The 2027 NFL Draft is still months away, two weeks into the NFL season and teams are already planning their futures around a loaded incoming pool of prospects.
The quarterback class is expected to feature several talented first-round talents, but with teams not having clear-cut needs yet, it creates room and opportunity to rise throughout the college football season.
A position that doesn't historically get much love in the first round is the running backs; however, one player already making his case to be a solidified first-rounder is Florida ball carrier Jadan Baugh.
In Sports Illustrated's latest 2027 NFL Mock Draft 2.0, Baugh is projected to go with the No. 19 overall pick, currently slated for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Baugh returned to Florida
and has been among the top running backs in college football this season after putting together a phenomenal sophomore season. His start to his third year with the Gators has been among the most efficient in the country, averaging 8.5 yards per carry.
The Gators star has already recorded 458 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, the latter number matching his total from the previous season. Standing at 6-feet-1-inch, the Florida workhorse has an exceptional combination of size, physicality, and the ability to create explosive plays. Baugh's skill set is one that NFL teams look for in potential three-down running backs.
This projection has shown the All-SEC running backs' leap this season. In the preseason, Baugh was projected to be selected with the No. 26 overall draft pick by the Chicago Bears; now he has moved up seven spots.
If Baugh keeps this trajectory, he may land in an exclusive group of talented running backs who have been drafted in the top 10, but for now, the Florida playmaker remains firmly in the mix to be selected in the first round.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida RB Jadan Baugh moves up in first round of 2027 NFL mock draft
