Zak Drapeau's 2027 Mock Draft 1.0

Zak Drapeau
6 hours ago
14 min read

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 8/27/2026

Welcome to Draft Season! Technically the new draft season starts the day after the NFL Draft but with the College Football season set to kick off tomorrow and the NFL season only 2 weeks away, I'm using this timeline to start my official Draft Content for the 2027 season.

Draft content will start with this Mock Draft but as my content showed last year, I will be again prioritizing player evaluations and team makeup over Mock Draft exercises.

Mock Drafts are people like me's bread and butter, but they're more for show and for clicks then they are actually being productive or giving you, the viewer and consumer, a real glimpse into what the next group of NFL rookies will look like.

That being said, Mock Drafts are the BEST way to formally introduce you to next year's class while also giving you a look at what the Draft Order may look like. As always, the draft order in this exercise will be the Reverse Super Bowl Odds order (via DraftKings as of 8/19)

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Official Mock Draft 1.0

1. Arch Manning, QB, Texas

Arizona Cardinals

The same pick I had from last year's 1.0, Arch Manning is the pick here. There can be an argument made for Dante Moore or even Jeremiah Smith as the undoubted #1 player of this class but it's Arch all the way.

Arch's star power alone may make him irresistible enough to be taken here but if we see him play in 2026 the way he played in the second half of 2025, the Cards would be dumb to even look at any other prospect seriously.

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2. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

Miami Dolphins

Now that we have the #1 pick and Quarterback out of the way, I'd be remised to not mention the fact that Jeremiah Smith should be a HEAVY consideration for every pick moving forward. That being said, if the Dolphins are all the way up at the second pick, I don't care how much they gave Malik Willis this offseason.

Moore would've been the #2 pick if he came out last year and with another year of Oregon football under his belt should be even better. Moore is a big bodied and strong arm Quarterback who has a lot of experience against high-level defenses and the strength and precision to put the ball anywhere on the field.

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3. Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State

Cleveland Browns

Same with the Browns as was with the Dolphins, they just can't pass up on one of the elite QBs of the class if they're picking this high. Not only are they getting one of these Quarterbacks but they'll be getting one from their backyard in Columbus.

Julian Sayin is the most accurate and precise Quarterbacks in the NCAA and already has experience playing in a pro style offense with great receivers against great defenses.

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4. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

New York Jets

For the second year in a row, the top receiver in the class out of the Ohio State-receiver pipeline goes #4. When Tate went last year, I thought it was a bit of a reach from Tennessee. With Jeremiah Smith, this is an absolute steal.

Jeremiah Smith is the clear-cut, #1 player in this class and would've arguably been the #1 player in last year's too if he was draft eligible. Smith is the most complete receiver I've ever scouted. The Jets did a wonderful job rebuilding their offense the past two years and Smith could push it over the top. The Jets still need a long term answer at QB besides Geno Smith... maybe Cade Klubnik from last year?

Or maybe they'll use one of their 3, 1st-round picks in this year's class.

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5. Carter Smith, OT, Indiana

Las Vegas Raiders

This pick is just perfect. Carter Smith is not only the best and safest offensive lineman in this class but he was Fernando Mendoza's blind side Tackle for last year's National Championship run. We don't know yet how much time Mendoza will see on the field this year but we can assume he will be under duress behind the Raiders' O-line in it's current state.

Smith may be a bit small for Tackle at only 6'5" and 310 pounds but his hand work, power, leverage and footwork are all crisp. I'm not saying that he'll be an All-Pro right out of the gate by any means, but pair him with his Quarterback from Indiana and I do think he'll be a tremendous Tackle for the next 10 years especially across the line from Kolton Miller.,

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6. C.J. Carr, QB, Notre Dame

Atlanta Falcons

Boy oh boy do the Falcons look like they're in for a disaster of a season. From early reports of BOTH of their prized-edge rushers being out for half and the entire season respectively, to a disturbing report about how bad Tua has been, them picking at #6 might be actually reaching expectations.

As we've already seen, this Quarterback class is unbelievable this year and with the Penix and Tua situation already seemingly over before it starts, the Falcons would be negligent not to take the best available QB which happens to be C.J. Carr. Truth be told I'm not super sold on him yet but he's absolutely an intelligent and capable QB who seems ready to have another breakout season and very much put himself in this conversation.

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7. Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame

Tennessee Titans

The first defensive player going off the board also happens to be my #3 player in the class and should be a steal for the Titans. Leonard Moore is teetering on a perfect-CB prospect and seems poised to answer any questions we have of him this year at Notre Dame.

He's 6'2", 200 pounds, has very long arms, can be aggressive and excels at both man and zone coverage. We still haven't seen him against top-notch receivers and I don't expect him to run under a 4.4-40 so I think he'll be better as a zone corner but it's not an exaggeration to say, with Robert Saleh, Moore could be a Top-3 corner in the league within just a few short years.

