NFL · 11 hours ago

2027 NFL Mock Draft: CBS Sports Edition (Picks 1-32)

Paul Connor

Host · Writer

32. Los Angeles Rams: Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri

"Hardy is built low to the ground, runs with a low center of gravity, is incredibly difficult to get on the ground as a result, and has home run ability once he gets to the second level. He excels in outside/wide zone schemes that allow him to one-cut-and-go once he sees daylight. He didn't give Mizzou much in the pass game last season -- he was targeted just seven times and had six catches." — Wilson

Reaction: This mock was done before the Cleveland Browns traded superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. Hardy’s decisive one-cut style was an excellent match for the Rams’ original slot. Still, the Garrett trade means Cleveland now owns the pick, and the positional fit must be evaluated completely differently.
1. Miami Dolphins: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

"Moore would have been the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft had he not decided to return to Oregon. He plays with high-end pocket composure, handles pressure well -- and once the play breaks down, is elite out of structure. He showed up in big moments throughout the '25 season (until they ran into the Hoosiers in the CFP) and he's my QB1 because he outplayed Arch Manning -- and every other QB -- in the '26 class." — Ryan Wilson

Reaction: This effectively assumes Miami is prepared to move on from Malik Willis after one season. Moore’s pocket composure and off-script creativity would make him a compelling franchise reset.
2. New York Jets: Arch Manning, QB, Texas

"Manning got off to a sluggish start in 2025 but finished strong. If he picks up where he left off late last fall, he'll be in the No. 1-overall-pick conversation. Again." — Wilson

Reaction: Manning in New York would be fascinating and combustible. The traits justify the selection, but the Jets must give him structure rather than expecting his surname to accelerate his development.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Jayden Maiava, QB, USC

"Maiava was one of my favorite players to watch last season; he's a well built, big-armed QB who shows good touch on layered throws, but needs to play with more consistency from start to finish." — Wilson

Reaction: Boldest swing on the board, and I can't say I'm good with it. Maiava has undeniable raw arm talent, though taking a high-variance passer at No. 3 overall requires immense trust in the coaching staff's development plan.
4. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

"Smith is better than Marvin Harrison Jr. coming out of Ohio State. And I'm guessing we'll be comparing him more to the likes of Julio Jones or Megatron by next spring." — Wilson

Reaction: Passing on a quarterback is defensible only for a truly exceptional non-QB, and Smith possesses the rare ceiling to become Cleveland’s offensive centerpiece immediately.
5. Tennessee Titans: Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas

"Simmons can win with power, speed and twitch -- he was unstoppable for much of '25 and I only expect him to get better this season." — Wilson

Reaction: Tennessee has poured everything into Cam Ward's side of the ball and has to start making opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable. Simmons is the rare case where best player available and biggest need are the same name.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas

"Goosby, who would've likely been a first-rounder had he declared for the '26 draft, has a huge frame and high-end athletic traits that allow him to anchor effectively against power, though he remains a raw prospect who can struggle with quicker pass rushers." — Wilson

Reaction: Protecting Fernando Mendoza is the utmost priority, but I'm slightly nervous to hand that assignment to a raw tackle.
7. New Orleans Saints: Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina

"Stewart uses his long frame, tenacity and overpowering strength to set the edge against the run. He's also surprisingly twitched up as a pass rusher, consistently collapsing the pocket with an explosive blend of length and suddenness." — Wilson

Reaction: The tools are top-five tools, but I need to see Stewart's production catch up before I spend a top-10 pick, and New Orleans has holes it can fill with more certainty.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darian Mensah, QB, Miami

"Mensah is a sturdy, big-armed passer who has both touch and accuracy on deep throws, consistently layers the ball on second-level throws, can rip intermediate and deep throws out of structure and with accuracy, but he can also get himself into trouble when he tries to extend plays instead of taking what the defense gives him. He has a chance to be the latest Miami QB transfer to be in the Round 1 conversation, following Cam Ward and Carson Beck." — Wilson

