2027 NFL Draft Breakdown: Quarterbacks
It’s not even June but summer scouting is in full swing. Every draft class, for better or worse, is defined by its quarterbacks and so far I’ve analyzed 12 of them. I’ve decided to bail on giving round grades during the summer and instead used the trademarked fast food tier list (giving you two opportunities to disagree with either my player or food rankings). To be clear, this is where I view the players RIGHT NOW. Meaning, every single player could (and hopefully will) get better.
Tier 1: Taco Bell
Tier Description: Players in this tier are the cream of the crop, having flaws like anyone else but at the end of the day, like Taco Bell, they are the best in terms of the product you get
Quarterbacks in tier: Oregon QB Dante Moore
As of this moment, I think Dante Moore is QB1. Now maybe this is counterintuitive and still a flaw in my summer scouting because if I were to bet on it, I don’t think I’d bet Moore is QB1 by next April. However for me, he had the cleanest and most consistent tape last season. He’s accurate and poised and has made major strides in terms of recognizing coverages and making high level NFL throws. I expect him to build on his success despite losing OC Will Stein and firmly be in QB1 conversations.
Tier 2: Popeye’s
Tier Description: High quality players, usually possessing a signature trait or skill similar to Popeye’s having its chicken sandwich but also offer a variety of things to boost its stock. I need a little bit more to fully buy in but very exciting potential.
Quarterbacks in tier: Texas QB Arch Manning, USC QB Jayden Maiava
I don’t think most people would have these two in the same tier of quarterback. For Arch, he’s the talk of the town and largely everyone’s QB1 for 2027. And I really can’t push back too hard on that, he’s a great athlete that shows he can make pretty much any throw and grew so much since the week 1 debacle vs Ohio State. There were still moments where mechanics were wonky and he showed his inexperience in really bad ways but I have no issue saying he’s a QB1 candidate.
Then you have Maiava, a big athletic passer who has really been highlighted in Lincoln Riley’s offense. He makes some bad decisions and has questionable misses. He also has some exceptional ball placement and clutch moments and like Dante Moore, has made huge improvements on a year-by-year basis. I see Arch and Jayden as very likely top 10 picks if they continue on their trajectories.
Tier 3: McDonald’s
Tier Description: Solid, some people may have players in this tier as the best but like McDonald’s, as of now, they don’t push the envelope for me and you can get more bang for your buck elsewhere. There’s still a world they can be great or even top tier I’m just not confident it happens.
Quarterbacks in tier: South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers, Miami QB Darian Mensah, Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss
Three very different QBs that graded out pretty evenly for me, starting with the ultimate physical gift in Sellers. He’s so strong both with his arm and his ability to break away from tackles in the pocket. His escpability is unmatched and the special flashes are there. Yet the sacks taken are incredibly alarming even for as bad as the o-line was. He stays on first reads too long and then tries to play hero ball too much. He feels at times uncomfortable as a passer but undoubtedly has the highest ceiling of this group.
Miami’s next potential NFL Draft pick at QB is Mensah coming over from Duke this offseason. He played very well last season boasting a 34-6 TD-INT ratio with flashes of solid ball placement and moments of improvisation. He isn’t quite there yet and the TD-INT ratio does mask some pretty bad decisions and ball security problems. He has a really good chance to improve with OC Shannon Dawson and stronger supporting cast.
The brekout star of the 2026 college football season may have Chambliss. He’s an athletic quarterback who isn’t afraid to create and can make up for his smaller size with solid accuracy and wow moments. He burst out with Lane Kiffin last season despite not being the week 1 starter and now will firmly look to make the offense his own. Time will tell if he can consistently show NFL traits with size concerns already working against him.
Tier 4: Pizza Hut
Tier Description: In a word, intriguing. Like Pizza Hut, there’s some slept on traits and/or compelling upside with players in this tier. Not players I think are really close to the top of the chain right now but I do have a fair bit of positivity there’s something special here.
Quarterbacks in tier: NC State QB CJ Bailey, Baylor QB DJ Lagway, Indiana QB Josh Hoover
I was actually a bit surprised how low I came in on Bailey. On paper he’s very exciting, big, strong arm, athletic and made some very nice throws. I do think right now, his technical ability needs improvement, he’s not very comfortable with reading defenses and he drops his eyes a bit too quickly. Physically he’s among the best and is my one to watch out of this tier.
Like Bailey, Lagway is incredibly physically gifted. He’s built like a thumping linebacker and he has a Howitzer for an arm. I’d also say that his ball placement is pretty bad which usually stems from his upper and lower halves not syncing consistently. He also has issues seeing the field that result in dangerous passes.
Hoover clearly demonstrates NFL IQ in the pocket. He can recognize and make very accurate and decisive passes. His problems start almost immediately when the pocket closes in. He’ll get small, take sacks and become erratic. I’m also just not sure how high the ceiling is given is underwhelming measurables but maybe Indiana elevates him like it did for Fernando Mendoza.
Tier 5: Subway
Tier Description: Players in this tier are pretty far away from being among the best at the position. Like Subway, players aren’t going to feel exciting and fresh and groundbreaking. But unlike the bottom tier, there’s a glimmer of hope they can elevate and find their way.
Quarterbacks in tier: Northern Arizona QB Ty Pennington, Syracuse QB Steve Angeli
Would it really be an Anthony Russo QB rankings without an FCS guy? Pennington is far from a household name and he isn’t going to wow you physically. What he is though is an incredibly smooth and natural passer who isn’t afraid of a defense bearing down on him and can fit balls in tight windows. I want to see him step up in pockets more consistently and clean up the footwork but there’s a reason that I as well as Blesto and NFS scouts are giving him draftable grades.
Angeli arguably had one of the best single games any QB played last season. His performance against Clemson could’ve been the start of a breakout campaign had he not been injured and sidelined for the rest of the season. Angeli transferred to the Orange from Notre Dame and proved he can play at high level. He obviously needs to put together an entire season before he’d get serious NFL Draft hype but don’t be surprised if he emerges as a top QB out of the ACC.
Tier 6: Long John Silvers
Tier Description: At this point, undraftable (or in LJS’s case, uneatable). Seriously lacks upside as of now and needs a complete overhaul or massive elevation to climb the rankings
Quarterbacks in tier: N/A
I haven’t watched a QB yet that I feel this strongly about as a negative, which I guess is a good thing. I just wasn’t going to pass on an opportunity to bash Long John Silver’s.