Silver And Black Pride
Welcome to Summer Scouting, a personal favorite time of the year for me. Over the course of the next 1-2 months, I will be breaking down the draft classes, prospects to watch, breakout candidates, and much more on a week to week basis to better help prepare for the actual 2027 draft cycle.
The 2027 NFL draft is under a year away, and summer time is, for many, including myself the best part to scout. Previewing the potential future picks, and watching those will rise and fall over the next season into the draft process is always intriguing. The 2027 class has the ability to be a draft class that is talked about for the next decade with the potential talent that is slated to declare, and it’s not talent that is banking on a big year, but talent that has shown their abilities to play at a high level since they were true freshman.
The 2027 class is likely to be one of the deepest classes in NFL history, and for the Las Vegas Raiders, they only hold six selections, something I imagine will change this season and off-season with the potential trades of Kolton Miller, Maxx Crosby, and Kirk Cousins along with in draft trades. Regardless, a look at the 2027 class and where the strengths/weaknesses are at the beginning of summer scouting.
Quarterback: A lot of fun, but some risk (sorta like sports betting, too soon?)
Top Names: Dante Moore (Oregon), Arch Manning (Texas), Drew Mestemaker (N. Texas), CJ Carr (Notre Dame), Darian Mensah (Miami), Drake Lindsey (Minnesota), Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss), Brendan Sorsby (Texas Tech), LaNorris Sellers (S. Carolina), Julian Sayin (Ohio State)
Watch in 2026: Sam Leavitt (LSU), Josh Hoover (Indiana), Aidan Chiles (Northwestern), John Mateer (Oklahoma), DJ Lagway (Baylor), Marcel Reed (Texas A&M), Gunner Stockton (Georgia), Rocco Becht (Penn State), Jaden Craig (TCU)
Sleepers/Risers Potential: Jayden Maiava (USC), CJ Bailey (NC State), Demond Williams (Washington), Dylan Lonergan (Rutgers), Nico Iamaleava (UCLA), Byrum Brown (Auburn), Colton Joseph (Wisconsin)
Initial Grade: A-
Everyone always says oh the QB class next year is this or that, and well most years it isn’t what it’s made out to be. I have a very hard time thinking that will be the case in 2027. Moore, Manning, Mestemaker, Carr, Mensah, Lindsey, and Chambliss all have likely top 50 selections penciled in assuming the development course remains the same which for most it doesn’t seem a route that will change. Additionally, Sayin & Sellers could both rise quickly along with the three names listed in the sleepers/risers section. Leavitt a former potential first rounder needs to come a long way this year, but he’s shown the traits to warrant a top 3 round selection. The 2027 class should be one of the deepest and should have 5-7 first round picks, that said the class does feature Mestemaker, Carr, Sayin, Bailey, and Manning as the top names with all having the ability to potentially return and declare in 2028.
There’s...