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8. Collin Simmons, Edge, Texas

Carolina Panthers

Once the first defender goes I believe we'll see a domino effect as Simmons is the 2nd of a 4 player swing. In my eyes, Simmons and Stewart are the two clear, top Edges of this class and I prefer Simmons just a bit right now.

Either man could play DE or OLB but Simmons is more polished and aggressive to Stewart's athletic and finesse.

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9. Dylan Stewart, Edge, South Carolina

New Orleans Saints

Which is why he'll go right after Simmons in this mock. Stewart has all the talent in the world at a young age but something about top prospects out of South Carolina scares me into thinking he could be in for a disappointing season.

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10. David Stone, DT, Oklahoma

New York Giants

Stone should be the best of a very good and top heavy DT-class. With great siZe and speed and 6'3" and 310 pounds, Stone is more of a run defender but has shown an ability to get to the passer. I'd like to see progression in his block shedding in 2026 but either way he should flirt with a Top-10 pick

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11. Jayden Maiava, QB, USC

New York Jets (via IND)

The Jets took Jeremiah Smith at 4 and then take USC's Jayden Maiava at 11 to (seemingly) complete their offensive rebuild. I'm big on Maiava and personally would take him over Carr but it's a coin flip before the season starts.

Maiava is a big bodied QB with a good arm that comes from a great coach and school. Anytime the Jets draft a QB it's hard to project much for them but I'd love Maiava's chances with Smith, Cooper, Wilson and Sediq.

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12. Cam Coleman, WR, Texas

Washington Commanders

The Commanders are at a cross roads and even though I believe McLaurin could still be a 1,000-tlyard receiver for a few more years, they should try to find Jayden Daniels a more long term plan.

Coleman is a 6'3" freaky athlete and former #5 High School prospect. He should be in store for a monster season after transferring from Auburn to Texas and I have no doubt will play himself into a Top-20 pick.

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13. Will Echoles, DT, Ole Miss

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There have been uncertainties surrounding Vita Vea's future and for that matter... Everyone's future in Tampa. Vea has been a staple and consistent factor in Tampa's defense for half a decade now and that's hard to replace but Will Echoles is a rare DT. Tampa seems on the verge of a complete rebuild with players like Vea and Mayfield's future uncertain so the Buccs should fill a need here while also going BPA.

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14. Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia

Minnesota Vikings

I've been trying to give Minnesota a Corner for 3 Mock Drafts now so MAYBE they'll actually go with one in 2027 and Ellis Robinson would be a perfect fit in their very mediocre secondary.

Robinson is a medium-risk, high-reward guy who's ball instincts and ability to cause turnovers is second to none in the class. With good size and speed, Robinson has real potential to be CB1 for Minnesota for years to come.

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15. A'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon

Pittsburgh Steelers

The hypothetical combination of old teammates, Derrick Harmon and Nose Tackle A'Mauri Washington seems so Pittsburgh to me I had to make this pick. Washington is one of the 3 top DT's of the class but the clear best Nose Tackle standing at 6'3" and 330 pounds. With Cameron Heyward still elite but now 37-years old and current Nose Tackle Yahya Black only okay, getting a premier Nose Tackle like Washington who would've been a 1st rounder last year will definitely bring black flashes of the Steel Curtain.

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16. Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida

Jacksonville Jaguars

So first off let me say, Baugh is RB1 of his class currently until Ahmad Hardy eventually comes back. Even still Baugh is a terrific Running Back prospect that would fit beautifully in Jacksonville's system alongside Bhayshul Tuten.

Baugh is an old-school, run the ball down your throat kind of back. He's displayed great patience and vision at Florida and has really great speed for 230 pounds. He might not be great on 3rd downs but give him the rock and let him get 4-6 yards per carry every time.

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18. Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU

Chicago Bears

Seaton has a really good chance to be the first lineman off the board come April but he'll be the one in this class that teams don't know if he'll be a Tackle or a Guard. Even if he is a Guard, this would still be a steal for the Bears who will have holes on their line at both positions.

Seaton is big and strong and certainly has the capability to start at Tackle in the future but I will need to see him stay with NFL-caliber Edge Rushers as they bend to the outside.

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19. Trey'Dez Green, TE, LSU

Cincinnati Bengals

This isn't my favorite pick in this mock because I think if the Bengals were picking at #19 they may be under pressure to do something drastic in the offseason. That being said, if they prepare to run it back in 2027, bringing in a weapon like Green would not only make their passing attack even better but seems like a VERY Bengals thing to do to get another LSU weapon.

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20. Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas

Denver Broncos

Another lineman that I was really trying to find a place for earlier, Goosby is an elite athlete at 6'7" and has a lot of solid, starting experience at Texas. Goosby is great in run blocking but has his ups and downs in pass protection. With Garrett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey getting up there in age, Goosby is a perfect stash at Tackle for the Broncos to eventually make their Franchise Tackle down the road.

