Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker has emerged as a leading contender for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Drew Mestemaker Reaches Top Draft Boards
Drew Mestemaker is turning heads across college football as a top prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft. Analysts and scouts have vaulted the Oklahoma State quarterback into first-round discussions, with some projecting him as the first player off the board.
Through the first five games of the 2026 season, Mestemaker has completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 1,575 yards, 13 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He has also rushed for two touchdowns, establishing himself as a dual-threat playmaker under head coach Eric Morris.
In August, Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked Mestemaker fourth among 2027 quarterback prospects, placing him behind CJ Carr, Dante Moore, and Arch Manning. By October, analysts like Gordon McGuinness of PFF projected him going first overall to the Miami Dolphins in mock draft projections, pointing to his 88.3 PFF passing grade and productive output.
“The potential is scary,” Morris said.
Eric Morris, Oklahoma State Head Coach
From High School Backup to College Stardom
Mestemaker’s journey to the spotlight required an unusual route. During his high school career, he spent three years waiting for a starting job that ultimately went to a transferred passer, leaving him on the losing side of a training camp battle and forcing him to find other ways to get on the field.
Behind the scenes, coaches quickly noticed his competitive drive. Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris recalled an early impression from practices ahead of the First Responder Bowl on January 3, 2025. Skyler Cassity, whom Morris hired for the following season with the Mean Green, came away with an overwhelming impression after watching the 6-foot-3, 215-pound walk-on freshman handle himself during practice.
In that First Responder Bowl against Texas State, Mestemaker made a strong first impression while moving the ball surrounded by walk-ons, staying in the pocket to deliver a curl route on third down while a defensive end was unblocked and bearing down on him.
Handed the reins of an offense for the first time since middle school in 2025, Mestemaker led the Football Bowl Subdivision with 4,379 passing yards, threw 34 touchdowns, and ran for five more scores. His standout 2025 campaign included a massive 608-yard passing performance against Charlotte on October 24, earning him accolades such as the Burlsworth Trophy, American Conference Offensive Player of the Year, first-team All-American Conference honors, and an FWAA Freshman All-American selection.
High-Stakes Showdown Against Houston
No. 18 Oklahoma State enters a critical Big 12 conference game against No. 20 Houston on Saturday evening at TDECU Stadium. The matchup carries immense conference title implications as both ranked teams look to position themselves near the top of the standings in a tightly contested Big 12 race.
The Cowboys opened their season with a 24-10 loss to Tulsa in which Mestemaker completed 29 of 49 passes for 241 yards and two interceptions while missing four fourth-down conversions. However, the team rebounded through the first half of the schedule, with Mestemaker recording over 300 passing yards in each of his last four games.
As Mestemaker prepares to test his skills against Houston quarterback Conner Weigman—a fellow Day 2 NFL Draft prospect—analysts note that a strong prime-time performance on national television will give NFL decision-makers a closer look at his arm talent, mobility, and mechanics. With Arch Manning experiencing struggles and other top prospects sorting themselves out, Mestemaker has a prime opportunity to cement his status at the front of the 2027 quarterback class.
Worth a look
