NFL Scouts Favor Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker as Top 2027 QB Prospect

In a midseason poll of 25 NFL scouts, Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker emerged as the top choice for the first quarterback selected in the 2027 NFL draft.

Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker received 17 of 25 votes from NFL scouts and executives to be the first passer selected in the 2027 NFL draft, according to an ESPN midseason poll. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound prospect rose to the top of the rankings after receiving zero votes in an August poll. Notre Dame’s CJ Carr placed second with four votes, followed by Miami’s Darian Mensah with three and Oregon’s Dante Moore with one.

Mestemaker’s draft stock shifted following a 39-31 upset victory over Oregon on Sept. 12. During that contest, the North Texas walk-on recorded 317 passing yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by a 75-yard rushing score. By the conclusion of the 2026 season, the quarterback is projected to have 27 career starts. Scouts cited his arm strength, accuracy, and prototypical body type as primary factors for his ranking.

Other prospects in the 2027 class have seen their standing fluctuate during the 2026 season. Oregon’s Dante Moore, who led the August poll with 14 votes, is currently sidelined for the remainder of the season following a concussion sustained against USC on Sept. 26. Meanwhile, Darian Mensah is currently completing 81.4% of his passes, a mark that exceeds Bo Nix’s 2023 FBS record of 77.4%.

Additional prospects being monitored include Texas’ Arch Manning, who scouts noted is struggling with accuracy and turnovers, and former Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby. Sorsby is currently training with NFL assistant Rich Scangarello while addressing concerns regarding past sports betting admissions. The 2027 class follows a 2026 draft that saw Fernando Mendoza selected at No. 1 and Ty Simpson at No. 13.