The 2027 NFL draft quarterback class has suffered a significant downturn from early season expectations. A midseason ESPN poll of 25 scouts and executives revealed overwhelming consensus around Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker, who received 17 of 25 votes, far surpassing the August poll leader Dante Moore. Notre Dame's CJ Carr followed with four votes, while Miami's Darian Mensah and Oregon's Dante Moore trailed with three and one vote respectively.
This shift marks a dramatic change from August, when Moore led with 14 votes and Manning, Sellers, Leavitt and Carr trailed far behind. Scouts cite the cyclical nature of draft classes, noting the last two years produced underwhelming quarterback crops with only two first-round picks each. The class was once projected to rival the 1983 draft, but injuries and inconsistent play have diminished top prospects.
Mestemaker's emergence stems from a breakout Sept. 12 performance against Oregon, where he passed for 317 yards and two touchdowns while leading Oklahoma State to a 39-31 upset as a nearly three-touchdown underdog. His athleticism shone with a 75-yard touchdown run. Scouts praise his prototypical size at 6-foot-4, 211 pounds, arm strength and accuracy.
Despite relative inexperience, he is projected to have 27 starts by season's end. The cautionary tale of Dante Moore, who sustained a career-threatening concussion, looms over the class. Mensah continues to climb boards with an 81.4% completion rate, while Carr and Mensah could rise with College Football Playoff performances.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing