The 2027 NFL Draft is shaping up to be loaded at the quarterback position. It also already has at least one confirmed early-round entrant.
On Tuesday, June 30, the NFL sent a memo to teams that it had reached a settlement with the NFLPA and Brendan Sorsby that there would be “no further litigation regarding his entry into the NFL” while making the embattled quarterback eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Sorsby’s status had been in limbo after the NFL denied him entry into the 2026 supplemental draft – which will not be held – amid a gambling scandal surrounding the 22-year-old.
But Tuesday’s resolution will guarantee Sorsby a chance to eventually state his case to play in the NFL. The major question is about how he will remain sharp without getting in-game reps at either the college or professional level in 2026.
Of course, the other question is about where Sorsby will fall in the pecking order among draft-eligible 2027 quarterback prospects. He has a tantalizing skill set, but there are plenty of other high-caliber prospects who could emerge as first-round selections, especially if they can enjoy quality 2026 seasons.
Here’s a way-too-early look at the projected top quarterbacks for the 2027 NFL Draft class.
2027 NFL Draft quarterback rankings
1. Dante Moore, Oregon
Moore very easily could have been the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft but opted to return to school after a disappointing finish in the College Football Playoff. He’s only 21 years old but already possesses excellent deep-passing skills, good arm talent, and solid mobility that could help him become a dual-threat option at the next level.
Moore is still developing and may need time to transition to a pro-style offense at the NFL level, but his proven production and quality skill set make him the early favorite to be the top quarterback selected in 2027.
2. Arch Manning, Texas
Manning debuted as Texas’ full-time starter to much fanfare in 2025. He fell flat in the early stages of the season but made strides as the season went along, showing plus athleticism for the quarterback position along with his natural arm talent.
Manning’s accuracy amid his slow start was a concern, so he will need to work on being more consistent, especially under pressure. If he can make the leap during his second season as a starter, the 22-year-old could become the third member of the Manning family to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft.
3. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Accuracy is the name of the game with Sayin. The Ohio State product completed a whopping 77% of his passes for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting and led the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff, where they were defeated by Miami after earning a bye.
While Sayin is a sharp, accurate passer, there are questions about how exactly his athletic ceiling compares to this class’ other top prospects. Still, the 20-year-old’s excellent release and penchant for avoiding mistakes should put him in the race to be the top overall selection, especially if he can continue to read the field as well as he did in his first year as a starter.
4. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
Sellers took a step back in 2025 after entering the season viewed as a potential first-round prospect. He completed just 60.8% of his passes for 2,437 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions while playing behind a South Carolina line that struggled to protect him.
NFL teams will still have plenty of interest in Sellers. The 6-3, 240-pound signal-caller is uber-athletic, with a cannon arm and top-tier mobility that could allow him to develop into a dual-threat passer at the next level.
5. CJ Carr, Notre Dame
Carr debuted as a redshirt-freshman starter last season and found immediate success. He completed 66.6% of his passes for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions while showing off a clean release that helped him routinely hit his target with accuracy.
Carr is a pocket passer and won’t create a lot on the move or out of structure. Even so, his accuracy and ball placement skills should help make him a quality NFL quarterback, especially considering the success he had throwing the ball deep last season for the Fighting Irish.
6. Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech
Sorsby was originally set to play for Texas Tech after enjoying a breakout season at Cincinnati. Instead, he won’t play anywhere in 2026 after being the subject of a gambling scandal and seeing the NFL deny his bid to be selected in the supplemental draft.
It will be interesting to see how Sorsby develops without any live game action. His size (6-3, 235 pounds), strong arm and good mobility should pique the interest of NFL teams, but it isn’t clear whether he will be able to work himself back into the first-round conversation following his scandal.
7. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
There are a couple of major concerns about Chambliss when assessing his NFL potential. First, he will be 24 when the 2027 NFL Draft occurs and will turn 25 on eve of his rookie season. Second, he is only 6-0, 208 pounds, which is on the smaller side for an NFL quarterback.
Even so, Chambliss’ tape should quell those concerns. He was dynamic in his first season as Ole Miss’ starter, completing 66.1% of his passes for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns and three interceptions in Lane Kiffin’s quarterback-friendly offense.
Chambliss has excellent deep-ball accuracy and mobility that should help him get a chance to prove himself as an NFL starter. He is somewhat similar to a young Russell Wilson, and that could work in his favor.
8. Jayden Maiava, USC
Maiava was another quarterback who could have declared for the 2026 NFL Draft but opted to return to school. That decision will provide a good test for the 22-year-old, as Makai Lemon, Ja’Kobi Lane and Lake McRee have all moved onto the NFL ranks.
Maiava has a powerful 6-4, 230-pound frame and throws with good timing and ball placement.
9. Darian Mensah, Miami (FL)
Mensah helped Duke earn an improbable ACC championship over Virginia and completed 66.8% of his passes for 3,973 yards, 34 touchdowns and just six interceptions while showing a steady presence and patience in the pocket.
Mensah’s accuracy and touch-passing capabilities should help him show well at Miami, which will be his third school in as many seasons. The 6-3, 205-pound passer doesn’t have the biggest arm, but his cerebral style of play could be enough to make him an early-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
10. Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
Mestemaker was a zero-star walk-on at North Texas. In 2025, his first season as a starter for the program, he completed 68.9% of his passes for 4,379 yards, 34 touchdowns and nine interceptions while throwing for a school-record 608 yards against Charlotte.
Mestemaker has great size (6-4, 211 pounds), a very good arm and a penchant for fitting throws into tight windows. Still, he’s just a one-year starter and needs more battle testing before emerging as a top-tier NFL prospect.
But if Mestemaker can perform well in his first season at Oklahoma State, the sky is the limit for him.
Best of the rest: Nico Iamaleava (UCLA), DJ Lagway (Baylor), Sam Leavitt (LSU), John Mateer (Oklahoma),
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2027 NFL Draft quarterback rankings: Where does Brendan Sorsby rank?
