Early NFL Draft 2027 Prospects Every Fan Should Know

Early NFL Draft 2027 Prospects Every Fan Should Know

The 2027 NFL Draft is still more than seven months away, but the board already has a shape. Quarterbacks Arch Manning and Dante Moore entered September with legitimate first-round cases, while Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith sits at No. 1 on Lance Zierlein’s preseason list of Senior Bowl prospects to watch. The NFL has set the draft for April 29-May 1 in Washington, D.C.; January 6 is the tentative early deadline for underclassmen seeking special eligibility, with the broader tentative deadline on January 13. Two weeks of college football have already supplied better evidence than summer projections, especially when protection breaks down, or a favorite suddenly has to chase the game.

Manning Won the Fourth Quarter; Moore Lost Ground

Manning’s September has produced the kind of sequence scouts keep. He opened with 305 yards and four touchdown passes against Texas State, then Texas trailed No. 1 Ohio State 23-3 entering the fourth quarter on September 12. Manning finished 23-of-37 for 196 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but Texas scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to win 24-23, with his late fourth-down work carrying more evaluation value than the raw yardage. Moore’s file moved the other direction: 378 yards and three touchdowns against Boise State were followed by 14-of-29 passing for 191 yards, two scores and four sacks in Oregon’s 39-31 loss at Oklahoma State.

Jeremiah Smith Is Past the Projection Stage

Smith is different. The Ohio State junior is listed at 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, entered 2026 with 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns in two seasons, then opened with eight catches for 151 yards and two scores against Ball State. Against Texas, he added 164 receiving yards and a touchdown despite Ohio State’s loss, giving him consecutive 150-yard games to start the season. His size and acceleration are obvious; the NFL evaluation now centers on release answers against press coverage, route efficiency when corners sit on leverage, and whether bracket looks can force him off schedule.

The Edge Race Has Two Different Answers

Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons and South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart present two different versions of a premium NFL position. Simmons led the SEC with 12 sacks in 2025 and entered this season with 21 career sacks, while NFL.com ranked Stewart second and Simmons third on its preseason list of 2027 prospects to watch. Simmons wins quickly with first-step speed and range; Stewart covers ground with long strides, sudden direction changes, and inside counters before tackles can settle. The September tape will show whether each can anchor against stronger run blocks and add enough hand variety when the first rush plan stalls, a separator that often matters more than one early sack total.

One Upset Can Move a Market Faster Than a Draft Board

Draft talk also spills naturally into betting because one Saturday can move public perception faster than a scouting grade. 23.5 points at Oklahoma State favored Oregon, yet it was outgained 554-281 and lost 39-31 after going 0-for-3 on fourth down. Rising interest in that at bet Tunisia(French: bet Tunisie) alongside game film should read that market number as evidence of pregame expectation, not proof that Moore’s NFL value changed by a full round in three hours. Sports betting adds another useful layer to the evaluation when stakes stay fixed, and matchup, protection, injuries, and game state carry more weight than a prospect’s reputation or preseason ranking.

Leonard Moore Makes the Cornerback Case Easy to See

Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore already has the profile that forces evaluators to watch the details. The school lists the junior at 6-foot-2 and 197 pounds, and NFL.com placed him fifth on Zierlein’s preseason group after two seasons of consistent ball production. His best reps come when he stays attached through the route rather than lunging at the first release, and his size lets him contest the catch point without surrendering positioning; those traits translate cleanly to press-man assignments. Vertical routes, back-shoulder throws and condensed red-zone snaps will tell more than a clean box score, especially when quarterbacks stop testing him with easy outside throws.

Jayden Maiava Has Forced His Way Into the Room

Jayden Maiava is the September riser who keeps the quarterback discussion from narrowing to Manning and Dante Moore. Through three USC wins, he has completed 67 of 83 passes for 896 yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception; against Louisiana on September 12, he threw five touchdown passes in a 49-30 win after opening the year with two highly efficient performances. The 80.7% completion rate is eye-catching, but the next useful test is structural: USC goes to Rutgers on September 19 before Oregon visits Los Angeles a week later, giving defenses a chance to disguise pressure and force longer down-and-distance decisions. That is real tape.