a strong 2026 season.
CJ Carr (Notre Dame) – Carr was hot-and-cold at Notre Dame, with a bit of a tendency to lock on to predetermined reads or try to force passes into windows he simply shouldn’t. That said, he has the tools to be an NFL starter with plus arm strength and good accuracy when he’s on time and in rhythm. He also has enough athleticism to execute a modern NFL offense, though he won’t scare many teams as a running threat. It’s up in the air whether Carr will enter the 2027 draft as he’s a red-shirt sophomore. He could still declare with a great season for the Irish, but may also be well-served to continue to grow as a passer.
The wildcards
This group of quarterbacks features players whose draft stock will be the most volatile. The talent is there to challenge the top of the class, but each carries “Boom or bust” potential as well. These are the guys who could be some of the biggest stars to come out of this class, or find themselves being mid-round fliers if they can’t make teams comfortable with their risk potential.
LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina) – Sellers is probably the most physically talented quarterback in this draft class. He has excellent size (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) with great speed and power, as well as surprising twitch and agility for a big man. Sellers is must-watch TV when the play breaks down, with the instincts to make magic out of structure as well as elite arm strength to carve up a defense. However, he needs to be more consistent within structure. He can lock on to receivers, be too quick to abandon the pocket, and too slow through his progressions. He has the upside to compete with Manning or Moore as the first quarterback drafted, or he could be Day 2 project.
Brendan Sorsby (Texas Tech) – Take everything I just said about Sellers and apply it to Sorsby, with a giant red flag for his gambling suspension. As of this writing, Sorsby is eligible to play this year thanks to an injunction that overrules the NCAA. However, Texas Tech’s opponents are talking about boycotting the school as long as Sorsby plays. Sorsby’s upside could be intoxicating for teams, but they’ll have to do their due diligence with his character to justify using a high pick on him.
Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss) – Chambliss seemingly came out of nowhere last year to save Ole Miss’ season and lead them to the College Football Playoffs. He’s a former 0-star recruit who started his career at Ferris State before transferring to Ole Miss as a backup in 2025. Chambliss is undersized at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, but is a very good athlete with the ability to create off-schedule and off-platform as a thrower. He doesn’t quite have elite arm strength, but he’s able to attack the intermediate area of the field with accuracy and velocity. Chambliss needs to continue to improve the mental aspect of his game and show that he can do it outside Kiffin’s scheme.
Nico Iamaleava (UCLA) – Once upon a time, Iamaleava was him, the next quarterback to have scouts buzzing years before he would be eligible for the draft. Then he overplayed his hand at Tennessee and (apparently at the urging of his parents) decided to try and negotiate for more NIL money. He appeared to hold out, and quickly had to transfer to UCLA when the Vols decided they were done. That fiasco was a massive black mark on Iamaleava’s national profile and draft stock, which he’s had to spend the last year repairing. He still has all the tools to be a top quarterback prospect in the eyes of the NFL, with a prototypical frame, elite athleticism, and the arm strength to attack all areas of the field. That said, he still needs to gain consistency as a passer and processor to take the next step. More importantly, however, he needs to make the NFL confident in “Nico Iamaleava the man” if they’re going to invest a high pick in him.
Drake Linsey (Minnesota) – Lindsey is another red-shirt sophomore who might be better served by going back to school and coming out in 2028. However, he’ll have plenty of eyes on him this year, and is already generating some first-round buzz. To start, he simply looks like a classic NFL quarterback at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds with very good arm strength and enough athleticism. He’s a throwback to an older generation of pocket passers, and already has experience under center, which will surely appeal to NFL evaluators and public scouts alike. Lindsey still has plenty of room to improve, but it’s also pretty easy to see him being tagged with “The Next Drake Maye” in the NFL’s never-ending quest for prototypical passers.