Reaction: My favorite fit here. Pittsburgh has spent a decade renting quarterbacks, and Mensah's willingness to bet on himself is the kind of stubbornness that plays well in that building.
9. Carolina Panthers: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame

"Moore is a fluid athlete who stays in phase and uses his length to be consistently disruptive downfield. His smooth change of direction allows him to play both outside and in the slot, which will make his transition to the next level even smoother." — Wilson

Reaction: Love this. Carolina spent all offseason fixing the front seven, and the fastest way to make that money pay off is a second corner who can travel.
10. Atlanta Falcons: David Stone, DT, Oklahoma

"A high-motor D-lineman with quick feet who can get off blocks early in the rep to be a consistent disruptive presence in the backfield. Stone can line up anywhere along the D-line and often finds himself around the ball vs. the run." — Wilson

Reaction: Good player, wrong problem. If Atlanta is drafting 10th, it's because neither Michael Penix nor Tua Tagovailoa stayed upright, and interior defensive line doesn't fix that.
11. New York Giants: Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon

"Uiagalelei has an NFL frame who wins with power and a high motor, particularly when aligning wide. That said, he lacks bend and needs to add to his pass-rush arsenal. His 2025 tape wasn't nearly as far along as Tuli Tuipulotu coming out of college and he was a second-round pick (54th overall) of similar age and with similar tools. Looking for a big leap in '26." — Wilson

Reaction: This reads like a second-round grade to me, and with the money and picks already sunk into that edge room, I'd rather build something in front of Jaxson Dart.
12. Minnesota Vikings: CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame

"Carr is a Bo Nix-style game manager and I mean that in the most laudatory terms possible. He's a steady-as-she-goes QB, who doesn't make mistakes, shows consistently good touch on deep balls, can throw with anticipation on intermediate throws, has the athleticism to play out of structure and finds ways to make plays -- and that's all just from one year of starting experience." — Wilson

Reaction: If Minnesota is picking here, the quarterback plan collapsed, and Carr is genuinely the right kind of rebound. Kevin O'Connell has made a career of turning steady into excellent.
13. Washington Commanders: Cam Coleman, WR, Texas

"Coleman is a physically imposing wideout who pairs elite contact balance with the suddenness to make defenders miss in the open field. He runs routes with the nuance of a much smaller receiver and possesses the play strength to consistently punish DBs after the catch." — Wilson

Reaction: Almost boringly correct. Jayden Daniels badly needs another weapon outside, and a physically imposing, run-after-catch playmaker like Coleman fits the bill.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State

"Mestemaker is a big-armed QB who layers the ball well on downfield throws but can also step on it when he needs to fit it in a tight window. He shows the ability to get through his reads while standing tall in the pocket, though he'll need to limit his interceptions (he had 11 in '25), some of which came on poor decisions, or throws in which he didn't set his feet. He'll see a step up in competition going from North Texas to Oklahoma State, and if he makes that jump, he'll be a name to watch in the fall." — Wilson

Reaction: Jumping from North Texas to the Big 12 to a top-15 pick is a meteoric projection, but Mestemaker's big arm makes him an intriguing high-risk, high-reward target if the Bucs and Baker Mayfield are unable to agree on a long-term contract.
15. New York Jets (via Colts): A'Mauri Washington, DL, Oregon

"Washington is a powerful, athletic defensive lineman who can collapse the pocket or blow up a run play when he fires off low and plays with leverage. He's at his best attacking gaps, where his burst, strength, and motor let him disrupt plays before they develop. When he's locked in, he looks like a true difference-maker who can overwhelm blockers with both quickness and power." — Wilson

Reaction: After trading away All-Pro DT Quinnen Williams last season, the Jets rightfully target his replacement.
16. Cincinnati Bengals: John Henry Daley, EDGE, Michigan

