{"id":780404,"date":"2026-02-27T18:26:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T18:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/780404\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T18:26:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T18:26:16","slug":"nfl-confidential-execs-scouts-already-pondering-potential-of-qbs-in-2027-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/780404\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Confidential: Execs, Scouts Already Pondering Potential of QBs in 2027 Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

INDIANAPOLIS \u2014 While the entire NFL<\/a> world gathered in Indianapolis this week to scout the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft<\/a>, the 2027 NFL Draft was also top of mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As the 2026 NFL Draft class appears to be thin with elite quarterback prospects after Indiana’s<\/a> Fernando Mendoza, we surveyed executives and scouts around the league to see how they view the quarterbacks that are anticipated to enter next year’s draft. It’s clear that they think highly of Texas’ Arch Manning, who earned some buzz to be a top pick in the 2026 draft as well.<\/p>\n

But will the looming draft entries of Manning and other elite quarterback prospects cause teams to bypass going after a quarterback this offseason? We found out the answer to that question and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Wait until \u201927? That\u2019s easier said than done<\/p>\n

Ralph Vacchiano<\/a>: Quarterback-needy teams won\u2019t find a lot of help in this year\u2019s draft, but if they can wait until 2027, there might be enough prospects for everyone.<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s the big question: Can those teams afford to wait?<\/p>\n

“If you\u2019re asking, \u2018Can they just ride it out and waste a year in the hopes of landing Arch Manning in 2027?\u2019 the answer is yes,” one NFL executive told me. “But not if they like their jobs.”<\/p>\n

The point, the exec said, is that few owners of bad teams and very few fan bases could show that kind of patience, and neither could their players. Players and owners want to win. Coaches and general managers often need to win.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“And to guarantee you\u2019ll get one of those QBs next year, you need to be really,\u00a0really\u00a0bad again. An 8-9 season might not be enough,” the executive said.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Even in free agency, teams must keep the 2027 QB class in mind<\/p>\n

Vacchiano: In the top 11 of the 2026 NFL Draft, there are at least four teams that might need a new quarterback for next season and can\u2019t afford to wait for 2027. Only one (the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1) is likely to find one in the draft.<\/p>\n

That leaves the Jets<\/a> (2), Cardinals<\/a> (3), and Dolphins (11) trying to decide between the bad options they currently have, a lesser rookie quarterback in the early rounds of the draft, or taking a potentially expensive dip into an underwhelming free agency pool.<\/p>\n

But whatever they do, they have to be very careful, because the long-term futures of their franchise are at stake.<\/p>\n

“They\u2019re all stuck,” an assistant general manager told me. “They need a QB now, but none of the options are good. None of the other guys in the draft [other than Mendoza] look like a good, long-term bet. And it\u2019s going to cost them to get a Malik Willis<\/a> or Mac Jones [in a trade].<\/p>\n

“But they have to watch that because they need to keep their eyes on the prizes in 2027. The last thing you want to do is tie yourself in any way to a mediocre quarterback beyond next year and cause your team to miss out on that class.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Malik Willis headlines the list of quarterbacks expected to switch teams this offseason. (Photo by Patrick McDermott\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

That\u2019s not a problem when it comes to most of the free agent quarterbacks. Daniel Jones<\/a>, coming off a torn ACL, and 43-year-old Aaron Rodgers aren\u2019t likely to get long-term deals that don\u2019t contain an early way out for their teams. It gets more complicated with Malik Willis, who most believe is the best of this free agent class. He\u2019s 26, and he could have several suitors when the market opens, even though he\u2019s made just six starts in his four NFL years.<\/p>\n

“He\u2019ll get paid,” another NFL executive told me. “But he\u2019s probably not a better option than any of those top guys next year. They\u2019re going to have to be careful with that contract if there is any kind of bidding war. They need to leave their options open for that 2027 draft.”<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Arch Manning is still the one, whenever he decides to come out<\/p>\n

Vacchiano: Back in early December, multiple NFL scouts and executives told me that if Arch Manning had declared for this 2026 draft<\/a>, he\u2019d be the likely No. 1 overall pick.<\/p>\n

Nearly three months later, their opinions haven\u2019t changed.<\/p>\n

“That kid\u2019s got everything you want and he keeps getting better and better,” an NFL area scout told me. “Size, arm, smarts, mobility, leadership. I still think he has some growing to do. I\u2019m glad he stayed in school. But he\u2019s still the best prospect out there right now.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Arch Manning saw his draft stock rise again after a strong close to the 2025 season. (Photo by Dustin Markland\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

