Former NFL Scout’s Preseason 2027 NFL Draft QB Board⎯Arch Manning QB6⎯16 QBs Score Draftable Grades

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There’s a big difference between college football and the NFL. Yes, it’s still football, but it’s like two different sports. The NFL is faster and more complex. Heck, even the size of the football is different.

With that said⎯

What works for a quarterback (QB) in college football may not work in the NFL, and we’ve seen this time and time again. It’s what first-round busts are made of.

I’m looking for college quarterbacks who have the most NFL-friendly game film. A few things I’m looking for are the prospect’s time to throw and whether they show they can successfully and consistently work through their progressions (reads). Additionally, ball security is another piece to the puzzle. This means keeping a close eye on pass breakups (PBUs) and interception numbers.

You may be surprised, even shocked, that Texas’ QB Arch Manning is currently sitting at QB6 on my Pre-Season 2027 NFL Draft QB Board. The current grades on this board are based on my 2025 game film study of 247 games. That’s complete full-season evaluations on 19 of them, and there was one game not available on film for University of Minnesota QB Drake Lindsey.

First Round Mock is the only draft platform in America that not only lists the games studied for grading transparency but also provides links to them.

Without further ado⎯

Here’s how the quarterbacks stack up in terms of value in the 2027 NFL Draft, all 20 of them. Keyword: value.

2027 NFL Draft Preseason QB Board⎯NFL Franchise QB Prospects

QB1 Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, 6-0, 205 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: First Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.57 seconds

2025 PBUs: 40 in 15 games (2.67 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 294 of 445 (66.1%), 3,937 yards, 22 Touchdowns, 3 Interceptions, 14 sacks, and 133 rushing attempts

2025 games evaluated: 15

Scouting Reports:

The Moment Wasn’t Too Big for Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss

Trinidad Chambliss⎯Wow

Summary: Chambliss is a dynamic high-energy playmaker who rises to any occasion. He’s a textbook “turnaround” quarterback prospect who can reverse the fortunes of a struggling NFL franchise. The bigger the moment, the better. The more pressure, the better. He’s decisive, and he spreads the ball around. I want to see him clean up his throwing mechanics and become consistent with his release time. Despite the high number of rushing attempts, he didn’t take a lot of big hits.

Biggest concern: Ball Security.

QB2 CJ Carr, Notre Dame, 6-foot-2, 215 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: First Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.55 seconds

2025 PBUs: 22 in 12 games (1.83 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 195 of 293 (66.6%), 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns, 6 Interceptions, 12 Sacks, 41 rushing attempts

2025 games evaluated: 12

Scouting Reports:

Notre Dame Quarterback CJ Carr Passes the Eye Test

Summary: Football runs in Carr’s family, and it shows. He looked very comfortable. I like how aggressively he attacked downfield and spread the ball around. Another thing that stood out is that he showed he knows how to develop chemistry with his receivers.

Biggest concern: Wild streak in his nature.

QB3 Julian Sayin, Ohio State, 6-foot-1, 208 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: First Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.92 seconds

2025 PBUs: 18 in 14 games (1.28 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 301 of 391 (77.0%), 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 16 sacks, 42 rushing attempts

2025 games evaluated: 14

Scouting Reports:

Ohio State Quarterback Julian Sayin Looks the Part?

Summary: Everything was great until Sayin reached the college football playoffs, when Indiana and Miami got into his head. He was just SO EFFICIENT in the first 12 games last season. He has an elite deep ball (+20 air yards) and only made one bad throwing decision last season.

Biggest concern: Tendency to hardset for an extra moment and stare at his target before throwing.

QB4 Dante Moore, Oregon, 6-foot-3, 206 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: First Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.55 seconds

2025 PBUs: 19 in 15 games (1.26 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 296 of 412 (71.8%), 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 17 sacks, 73 rushing attempts

Total number of games evaluated (2023, 2024, and 2025): 28

Scouting Reports:

Oregon QB Dante Moore Delivers Questionable Postseason

Former NFL Scout Gives QB Dante Moore First Round Grade

QB Dante Moore Has Tunnel Vision

Summary: Moore looked like a combination of Jordan Love (Packers QB) and Donovan McNabb (former NFL QB) during the regular season. I didn’t like how his confidence level dropped when the lights got brighter in the postseason.

