Miller, Reid Release 2027 NFL Draft Early Rankings
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- Matt Miller and Jordan Reid compiled way-too-early 2027 NFL Draft top-fives at every position group, based on film study and conversations with NFL scouts and personnel people, ahead of the draft in Washington, D.C.
- Arch Manning (Texas) is the consensus QB1 from both analysts, with Dante Moore (Oregon) ranked QB2 by both, while the order of the next three (Drew Mestemaker, CJ Carr, and Darian Mensah) differs between the two lists.
- Drew Mestemaker followed head coach Eric Morris from North Texas to Oklahoma State after throwing for an FBS-leading 4,379 yards and 34 touchdowns (tied for second in FBS) against nine interceptions in 2025, drawing a Fernando Mendoza-like riser comparison from Miller.
- Ahmad Hardy (Missouri) tops Miller's running back board but is recovering from surgery after being shot in the upper leg at a concert in May, leaving his status for the upcoming season unknown.
- LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina) is flagged by Reid as the top outside-the-top-five QB to watch, with scouts viewing him as having Round 1 tools if he shows more consistency as a passer in a new-look offense with coordinator Kendal Briles.
- Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) is the consensus WR1 from both analysts, while at tight end, Terrance Carter Jr. (Texas Tech) draws a Harold Fannin Jr. comp despite being listed at 6-foot-2, 245 pounds — well below standard NFL tight end size.
- The rankings run through quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive tackle, guard, center, and edge rusher, with each position also featuring a "toughest player to rank" and a sleeper-to-watch prospect.
Why it matters: These rankings give NFL front offices and fans a 10-month roadmap to the 2027 class, and the two analysts' disagreements — like Miller ranking Hardy RB1 versus Reid's Lacy at the top — highlight where evaluation is unsettled. Hardy's gunshot injury and uncertain status represent the single biggest wild card in the early rankings, while Manson's and Sellers' riser tags signal the kind of late pre-draft climbs that have defined recent cycles.
