“Mestemaker seems to be the only real option right now,” an NFL scout told ESPN Deportes after evaluating the shifting landscape of the 2027 NFL Draft quarterback class.
Drew Mestemaker of the Oklahoma State Cowboys has emerged as the heavy favorite to be the first quarterback selected in the 2027 NFL Draft, according to an ESPN Deportes midseason survey of 25 NFL scouts and executives. Seventeen of the 25 evaluators cast their ballots for Mestemaker, marking the highest vote total any single quarterback has received in the three-year history of the poll.
Scouts reshape their evaluations after summer projections falter
The midseason consensus reflects a dramatic departure from the initial August poll, where Mestemaker received zero votes. Evaluators pointed to inconsistent play across the collegiate ranks as the primary driver behind the overhaul of the draft board. Prior to the season, scouts anticipated a historic quarterback class capable of rivaling the legendary 1983 draft class, which saw five signal-callers drafted in the first round.
Instead, early-season struggles from marquee prospects have disrupted those projections. Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns, LaNorris Sellers of the South Carolina Gamecocks, and Sam Leavitt of the LSU Tigers have experienced turbulent starts that raised questions about their immediate NFL readiness. In August, Dante Moore of the Oregon Ducks led the poll with 14 votes, followed by Manning with seven, Sellers with two, Leavitt with one, and CJ Carr of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with one.
By October, the landscape looked entirely different. Following Mestemaker’s 17-vote surge, Carr climbed to second place with four votes, Darian Mensah of the Miami Hurricanes secured three votes, and Moore dropped to one vote.
Mestemaker rises behind size athletics and signature performance
Mestemaker established his draft stock during a Sept. 12 matchup against the Oregon Ducks. In that contest, he threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns while adding a 75-yard rushing touchdown to lead Oklahoma State to a 39-31 victory as nearly a three-touchdown underdog, outplaying Moore in the process.
“The size, body type and arm strength are the things that stood out to me right away,” a veteran scout told ESPN Deportes. “He has arm talent, power and accuracy.”
Projected to finish the season with 27 career starts, Mestemaker is widely expected to declare for the NFL draft upon the conclusion of the 2026 campaign. His rapid rise from not starting on his high school varsity team mirrors other unconventional paths in this draft cycle.
Injuries and historic efficiency alter the first-round picture
While Mestemaker holds the top spot, the rest of the first-round projection remains fluid due to injuries and standout statistical campaigns. Moore suffered a concussion during a Sept. 26 game against the USC Trojans, an injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the season and potentially impact his draft stock after he was previously viewed as a top-two lock.
Mensah currently sits at 81.4%, outperforming Bo Nix’s 77.4% mark set at Oregon in 2023.
Despite his struggles with accuracy and turnovers this season, Manning remains firmly on the NFL’s radar.
Sorsby scrutiny and the broader draft outlook
Brendan Sorsby represents another unique variable for the 2027 quarterback class. The former Cincinnati Bearcats and Texas Tech Red Raiders signal-caller drew late first-round interest ahead of the previous draft cycle before returning to school.
Sorsby has documented his training regimen on social media, working with veteran NFL assistant Rich Scangarello to master the offensive concepts utilized by San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
“People are almost forgetting about Sorsby,” a veteran scout told ESPN Deportes. “There’s no doubt he can be a first-round player. We’ll see how it goes. He has to go to an all-star game and show the talent, excel during that week and answer all the questions.”
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