What better way to celebrate the return of college football and the NFL than with a fresh mock draft?
Much will change between now and April 29, 2027, so take this forecast as it is intended — a projection of the current top prospects at the college level coupled with the anticipated needs of NFL teams. As always, it will be fun to monitor how both change over the course of the season.
Of course, among the many things that will certainly change in the coming months is the selection order. For the purposes of this mock, we’re taking the inverse order of DraftKings' latest Super Bowl odds.
1. Arizona Cardinals: Arch Manning, QB, Texas
With a subpar roster (including at quarterback) and forced to compete against three legitimate Super Bowl contenders within their division, the Cardinals have the easiest route to the No. 1 selection. Manning isn’t without his flaws, but there are plenty of signs that he could be the sort of franchise-changer the Cardinals need to become relevant again.
Arch Manning is expected to level up in his second year as a starter and fourth overall in college football. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images)
2. Miami Dolphins: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
I’m more bullish on Malik Willis as a starting quarterback in the NFL than the folks at DraftKings seem to be, but like the aforementioned Cardinals, it seems unlikely that Miami is going to jump in the standings given its own limitations as well as its schedule. I would love to match Willis with Ohio State’s phenomenal receiver Jeremiah Smith here, but the opportunity to land a blue-chip quarterback doesn’t come often, and Moore is certainly that. He is currently a more instinctive and accurate passer than Manning and looks like a lock at this point to be among the first two players selected next spring — even if it requires another team trading up to get him.
3. New York Jets: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
I like the veteran additions made by the Jets (on both sides of the ball) and expect the club’s native first-round pick to be much lower than No. 3 overall. That said, with two other first-round picks added via trades, the Jets have the firepower to do whatever they want. With all due respect to the quarterbacks, Smith is arguably the best player in this class, with a frame, speed and star power similar to a young Julio Jones.
4. Cleveland Browns: Dylan Stewart, Edge, South Carolina
The 2027 first-round selection the Browns received from the Rams in the Myles Garrett trade won’t come until much later on Day 1, but with the top quarterbacks off the board and several blue-chip defensive prospects available, Cleveland should be satisfied with reloading on that side of the ball with this pick. Stewart’s blend of burst, bend and length is the building blocks of a future All-Pro. Adding him to a defensive line already featuring Jared Verse and Mason Graham would be exciting.
5. Las Vegas Raiders: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
Based on the investment made this past spring in No. 1 overall selection Fernando Mendoza and veteran Kirk Cousins, new head coach Klint Kubiak may very well push for a wide receiver (Cam Coleman?) with the Raiders’ top choice. But it would be hard to pass up a talent like Moore here. He's right with Derek Stingley and Patrick Surtain II as one of the cleanest cornerback prospects I’ve evaluated over the past decade. Moore combines size, agility, instincts and ball skills to project as a future NFL star.
6. Atlanta Falcons: Colin Simmons, Edge, Texas
