The winless Los Angeles Chargers sit at 0-8 heading toward the top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft while a quarterback-heavy class takes shape across college football.
PFS’s projection model gave Los Angeles a 46% chance of earning the first overall selection, Pro Football Network reported after the team dropped a 44-22 game to Houston. Los Angeles has scored 121 points while allowing 219 through eight games.
Mel Kiper Jr. stated on “ESPN First Draft,” that Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is locked in as the top prospect on his big board.
Kiper said, “You write that in pen. He’s a great player. We’ve seen it since the freshman year where we would have probably had him in our top three to five overall big board, maybe a little higher. So we’ve been waiting for this moment this year.”
Oklahoma State passer Drew Mestemaker has emerged as a central figure in the opening round. Mestemaker has completed 206 of 309 passes for 2,962 yards, 29 touchdowns, and eight interceptions across nine games, according to Pro Football Network. ESPN asked 25 NFL scouts and executives to name the top quarterback in the 2027 draft, with Mestemaker receiving 17 votes and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr receiving two.
“Mestemaker seems like the only real choice at this point,” a scout told ESPN, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
The New York Jets hold three selections in the top ten—the fourth, sixth, and tenth picks—stemming from past moves involving Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, Last Word On Sports reported. CBS Sports said that the Jets, alongside Green Bay, Indianapolis, and the Los Angeles Rams, make active roster adjustments as the regular season progresses.
New York general manager Darren Mougey oversees a franchise that acquired two Indianapolis Colts first-round picks for Sauce Gardner and traded Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys. The Colts have also begun selling off veteran players, trading Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner ahead of the trade deadline, while the Titans shipped defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons to the Chicago Bears and the Eagles traded Jordan Davis to Jacksonville.
Sports Illustrated said that Utah offensive tackle Zereoue Williams is firmly in the discussion for the top tackle spot. Meanwhile, FanSided highlighted safety Ty Benefield of LSU and Clemson defensive end Will Heldt as rising defenders entering the Day 1 conversation.
The San Francisco 49ers hold a 7-1 record with Boubacar Traore anchoring their pass rush, while the New York Giants sit atop the NFC East at 5-2-1 with defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington drawing notice for his movement skills, according to Sports Illustrated.
Teams will continue evaluating prospects as the college football season moves toward its final stretch and pre-draft workouts approach.
The New York Jets face the Buffalo Bills on November 15.
Earlier coverage: NFL Trade Deadline: Cousins to Vikings and Allen to 49ers
