The days of being able to claim that “next year’s quarterback class will be generational” are over.

With college football firmly in its NIL era, many underclassmen are making more money playing an extra year of school than they’d be able to earn as NFL draft picks. So, though we can certainly suggest that the 2027 quarterback class might provide a once-in-a-decade type of haul, including several prospects worthy of being a top-10 pick, we cannot say that with certainty.

That said, NFL teams are bracing for the possibility. Just two quarterbacks (No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza and surprise No. 13 selection Ty Simpson) cracked Round 1 of the 2026 draft, and the fifth and sixth QBs off the board didn’t hear their names called until Nos. 110 (Cade Klubnik) and 178 (Cole Payton), respectively.

If teams are waiting on the ’27 class, they’ll be hoping that most of the top-end talents decide to turn pro after the 2026 season. We’ll see.

Here’s an early look at some of the quarterbacks who scouts will be tracking — and that QB-needy teams may be waiting on:

Dante Moore, Oregon

(Redshirt junior; 6 feet 3 inches tall, 206 pounds)

Moore would’ve been a top-10 pick had he declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, but the 20-year-old opted to spend another year at Oregon to further develop the finer points of his game. From poise and football maturity, Moore plays beyond his years (see his 2025 Penn State tape).

With a sturdy frame and enough athleticism to make throws both on and off platform, Moore also has natural instincts as a pocket passer and delivers a generally accurate ball. He did have problems with pressure last season, often abandoning his process too early and running himself into trouble or rushing a throw. Moore also needs to show he can play with more consistent footwork on a snap-to-snap basis.

Either way, he’ll be in the mix for QB1 when the year starts.

Arch Manning, Texas

(Redshirt junior; 6-4, 219)

People tended to get in their feelings when talking about Manning’s performance last year. Regardless of where you land on all that, Manning would have been a first-round pick in the 2026 class if he’d declared. Considering Simpson’s draft slot, Manning might even have been a top-15 selection himself.

His blend of elite arm talent and above-average athleticism is impossible to ignore. He is the most talented pure passer in the prospective 2027 class, even if he has plenty to prove. While playing his first full season as a starter last year, Manning looked like an erratic youngster for the first half of 2025, before eventually settling in and playing much better ball down the stretch. Manning needs to work on settling his feet and finding a more consistent overall throwing process — poor habits impacted his accuracy more than they needed to last year.

It’s also no guarantee Manning declares for the 2027 draft, regardless of his performance this year. His situation is extremely unique, and he might decide to spend as much time as he can in Austin.

LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

(Redshirt junior; 6-3, 240)

Physically, Sellers has everything you’re looking for — he’s a gigantic quarterback with a huge arm and more than enough ability as a runner. He’s also a much better processor from the pocket than his numbers last season showed while playing in a sloppy, inefficient South Carolina offense. Plenty of Sellers’ struggles could be pinned on offensive play calling and a lack of polished talent around him. The Gamecocks hired Kendal Briles from TCU this offseason to run their new offense, hoping for better results.

Sellers still has work to do as a decision-maker from the pocket. Too many of the sacks he took last season were his fault, as he’s still affected by pressure more than you’d like to see. It also felt like he lost some confidence as a passer last season.

If he gets it back, though, he’s another QB with top-15 potential.

Julian Sayin, Ohio State

(Junior; 6-1, 208)

All the normal Ohio State caveats apply here: Sayin gets to play with the best wide receiver talent in America, behind one of the best offensive lines and in one of the best offenses. Still, he started as a redshirt freshman last year and looked like a fifth-year senior at times. His poise in the pocket, naturally calm feet and throwing process are all beyond his years. His accuracy last season was outstanding, as he earned the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year honor.

Sayin is not a big quarterback, and he’s not really a runner. Things can look like a work of art when he’s protected, but I’m not sure we’ll see the same surgical numbers if he has to play on a team without as much relative talent, and perhaps behind a struggling offensive line. This is yet another potential top-15 prospect.

Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech

(Fifth-year senior; 6-3, 235)

One of the most sought-after transfers this offseason, Sorsby is another huge QB prospect with really good athleticism and a big-time arm. He played the best ball of his career at Cincinnati last season and probably would’ve been drafted before the end of Day 2 had he declared for the 2026 draft. Instead, he’s earning good NIL money and will have a chance to show what he can do this season against a tougher schedule.

Sorsby needs to work more consistently from the pocket and not have everything break down on him when he’s pressured. Those are frustrating questions to still have about a fifth-year player, but Sorsby could generate some first-round sizzle with a clean 2026 season.

Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

(Sixth-year senior; 6-0, 200)

Chambliss fought the law and won, being granted an extra year of eligibility after electrifying Ole Miss’ offense following a transfer from Division II powerhouse Ferris State. He’s a small quarterback (who might need cleats to hit 6 feet), but he’s a terrific deep ball thrower with tremendous athleticism from the pocket. He’s been perfect for Ole Miss’ offense.

Had he been forced into the 2026 draft, I think he would’ve been gone no later than the second round. We’ll see about next year, as another season of being able to pick apart flaws — like Chambliss’ work as a processor and that Ole Miss doesn’t run a pro-style offense — could impact his evaluation, especially if the 2027 class runs deep.

This is a very talented player, however, and one to watch.

Sam Leavitt, LSU

(Redshirt junior; 6-2, 205)

Leavitt missed the final month of the 2025 season after undergoing foot surgery, but his pure talent — both from the pocket and on the move — made him one of the most coveted prospects in this offseason’s transfer portal. A fluid, explosive athlete with plenty of arm talent, Leavitt plays a bit like a smaller version of J.J. McCarthy, as he can make any throw on the field, on the move and from multiple arm slots.

He can also be pretty erratic with his process and decision-making from the pocket. Leavitt is still more a collection of tools than a finished product right now, but those tools have first-round upside, to be sure.

C.J. Carr, Notre Dame

(Junior; 6-2, 210)

Carr is a near-perfect on-field blend of his two grandfathers — former Michigan head coach (and college QB Lloyd Carr) and College Football Hall of Fame defensive back Tom Curtis. Carr is a natural athlete who moves like a great shortstop, and his ability to find cleaner throwing air out of the pocket — and his ability to make throws from multiple arm slots — is special. He delivers a catchable ball and is really accurate when he can get his feet set.

He’s also still pretty young, on the small side and not really a scrambler. He ripped off more than his share of YOLO throws as a sophomore, too, and will have to be much more under control as a junior. Still, there are plenty of first-round-caliber tools here.

Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State

(Redshirt sophomore; 6-3, 211)

Mestemaker followed former North Texas coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State this offseason, and he’ll now get to test his talent against much better competition. Like Carr, Manning and Sayin, Mestemaker might be in no rush to leave college, as he’s about to enter his second year as a starter (and just his third year in college).

He’s an Air Raid quarterback with a ton of confidence and accuracy downfield, and he is also athletic enough to extend beyond the pocket. A former walk-on who was a zero-star recruit just two years ago, Mestemaker (a backup in high school) turned into a five-star portal prospect almost overnight. We still need to see more, but don’t forget this name.

Others to watch for 2027: Darian Mensah, Miami; Josh Hoover, Indiana; Jayden Maiava, USC; John Mateer, Oklahoma; Byrum Brown, Auburn; DJ Lagway, Florida; Nico Iamaleava, UCLA