The 2027 NFL Draft is shaping up to be a quarterback-rich affair, with a potential five or more quarterbacks being selected in the first round. The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner has categorized six quarterbacks into Tier 1, including Texas' Arch Manning, Oregon's Dante Moore, Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker, Notre Dame's CJ Carr, Ohio State's Julian Sayin, and USC's Jayden Maiava. However, it's important to remember that these rankings are not set in stone, as players like Moore can surprise with their decisions to return to college despite early draft projections.
Baumgardner's Tier 2 features Texas Tech's Brendan Sorsby, who was a projected first-round pick until an investigation into his gambling activities began. Despite a two-game suspension, Sorsby's off-the-field red flags could cause him to fall further than expected, and he'll need an exceptional season to maintain first-round consideration. Tier 3 includes LSU's Sam Leavitt, Miami's Darian Mensah, Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss, and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, all of whom had first-round buzz prior to the 2025 season but returned to school due to uneven performances.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who drafted Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, could still be in the market for a quarterback in 2027. With 11 players in the top three tiers and the third tier containing first-round talent, the Steelers have a variety of potential options. However, their draft position, likely in the top half of the first round, limits their ability to select a true game-changer at quarterback. In an ideal scenario, Allar and/or Will Howard would develop sufficiently, eliminating the need for an additional quarterback pick. Nonetheless, the talent-rich class of 2027 makes it a real possibility that the Steelers will draft a quarterback in the first round, given the depth of the position in this draft.
This draft class presents an intriguing scenario for NFL teams, with a deep pool of quarterbacks to choose from. The Steelers, in particular, have a challenging decision to make, as they balance the need for a potential franchise quarterback with the risk of drafting a player who may not pan out. The 2027 draft promises to be a fascinating one, with teams strategizing to secure the best talent available at the most important position on the field.
