Now that the 2026 NFL Draft has come to a close, let’s look ahead to the 2027 iteration before any games have been played. Obviously nothing will change in the next 51 1/2 weeks, so mark these picks down in sharpie! The draft order for the first round is based on Super Bowl odds according to ESPN (DraftKings Sportsbook).
1. Arizona Cardinals – Arch Manning, QB, Texas
If Arch Manning does anything positive this year, the media will never shut up about him. The Cardinals will also like the genes and production.
2. Miami Dolphins – Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
The Dolphins will find out quick if
Malik Willis is that dude. If not, Moore might be next in line for Miami.
3. New York Jets – Darian Mensah, QB, Miami (FL)
The Jets are another team that brought in a veteran QB, but the long term answer is still missing. Mensah is a Duke transfer who could put up huge numbers in Miami’s offense.
4. Las Vegas Raiders – Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
The Raiders add the player who would have been the best wide receiver in the last two drafts had he been eligible. Out of all the Ohio State receivers to come to the league recently, Smith is almost unanimously considered the best.
5. Cleveland Browns – Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
The Browns have desperately needed a QB for the last several years, and I don’t see any of the quarterbacks on their roster playing well enough to leave no doubt about the future. Chambliss could have been a day two pick after the Rebels run in the playoffs. Another year of film against SEC defenses could vault him into the top of the first round.
6. Tennessee Titans – Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
The Titans need more help on defense despite adding some highly touted front seven prospects this past Draft. Moore is a long, rangy corner with good ball skills to help the back end of the defense.
7. Atlanta Flacons – Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
The Falcons did not have a first round pick last year because they traded up for James Pearce Jr (whose future is in doubt at the moment). Simmons is a little on the shorter side (6’3”), but his 21 career sacks in 26 games is production that can’t be ignored.
8. Carolina Panthers – LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
If the Panthers are picking this high next year, that likely means Bryce Young is not the guy. Sellers could have entered this past draft, but a down year led to him returning to the Gamecocks. He has his weaknesses, but a new offensive coordinator should help him get back to the dynamic player he was in 2024. If he does get back to that player, the Panthers might look to draft the exact opposite style of quarterback that they have now.
9. New Orleans Saints – Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina
Stewart is a young, raw pass rusher who has elite size. If he can put together a more consistent season, he’ll be in the top ten conversation. Meanwhile, the Saints are taking chances on previous first round picks at edge, so they’ll need to address the future of the position at some point.
10. New York Giants – Omarion Miller, WR, Arizona State
The former Colorado transfer is a downfield threat, averaging 18 yards per catch last season. If he can keep that type of production up with a new team, he’d be the type of deep threat the Giants would love to have opposite Malik Nabers.
11. Washington Commanders – KJ Bolden, S, Georgia
The Commanders took their green dot linebacker in Sonny Styles, so next year why not take the captain of the secondary?
12. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts) – Anthonie Knapp, OT, Notre Dame
Knapp is projected to be one of the best pass blockers in next year’s draft. Though he’s very light (294 lbs) for the position, the Jets need to protect their investment from earlier in the round.
13. Minnesota Vikings – Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia
While Robinson is still extremely young, he has a penchant for turning the ball over. Brian Flores would love that type of playmaker on the back end.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers – Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson
The Steelers would love to get their defense back where they think it belongs, and Brown is that type of player. He is young, but has already had a season with over 100 tackles and five sacks, showing his versatility.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Wyatt Young, WR, Oklahoma State
The Bucs could use more receivers after the departure of Mike Evans. After dominating lesser opponents at North Texas, Young transferred to Oklahoma State. If he can continue to dominate there, he’ll be a first round pick.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon
The Jags made some questionable choices in this past Draft, but here they take a player who could be the next playmaking tight end to come out of Oregon. The Jags were rumored to consider trading up for Kenyon Sadiq, so if Johnson puts up numbers relatively similar, he could be the pick.
17. New York Jets (via Dallas Cowboys) – Quincy Rhodes Jr, EDGE, Arkansas
The Jets already solidified their QB and blindside protector. With their third first round pick, they add Rhodes. He notched eight sacks last year, and if he can add the production to the physical traits he’ll be a high pick.
18. Chicago Bears – Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
The Bears might look to upgrade over Braxton Jones depending on how this season goes. Goosby is a good pass protector who is now going to protect Arch Manning, meaning more eyeballs and exposure.
19. Cincinnati Bengals – Tae Johnson, S, Notre Dame
The Bengals know they have to improve their defense while they still have Burrow, Chase, and Higgins. Johnson is a playmaker on the back end of the Fighting Irish defense who could really help Cincinnati.
20. Denver Broncos – Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
Seaton played well in Colorado for a couple years, so continuing that trend in the SEC will go a long way toward impressing Sean Payton’s Colorado-based team.
21. Houston Texans – Cam Coleman, WR, Texas
Adding another playmaker for CJ Stroud is never a bad idea, especially when your defense is as elite as the Texans’. Coleman is a transfer from Auburn hoping to ride the Manning hype train into the first round.
22. Detroit Lions – Austin Siereveld, OG, Ohio State
Siereveld is a mauler in the run game, and I’m sure Dan Campbell has dreams of Siereveld, Sewell, and Blake Miller opening holes for Jahmyr Gibbs.
23. Los Angeles Chargers – David Stone, DT, Oklahoma
Stone has flashed dominance for Oklahoma, but it remains to be seen if he can consistently provide that juice with more snaps. If he can, he’d be the perfect fit in Harbaugh’s defense.
24. San Francisco 49ers – Blake Frazier, OT, Michigan
The 9ers need a lot of help on the offensive line, especially considering the age of Trent Williams. Now that Frazier is expected to start for the Wolverines, he could be the next big Michigan tackle to make the jump to the NFL.
25. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers) – Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama
Brown saw the field quite a bit as a redshirt freshman last season and made plays when given the opportunity. If he can be as productive in a full-time role, he’d be the type of corner that the Cowboys love.
26. New England Patriots – Mario Craver, WR, Texas A&M
Craver is tiny by NFL standards (5’9”, 165 lbs), but if he can add some bulk without sacrificing his blazing speed, he should be able to smoke the SEC again this season. He’s the explosive playmaker the Patriots offense is really missing.
27. Philadelphia Eagles – Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss
The Eagles are stuck with Jalen Hurts for the next few seasons, so why not surround him with as much talent as possible? Lacy was a monster for the Rebels last season and has the receiving ability to be a safety blanket for Hurts when needed.
28. Kansas City Chiefs – Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana
The Chiefs have some decent pass catchers, but outside of Rashee Rice they seem to be a bunch of WR3s and WR4s. Becker could be the true WR2 for this team, and you know he’s extremely well coached coming out of Indiana.
29. Baltimore Ravens – Ahmad Moten, DT, Miami (FL)
Moten showed flashes of pass rushing ability last season, notching 4.5 sacks. Now he just has to prove he can do it without Bain and Mesidoor next to him.
30. Buffalo Bills – Jelani McDonald, S, Texas
McDonald has proven to be a legitimate playmaker at safety, and the Bills defense could use a player like that.
31. Seattle Seahawks – Kenyatta Jackson Jr, EDGE, Ohio State
Jackson has not put up the breakout numbers that his size and athleticism could allow him to put up. But even if he only manages a handful of sacks again this year, he’s the prototype edge for the Seahawks defense.
32. Los Angeles Rams – Kade Pieper, C, Iowa
The Rams shockingly took the heir apparent to Matthew Stafford, so I could see them looking to protect that investment with this pick. Pieper could be the Jeff Saturday to the Rams’ version of Peyton Manning (they hope).