Biggest concern: Tunnel vision.

Second-Round NFL QB Prospects

QB5 LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, 6-foot-3, 238 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: Second Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 3.15 seconds

2025 PBUs: 18 in 12 games (1.5 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 178 of 293 (60.8%), 2,437 yards, 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, 42 sacks, 149 rushing attempts

Total number of games evaluated (2024 and 2025): 24

Scouting Reports:

LaNorris Sellers Scores Second Round Grade

LaNorris Sellers Too Similar to Colts’ QB Anthony Richardson

Summary: Sellers is an explosive and confident playmaker who has grown on me. The downside is he is not a natural passer, and he has a slow time to throw. The upside is he has a cannon for an arm, and he’s a dynamic runner. I’m seeing him as a bottom-tier (16-32) NFL starter.

Biggest concern: Eyesight.

QB6 Arch Manning, University of Texas, 6-foot-4, 222 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: Second Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.88 seconds

2025 PBUs: 29 in 13 games (2.23 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 248 of 404 (61.4%), 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 23 sacks, 92 rushing attempts

Total number of games evaluated (2023, 2024, and 2025): 24

Scouting Reports:

Former NFL Scout Puts Second Round Grade on Arch Manning

Arch Manning Developing Quickly Says Former NFL Scout

Summary: Scout the prospect, not the last name. Manning did not turn the corner on his 2025 game film from an NFL perspective. Anything beyond first-read throws was an adventure. His ball security also took a turn for the worse (2.23 PBUs per game average), and he didn’t develop chemistry with his receivers. There were enough sporadic “wow” moments mixed in that warrented keeping him this high on my board.

Biggest concern: Manning did not look comfortable in his own skin on his 2025 game film.

Third-Round NFL QB Prospects (High-Ceiling Developmental Grade)

QB7 Jayden Maiava, USC, 6-foot-4, 230 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: Third Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.89 seconds

2025 PBUs: 28 in 13 games (2.15 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 265 of 403 (65.8%), 3,711 yards, 24 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 14 sacks, 54 rushing attempts

2025 games evaluated: 13

Scouting Reports:

Jayden Maiava Needs to Tame That Big League Arm

Summary: Maiava has an aggressive nature. He’s a prospect who checks a lot of the boxes, and he has a cannon for an arm. But he also has inconsistencies and ball-security issues (2.15 PBUs per game average).

Biggest concern: Decision-making.

QB8 Dylan Raiola, Oregon, 6-foot-3, 230 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: Third Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.79 seconds

2025 PBUs: 16 in 9 games (1.77 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 181 of 250 (72.4%), 2,000 yards, 18 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 27 sacks, 46 rushing attempts

2025 games evaluated: 9

Scouting Reports:

Dylan Raiola is Trending in the Right Direction

Summary: Raiola is maturing, both as a person and as an NFL QB prospect. He’s an innate playmaker who found a way to speed up his throwing process during the final two games of the season. That intrigues me. It’s in him to do it.

Biggest concern: Raiola has been sheltered with “high-percentage throws” and an elementary route tree.

QB9 Avery Johnson, Kansas State, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: Third Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.76 seconds

2025 PBUs: 25 in 12 games (2.08 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 204 of 341 (59.8%), 2,385 yards, 18 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 13 sacks, 109 rushing attempts

Total number of games evaluated (2024 and 2025): 25

Scouting Reports:

Quarterback Avery Johnson Can Provide a Spark

Former NFL Scout Gives Avery Johnson Second Round Grade

Summary: Johnson is an exciting, relentless, and instinctual dual-role threat who can run like the wind. He bounces back from mistakes with a short-term memory, which is a good thing because he can become too tunnel-visioned, and he tends to throw some ‘what were you thinking passes.’

Biggest concern: Inconsistent throwing mechanics.

Fourth-Round NFL QB Prospects (Low-Ceiling Developmental Grade)

QB10 Demond Williams, Jr., Kansas State, 5-foot-11, 191 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: Fourth Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 3.21 seconds

2025 PBUs: 15 in 13 games (1.15 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 246 of 354 (69.5%), 3,065 yards, 25 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 31 sacks, 143 rushing attempts

2025 games evaluated: 13

Scouting Reports:

Demond Williams Jr. Ideal NFL Backup Quarterback

Summary: Williams is a little baller who plays with a lot of heart. He also does a solid job protecting the football (1.15 PBUs per game average). The downside is he has questionable throwing mechanics.

