The 2027 NFL Draft quarterback race is already heating up as Dante Moore, Arch Manning and CJ Carr prepare for pivotal 2026 college football seasons.
🏈 2027 NFL Mock Draft: The Quarterback Battle Begins
The 2026 college football season is about to begin, but the conversation surrounding the 2027 NFL Draft is already gaining serious momentum.
On First Take, Jordan Reid, Kevin Clark and Harry Douglas, alongside Shae Cornette, discussed the latest early mock-draft projections and examined three quarterbacks who could dominate the NFL scouting conversation over the next year: Dante Moore, Arch Manning and CJ Carr.
The quarterback class is already being viewed as potentially special, with Moore and Manning generally occupying the top two spots in early evaluations, while Carr continues to emerge as one of the most intriguing names in the group.
But with the 2026 college season only beginning, there is still a huge amount that can change.
🔥 Dante Moore: The Quarterback Everyone Is Watching
Among the early 2027 quarterback evaluations, Dante Moore has arguably generated the most momentum.
The Oregon quarterback enters the 2026 season as one of the leading candidates to become the No. 1 overall pick.
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid's latest preseason mock draft actually projects Moore to go first overall to the Cleveland Browns, ahead of Arch Manning and CJ Carr.
That projection reflects the confidence surrounding Moore's physical and technical profile.
Moore possesses:
- Strong arm talent
- Above-average accuracy
- Mobility outside the pocket
- Excellent poise
- Experience in high-pressure environments
- The ability to make throws from different platforms
He also returns to Oregon after a strong 2025 campaign in which he threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns, according to preseason coverage of the Ducks.
🎯 What Does Moore Need to Prove?
The biggest challenge for Moore is consistency.
Being projected as a potential No. 1 pick creates enormous expectations.
Every game will be examined by NFL scouts, particularly performances against elite opposition.
Moore needs to demonstrate that he can:
Make the right decision quickly.
Maintain accuracy under pressure.
Create explosive plays without forcing throws.
Perform consistently against ranked opponents.
If he checks those boxes, his draft stock could become extremely difficult for other quarterbacks to overtake.
⭐ Arch Manning: The Name Everyone Knows
Then there is Arch Manning.
Few players in college football enter a season with as much attention surrounding them.
The Texas quarterback carries the Manning family name, but NFL scouts will ultimately judge him on his own performances.
Early evaluations continue to place Manning among the elite quarterbacks in the 2027 class. CBS Sports identifies Moore and Manning as the consensus top two quarterbacks in its composite rankings.
Manning's development during the second half of the 2025 season was particularly encouraging.
He showed improved decision-making and stronger performances late in the campaign, giving scouts reason to believe that another year of experience could significantly elevate his stock.
🧠 The Biggest Question for Arch Manning
For Manning, the 2026 season is about proving consistency.
NFL scouts will want to see improvements in:
- Accuracy
- Progression through reads
- Decision-making
- Pocket management
- Timing
- Performance against elite defenses
His physical tools are not the main question.
The real question is whether Manning can turn those tools into consistent production at the highest level of college football.
If he does, the possibility of Manning becoming the No. 1 overall pick remains very real.
🍀 CJ Carr: The Wild Card in the Top Three
While Moore and Manning receive most of the attention, CJ Carr could be the quarterback who changes the entire conversation.
The Notre Dame quarterback is already being viewed as a potential first-round selection, although his decision to enter the 2027 draft remains uncertain because he has additional college eligibility.
Carr's biggest strengths are different from those of Moore and Manning.
He is regarded as a cerebral quarterback with:
- Natural accuracy
- Good mobility
- Strong decision-making
- Ability to progress beyond his first read
- Advanced pocket awareness
His arm strength may not generate the same headlines as some of his rivals, but his mental processing could become one of his biggest selling points.
📊 Early Quarterback Rankings
Early rankings vary between analysts, but the top of the class is already becoming clearer.
| Rank | Quarterback | School | Early Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dante Moore | Oregon | Potential QB1 |
| 2 | Arch Manning | Texas | Potential No. 1 pick |
| 3 | CJ Carr | Notre Dame | Rising first-round candidate |
| 4 | Drake Lindsey | Minnesota | Potential riser |
| 5 | Darian Mensah | Miami | Intriguing prospect |
PFN's early rankings place Moore first, Manning second and Carr third, while other evaluations differ on the order.
That disagreement is exactly what makes the 2027 class so fascinating.
🏆 Could Three Quarterbacks Go at the Top?
An early ESPN mock draft has created a particularly interesting scenario.
Reid's projection has quarterbacks occupying the first three selections, with:
- Cleveland Browns — Dante Moore
- Arch Manning
- CJ Carr
The exact team destinations will obviously change as the 2026 NFL season unfolds, but the projection demonstrates how highly this quarterback class is regarded.
Having three quarterbacks selected at the very top would be a remarkable development.
But there is still an entire college season to play.
🔮 The 2026 College Football Season Will Decide Everything
Mock drafts at this stage should be viewed as snapshots rather than predictions.
The 2026 season could dramatically change the order.
A quarterback who starts slowly could fall down draft boards.
Another prospect could emerge from outside the current top three.
Even players currently viewed as potential first-rounders could decide to return to college for another season.
That final point is particularly important for Carr and other younger prospects, because the 2027 draft class includes several players who still have additional college eligibility.
👀 Three Quarterbacks, Three Different Paths
Dante Moore
The polished passer with the strongest current case for QB1.
Arch Manning
The elite-tool prospect carrying enormous expectations.
CJ Carr
The cerebral quarterback who could rise rapidly with another strong season.
Their development throughout 2026 will determine whether the early rankings remain accurate.
🏁 Final Thoughts
The 2027 NFL Draft is already shaping up to be one of the most intriguing quarterback classes in recent memory.
Dante Moore, Arch Manning and CJ Carr are at the center of the discussion, but the 2026 college football season will provide the evidence NFL teams actually need.
Moore enters the season with a strong claim to QB1.
Manning has the physical talent and pedigree to challenge him.
Carr could emerge as the surprise contender if he continues developing at Notre Dame.
For now, the debate is only beginning.
The 2027 NFL Draft quarterback race is officially underway — and the 2026 college football season could determine who ultimately gets the first call on draft night.