"Daley wins through superior hand usage and a diverse pass-rush arsenal that includes an impressive spin move that often leaves OTs flat-footed. He also plays with the leverage and strength necessary to reset the line of scrimmage against the run." — Wilson

Reaction: Daley’s polished hands and varied counter moves could give Cincinnati a more sustainable pass rush than simply betting on raw speed around the corner.
17. Chicago Bears: Cayden Green, OL, Missouri

"Green plays with a sturdy anchor against power rushers, and while he needs to play with lower pads in the run game, his high-level awareness makes him a reliable blindside protector whose NFL future could be inside at guard." — Wilson

Reaction: Whether he sticks at tackle or kicks inside to guard, Green’s sturdiness and high awareness make him a vital insurance policy for Chicago's line.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jordan Ross, EDGE, LSU

"A powerful edge rusher who leverages a low center of gravity to collapse the pocket and physically overwhelm blockers. Ross displays impressive lateral agility to redirect in space; inline TEs will struggle to block him in the run game." — Wilson

Reaction: Ross’s combination of power and lateral movement fits a defense seeking edge rushers who can pressure the quarterback without becoming liabilities against the run.
19. New York Jets (via Cowboys): Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana

"Becker didn't see the field consistently unitl midway through the 2025 season when an injury to Elijah Sarratt led to more playing time. And he took full advantage; he's a huge target who can win with speed and contested-catch ability -- and he can also contort his body in ways to make the impossible catch look routine." — Wilson

Reaction: Adding a massive, contested-catch specialist gives the Jets' rookie quarterback a huge target in tight windows.
20. Houston Texans: Quincy Rhodes, EDGE, Arkansas

"Rhodes offers a rare physical profile, combining massive size with the athleticism to serve as a versatile chess piece across the defensive front. He is immovable at the point of attack and generates significant power as a pass rusher." — Wilson

Reaction: Houston's defense is already the best part of the roster, and its offense is why it's picking here. Spending this on another front-seven project is solving a problem the team doesn't have.
21. Philadelphia Eagles, Carter Smith, OT, Indiana

"Smith is a high-level athlete at LT who shows natural talent for moving defenders in the run game and anchoring against power. While he needs to sharpen his technique against nuanced speed rushers, his physical tools provide a high floor for development." — Wilson

Reaction: A classic Howie Roseman move -- drafting a supreme athletic tackle with high-end movement skills to mold into a long-term starter.
22. Denver Broncos: Damon Wilson II, EDGE, Miami

"An explosive straight-line rusher who can close quickly on the QB because of his downhill juice. Though Wilson isn't bendy around the edge, he wins through pure power and leverage." — Wilson

Reaction: Fine value, though I'd like more of a rush plan than "power and leverage" at pick 22. Denver has been asking its defense to carry the operation for a while now.
23. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers): Kade Pieper, OL, Iowa

"Pieper is an athletic interior lineman who shines in pass protection and in zone schemes. As he continues to improve functional strength, he has the potential to become one of the best interior OL in the class." — Wilson

Reaction: You rarely go wrong drafting an athletic interior lineman from Iowa, and Pieper brings immediate stability to the middle of the Cowboys' protection.
24. New England Patriots: Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR, Alabama

"Coleman-Williams' tape in 2025 looked nothing like what we all witnessed during his freshman season in '24. If he can return to that player, he'll have a chance to be a top-10 pick and battle Jeremiah Smith for WR1." — Wilson

Reaction: If Coleman-Williams recaptures his freshman form, landing his top-10 ceiling at pick 24 is an absolute steal for New England.
25. Detroit Lions: Clev Lubin, EDGE, Louisville

"Lubin marries high-end power-rush capabilities with the discipline to shut down the run. His rare ability to drop into zone coverage makes him an ideal hybrid player in the ever-evolving defensive schemes that rely more and more on "positionless" play." — Wilson

