The first round of the 2027 draft class is shaping up to be one of the most blue-chip laden drafts in recent memory. There are elite prospects at pretty much every high-value position in a way we haven't come close to seeing since 2021. The only question is: Will the quarterback group have more than one crown jewel atop the class, or will NIL convince potential top-10 picks to return to school? Either way, it's a great draft to be the New York Jets, who have a franchise-defining three first-round picks already.
Note: The draft order was determined using the reverse Super Bowl odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. The Jets have three first-round picks: their own, the Cowboys' from the Quinnen Williams trade and the Colts' from the Sauce Gardner trade. The Cowboys have the Packers' selection from the Micah Parsons trade.
I wrote at the end of last year how the Manning down the stretch in 2025 was the one many expected. If he's that guy for a full season, then this is a no-brainer. If the Dolphins are drafting No. 1 overall, it likely means the Malik Willis experiment didn't pay off dividends. Manning would be stepping into a very rough situation, but at least it's one that's already gone through a fire sale. The Dolphins are top three in cap space the next two offseasons to build around their young quarterback.
While the Cardinals will likely be in the quarterback market, Smith is a ceiling-raiser for whoever is playing quarterback in Arizona. While Cardinals fans may have been duped before, this time it's legit. Smith has dominated college football from day one with over 2,500 yards in two seasons. He has the tools to be an all-time great and turn average quarterbacks into high-end passing attacks.
I don't need to outline why the Browns are in the quarterback market. Moore has some small things to improve upon, but he's already arguably the most accurate quarterback in the country with an effortless ability to spin it.
The Raiders could obviously use a weapon for Fernando Mendoza, but you can't pass on Moore at this point. Like Jeremiah Smith, Moore has been in the running for best player at his position in college football since the day he stepped foot on campus at Notre Dame. There's everything there to be an island corner in the NFL, and he's already done just that in college.
Back-to-back top-five edges don't concern me for a handful of reasons. For one, you don't find many elite pass-rushers outside of high draft capital. Two, pressure with four will always be the Holy Grail. Three, Stewart is a more prototypical edge-setter in the run game than what's on the Jets roster. Four, the Jets have two more first-rounders to address needs. Finally, Stewart is the freakiest edge athlete since Myles Garrett. That's a good spot to be in to set the Jets up for long-term success.
Goosby may be dealing with a minor knee injury currently, but I don't see that dissuading teams from a top-10 pick unless it turns into a major one. Goosby is the prototype physically, and he really started to figure it out in his first season as a starter. Tennessee will finally get Cam Ward's blindside locked down.
Simmons is an elite speed rusher for a team that's missing that skill set from its edge group. It isn't a matter of if the Saints would take him here or not, but rather if he'll be here at all.
Becker is the type of receiver that would pair nicely with Jaxson Dart's downfield aggressiveness. Not only can Becker separate deep, but he's also one of the best in the class at winning at the catch point. His addition would round out a superb young receiving corps with Malik Nabers and Malachi Fields.
The Panthers have quietly revamped their defensive line into a formidable unit from one of the worst in the NFL. Adding Stone would turn them into a legitimately feared unit. With how important play on the interior is becoming, putting Stone next to Derrick Brown and Lee Hunter would make opposing offenses one-dimensional.
That marks four top-10 picks for Texas and would make them the first team in 60 years to do so (although Ohio State was close last season). Coleman is the kind of explosive athlete the Commanders need with their top two receivers now in their early 30s.
Hampton would be just what the doctor ordered for the Jets ailing secondary. He's a massive corner with the athleticism of a smaller one. It would give Aaron Glenn (assuming he's still there) the ability to use Hampton to take out bigger receivers and D'Angelo Ponds to take out speedier ones.
I genuinely feel bad making Seaton wait all the way to pick 12 to come off the board, but that's the kind of class it is (Micah Parsons and Rashawn Slater going outside the top 10 in 2021 comes to mind). He's an incredibly athletic tackle who can already pass protect at an NFL level.
With Vita Vea turning 32 next year and having a contentious contract situation this offseason, finding the nose tackle of the future could be in the cards for Jason Licht. Washington is insanely explosive for a 330-pounder and would fit right in with the butt-kickers on the Bucs defensive line.