“It\u2019s about potential and ceiling,” an NFL exec told me. “If I\u2019m picking up top, I\u2019m trying to find a quarterback who can lead my team for the next decade. Fernando Mendoza is a terrific prospect. He might even be more NFL-ready. But this isn\u2019t a one-year decision. Manning is going to be better long term.”<\/p>\n

“I can\u2019t imagine how bad [Manning] would have to be to not be the No. 1 pick next year,” another scout told me. “He\u2019s just that good. And you know teams are falling in love with the \u2018Manning\u2019 name and the hype and the hope he\u2019s the next great one in that line. This year, next year, two years from now \u2026 it just doesn\u2019t matter. He\u2019s the best and safest prospect out there.”<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

NIL money rewards patience from 2027 QB draft class<\/p>\n

Eric D. Williams: Part of the reason for the weakness of this year\u2019s QB draft class is that top prospects like Oregon\u2019s Dante Moore, Texas’ Arch Manning and Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss decided not to enter the draft in favor of another year in college.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dante Moore was considered to be a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft before opting to stay at Oregon. (CFP\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Those three staying put continues a recent trend of heralded pro quarterback prospects choosing to continue to play college because of lucrative name, image and likeness (NIL) deals that will pay them more to play at the college level than they would make in the NFL as a rookie.<\/p>\n

“When I was in college, a big reason guys would leave early was that it was a lottery ticket that you could cash in,” an ex-NFL player told me. “And that\u2019s when you have never won the lottery. \u2026 You don\u2019t need to rush into the NFL when you\u2019re making millions in college. It\u2019s nothing like it was when I was in college. Juniors would leave way before they were ready in part because they were just broke.”<\/p>\n

NFL personnel executives often wonder how a player is going to change once they sign a lucrative contract. But with quarterbacks making millions in NIL money, they can start the evaluation process.<\/p>\n

“The cool thing about college scouting that we always had to answer when we were going to schools is \u2018How\u2019s a guy going to be when he has money?\u2019” Chargers<\/a> general manager Joe Hortiz said at the NFL Scouting Combine this week. “Now we have that answer. Some guys get the money and change the way they are. Other guys get the money, and you hear stories about them taking guys out for dinner \u2014 he\u2019s taking his teammates out and he works hard, is a leader.<\/p>\n

“You kind of get the answer. It\u2019s a great thing and it\u2019s great for players in college to have that opportunity.”<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Other QBs to watch for 2027, and are they better than this year’s QB2?<\/p>\n

Williams: Moore was considered a possible early first-round selection had he entered the draft this year. Manning finally started living up to his vast potential in the second half of last season and is expected to be the No. 1 quarterback prospect next year. And Chambliss looked impressive in leading Ole Miss to the College Football<\/a> Playoff semifinal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Trinidad Chambliss was able to get another year of eligibility. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Others who could be in the mix include USC\u2019s Jayden Maiava, Ohio State\u2019s Julian Sayin and South Carolina\u2019s LaNorris Sellers.<\/p>\n

FOX Sports NFL draft analyst Rob Rang<\/a> said Manning, Moore and Sayin would be considered better prospects than Alabama’s Ty Simpson had they been in this year\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n

“It looks like it could be a special class,” Rang told me. “Rare quarterbacks and receiver talent.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"INDIANAPOLIS \u2014 While the entire NFL world gathered in Indianapolis this week to scout the top prospects in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":780405,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[615,390,2772,6446,3619,7,32622,2226,9734,4097,122,255,6,15,65456],"class_list":{"0":"post-780404","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl-draft","8":"tag-arch-manning","9":"tag-arizona-cardinals","10":"tag-daniel-jones","11":"tag-dante-moore","12":"tag-fernando-mendoza","13":"tag-football","14":"tag-jayden-maiava","15":"tag-julian-sayin","16":"tag-lanorris-sellers","17":"tag-malik-willis","18":"tag-national-football-league","19":"tag-new-york-jets","20":"tag-nfl","21":"tag-nfl-draft","22":"tag-trinidad-chambliss"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116144006073053857","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/780404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=780404"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/780404\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/780405"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=780404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=780404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=780404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}