Reaction: Lubin’s blend of power, run discipline, and drop-coverage ability fits Dan Campbell's gritty, positionless defensive scheme seamlessly.
26. San Francisco 49ers: Terrance Carter Jr., TE, Texas Tech

"Carter Jr. is a long-striding playmaker who threatens all three levels of the field and runs like a power back after the catch. While he struggles with focus drops at times, his combination of vertical speed and high-effort blocking makes him a dynamic weapon as offenses continue to use more multiple TE sets." — Wilson

Reaction: George Kittle is coming off a torn Achilles and isn't getting any younger. I'm on board with this.
27. Kansas City Chiefs: Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU

"The Colorado transfer has an enormous frame with a thick build yet he plays light on his feet, has high-end lateral mobility and anchors well vs. bull rushers. Seaton plays with heavy hands and once he locks on, edge rushers struggle to disengage. Don't be fooled by his size -- his high-end athleticism shines, especially in space, where he can excel as a second-level blocker, and on the perimeter as a lead blocker." — Wilson

Reaction: If Seaton is actually here at 27, Kansas City runs the card up.
28. Los Angeles Chargers: Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia

"Robinson is a physical corner who excels at reading the QB and being consistently disruptive at the catch point. He plays with the confidence and technical traits to thrive on an island, whether in man or off-coverage." — Wilson

Reaction: A confident, island-capable cornerback with catch-point aggression is a dream addition for Jim Harbaugh's physical secondary.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Will Echoles, DL, Ole Miss

"Echoles is a disruptive interior bulldozer who plays with a low center of gravity and also has surprising twitch that often finds him in the backfield making plays on the ball." — Wilson

Reaction: Echoles is the quintessential Ravens interior lineman -- low-built, twitchy, and constantly resetting the line of scrimmage.
30. Buffalo Bills: Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama

"A physically imposing cornerback who consistently puts himself in a position to make plays at the catch point, Brown's ability to mirror receivers in man or react in off-coverage makes him a highly reliable presence in the secondary." — Wilson

Reaction: Brown's length and mirroring capability give Buffalo a composed boundary corner who can hold up against top AFC wideouts.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Nick Marsh, WR, Indiana

"Marsh transferred from Michigan State where he was targeted 102 times in 2025. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, he looks like the natural replacement for Elijah Sarratt (and like Sarratt, he lined up outside about 95% of the time). Despite his size, Marsh can put his foot in the ground and get in and out of breaks, creating separation at the route stem. Like Sarratt, he won't consistently create separation on vertical routes, but he has legit contested-catch and YAC ability, and he uses his frame to shield defenders." — Wilson

Reaction: Marsh's contested-catch billing is projection rather than proof thus far, and if the drops don't clean up, this is a big receiver who wins less often than his frame suggests.
32. Los Angeles Rams: Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri

"Hardy is built low to the ground, runs with a low center of gravity, is incredibly difficult to get on the ground as a result, and has home run ability once he gets to the second level. He excels in outside/wide zone schemes that allow him to one-cut-and-go once he sees daylight. He didn't give Mizzou much in the pass game last season -- he was targeted just seven times and had six catches." — Wilson

Reaction: This mock was done before the Cleveland Browns traded superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. Hardy’s decisive one-cut style was an excellent match for the Rams’ original slot. Still, the Garrett trade means Cleveland now owns the pick, and the positional fit must be evaluated completely differently.
1. Miami Dolphins: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

"Moore would have been the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft had he not decided to return to Oregon. He plays with high-end pocket composure, handles pressure well -- and once the play breaks down, is elite out of structure. He showed up in big moments throughout the '25 season (until they ran into the Hoosiers in the CFP) and he's my QB1 because he outplayed Arch Manning -- and every other QB -- in the '26 class." — Ryan Wilson

Reaction: This effectively assumes Miami is prepared to move on from Malik Willis after one season. Moore’s pocket composure and off-script creativity would make him a compelling franchise reset.

2027 NFL Mock Draft: CBS Sports Edition (Picks 1-32)

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