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21. Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama

Detroit Lions

Zabien Brown is a rare breed of corners that's best in man coverage but has the size and speed to also have very high-end potential against the run. He needs to stop being so grabby and improve his zone coverage but a team like Detroit who uses multiple schemes could easily hide his flaws. Plus, after the Terrion Arnold fiasco they really could use the best Corner on the board.

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22. Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama

San Francisco 49ers

This pick has a lot of "What Ifs" connected to it, the least of which is Ryan Williams getting back to his 2024-form after a down year last season. The 49ers seem to have gotten a gem with De'Zhaun Stribling but Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel won't be viable for much longer, the former of which is already dealing with injury. Getting a guy like Coleman, who's X-potential would play seamlessly off of Stribling in the slot, would give Brock Purdy the weapons he needs to keep the 49ers atop the NFC West.

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23. Ahmad Hardy, RB, Mizzou

Dallas Cowboys (via GB)

Earlier I talked about Hardy being the best Running Back in the class but his medical may scare some teams; not the Cowboys. For a team like the Cowboys who have historically been best when they have an elite Running Back, Hardy falling to them would almost be a sign.

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24. Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss

Houston Texans

This is my hot take of the draft, but when I was making this Mock Draft the report came out that CJ Stroud is reportedly asking for a $70 million per year contract. Stroud has shown that he could still be an efficient Quarterback but if he doesn't get back to his rookie year-form and in fact show that he can improve on his best season, the Texans should SERIOUSLY consider a change at QB because their defense is way too elite to waste their Super Bowl window on him any longer.

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25. Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon

Los Angeles Chargers

There should be a real competition for TE1 between Green and Johnson but it comes down to Green having the higher receiving potential and Johnson being the well-rounded, better blocker. For the Chargers, they already have Gadsden who is much more of the former.

Johnson has good size at 6'5" and 260 pounds and can hold against the run but his receiving should take another step in his first year as starter for the Ducks. The Chargers really should be trying to give Herbert more options and a Tight End like Johnson would be a game changer.

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26. K.J. Bolden, SAF, Georgia

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs started to rebuild their secondary with Delane last year and I think a young Safety to pair behind him would be an excellent compliment. K.J. Bolden is the clear #1 Safety in this draft and along with being a very fast and rangy cover, is a run stopping Safety with elite tackling. Bolden's only knock is being undersized at 185. He doesn't play like it, but being lighter may cause enough teams to pass on him for the Chiefs to get a steal.

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27. Clev Lubin, Edge, Louisville

New England Patriots

The Patriots look to be back among the top teams in the league again and have done so while somehow neglecting their pass rush. Clev Lubin would address this problem while also giving the Patriots a solid Linebacker in the meantime. Lubin can do it all for an OLB and even drop back in coverage when he's not setting the Edge. It may take him a year or two to become proficient against larger Tackles but he's so skilled in so many areas that it'll be worth the wait.

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28. Koi Perich, SAF, Oregon

Philadelphia Eagles

For the final 5 picks of this Mock Draft, they might not be the perfect fits for these teams but I want to highlight some of the best remaining players. Koi Perich is transferring over to Oregon and like Dillon Thieneman is a great athlete that patrols the back end well but should have incredible Nickelback instincts.

Perich needs to work on his tackling but moving to Oregon this season should help him with the little things and turn this instinctual athlete into a Safety worthy of being in the 1st round.

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29. Damon Wilson II, Edge, Miami

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are one of those teams that should always stack up on Edge rushers so they don't have to pay top end for them and Wilson would be such a great pickup for them. It's all about his release and burst off the line for Wilson which was laready elite and producing before he even transferred to Miami. He will get stonewalled too much when Tackles get a hold of him but if he can beat them to the outside this guy is a pure Quarterback hunter.

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30. Kyngstonn Villiamu-Asa, LB, Notre Dame

Baltimore Ravens

Villiamu-Asa is going to be a very good-to-great Linebacker at the next level but it's hard to project if 2026 will be as good of a season for him after coming back from a Torn ACL. KVA is a bit light for the position at 230 pounds but makes up for it with elite speed and sure tackling. If he shows that there's no residuals from his ACL injury, it's possible that he goes a lot higher than this.

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31. Iapanai Laloulu, OC, Oregon

Buffalo Bills

The Bills have needed an upgrade at Center and Laloulu is easily the best of a mediocre group this year. Laloulu is a massive Center at 6'2" and 330 pounds who's quick off the snap and already ELITE in pass blocking. His lateral quickness is average because of his mass so run blocking is mostly contained at the line but this kid has shown in 2+ years at Oregon that Nose Tackles just don't get by him.

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32. Jaccarius Peak, OT, South Carolina

Los Angeles Rams

So the last pick in this mock is another where it's not the absolute best pick but I wanted to include a guy like Peak. Peak is a lot smaller than traditional Tackles in the league at 6'4" and under 300 pounds but his movement and footwork are elite and getting better and has shown that his pass blocking is already good. South Carolina has been synonymous for great athletes not living up to their potential but I think Peak will be an exception by seasons' end.

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