You may have heard that the 2027 NFL Draft class could be an all-timer. I've been doing year-out mocks a long time, and 2027 has the highest number of preseason blue-chippers of any class I can remember.
That being said, injuries and prospects returning to school can always change how it looks a year from now.
I went through the top prospects at each position to compare how they'd fare against the top prospects in this year's class as it stands right now.
I broke down Manning's 2025 season in January and thought he finished looking like the prospect we were promised. Given he brings a stronger arm and better mobility than Mendoza, there would have been a real debate about who to take at the top of the draft had Manning declared.
Thankfully, we get another season of tape to properly evaluate the Texas quarterback. I'm staying out of the fray on this one.
Arch Manning 2025 Cut Ups pic.twitter.com/83D2xVL4Fl
Hardy is stylistically much closer to Ashton Jeanty than Jeremiyah Love. The Missouri junior has elite contact balance and refuses to go down. While I wouldn't put him in the same breath as either of the top-10 picks from the past two seasons, Hardy has the talent to be a first-rounder in his own right.
Ole Miss' Kewan Lacy and Louisville's IIsaac Brown could join him among the top 32 as well. The only question is whether all the rising juniors will declare -- or if playing out eligibility becomes the new norm for running backs not going in the top 10.
Ahmad Hardy 25 Carries, 300 RUYDS, 3 TDs vs Mississippi State Today.Kid needs to be talked about more.pic.twitter.com/pnih7Hf429 https://t.co/AMWCoGZBcF
Do I even need to debate this one? Smith should surpass Malik Nabers and Ja'Marr Chase as the top WR1 prospect I've ever scouted. Heck, new Texas wide receiver Cam Coleman should easily clear the grade I gave Concepcion this draft cycle. Next year will have some serious high-end talent.
Jeremiah Smith fade/go receptions pic.twitter.com/hRIRRa6MeR
I went with Green for the sheer shock value he brings as a prospect. The 6-foot-7 tight end will likely measure with the longest wingspan ever for the position. He looks like a power forward on the field and is used like one. I doubt he'll be considered in a similar vein to Sadiq, though, who went No. 16 overall.
There's a good chance the top option next year is Sadiq's former Oregon teammate Jamari Johnson, who has a massive 6-foot-5 frame himself.
kinda hard to not notice Trey'Dez Green when watching LSU pic.twitter.com/BiteEhA1W1
This one was already settled on my initial big board before final declarations. Trevor Goosby would have been my OT1 in the 2026 class but decided to return to Texas for a fourth season. If he improves on what we saw down the stretch, he'll be a top-five pick.
Trevor Goosby (#74) Texas vs. Ohio State Goosby is a left tackle prospect that is just scratching the surface of his potential. He is only in his redshirt sophomore season for the Longhorns. He was a member of the Feldman Freak list this year with a reported 1.44 10-yard split,… pic.twitter.com/AAyWxlShl3
Because interior offensive line play demands so much strength, projecting a year out can be difficult. Comparing Pieper to Ioane is also like comparing apples to oranges, since Ioane is a guard only while Pieper is a center only.
Still, Pieper is a bit of a project, but he's the most athletic interior offensive lineman I've ever scouted. He'll thrive taking over for Logan Jones at center this year.
Iowa All-American RG Kade Pieper transitioning to center as Logan Jones is Draft bound BOOSTS the ‘27 OC1 race🎗️Pieper displayed 1st Round athleticism as a Redshirt Sophomore 🌾 Wanna hear country? He’s a hay bale toss champion🎥 @Sam_Teets33 https://t.co/uyRG5TaY1B pic.twitter.com/gGaPkWmWKg
While Bain was never going to be for everyone, Simmons will be. He is the prototype for the EDGE position in today's NFL. He has the length and twitch to be a nightmare to protect against. He's already racked up 105 pressures in two seasons at Texas, and I can't wait to see what he does for an encore.