Biggest concern: Holds the ball too long.

QB11 Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State, 6-foot-3, 215 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: Fourth Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.58 seconds

2025 PBUs: 28 in 14 games (2.0 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 319 of 463 (68.9%), 4,379 yards, 34 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 18 sacks, 57 rushing attempts

2025 games evaluated: 14

Scouting Reports:

Quarterback Drew Mestemaker Earns 4th Round Grade

Summary: At first glance, Mestemaker conjures up thoughts of Lions’ QB Jared Goff. Keep watching, because the longer I watched him, the more he reminded me of former NFL QB Danny Kannell. He does get the ball out of his hand, and he can rip it into the intermediate route level (11-19 yards). He just lacks self-awareness. It’s one step forward and one step back with this guy.

Biggest concern: Spotty ball placement.

QB12 Brendan Sorsby, University of Cincinnati, 6-foot-3, 235 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: Fourth Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.82 seconds

2025 PBUs: 21 in 12 games (1.75 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 207 of 336 (61.6%), 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 7 sacks, 100 rushing attempts

2025 games evaluated: 12

Scouting Reports:

Question Marks Surround Quarterback Brendan Sorsby

Summary: Sorsby flashes a little Josh Allen (Bills QB) and Baker Mayfield (Bucs QB), but he quickly returns to back to earth on his game film. A textbook gunslinger who’s just too inconsistent. He shows good spatial awareness, but he doesn’t do that great a job protecting his body as a runner.

Biggest (game film) concern: He’s a hothead.

Fifth-Round NFL QB Prospects

QB13 Josh Hoover, Indiana, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: Fifth Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.56 seconds

2025 PBUs: 25 in 12 games (2.08 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 272 of 413 (65.9%), 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 18 sacks, 55 rushing attempts

2025 games evaluated: 12

Scouting Reports:

New Indiana Quarterback Josh Hoover is Too Undisciplined

Summary: Hoover is competitive. He’s a gunslinger who gravitates toward getting out of structure and holding onto the ball too long, “trying to make things happen.” That comes with issues, mainly average ball placement.

Biggest concern: Decision-making.

Sixth-Round NFL QB Prospects

QB14 Drake Lindsey, University of Minnesota, 6-foot-5, 230 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: Sixth Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.61 seconds

2025 PBUs: 34 in 12 games (2.83 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 246 of 389 (63.2%), 2,382 yards, 18 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 21 sacks, 34 rushing attempts

2025 games evaluated: 12

Scouting Reports:

Gophers’ QB Drake Lindsey Leaves Lasting Impression

Summary: Lindsey flashes NFL-level ability to read defenses. Keyword: “flashes.” He is just too inconsistent, and he struggles against pressure. There are reasons not to like him, but I still like him.

Biggest concern: Decision-making.

QB15 John Mateer, Oklahoma, 6-foot-3, 224 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: Sixth Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.74 seconds

2025 PBUs: 35 in 12 games (2.91 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 247 of 397 (62.2%), 2,885 yards, 14 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 25 sacks, 149 rushing attempts

Total number of games evaluated (2024 and 2025): 20

Scouting Reports:

Oklahoma QB John Mateer is Too Reckless

New Oklahoma QB John Mateer Needs to Settle Down

Summary: Mateer is another “highlight reel” quarterback who doesn’t cut it when you look at his full body of work.

Biggest concern: Ball security.

Seventh-Round NFL QB Prospects

QB16 Darian Mensah, University of Miami, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: Seventh Round

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.91 seconds

2025 PBUs: 40 in 14 games (2.85 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 334 of 500 (66.8%), 3,973 yards, 34 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 27 sacks, 59 rushing attempts

2025 games evaluated: 14

Scouting Reports:

Quarterback Darian Mensah Needs to Realize his Limitations

Summary: Mensah struggles to get the ball out of his hand, and he has ball security issues. On the plus side, he has good eye discipline, and he is competitive.

Biggest concern: He tries to do too much.

Undraftable Free Agent (UDFA) NFL QB Prospects

QB17 Nico Iamaleava, UCLA, 6-foot-5, 215 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: UDFA

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.83 seconds

2025 PBUs: 31 in 11 games (2.81 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 208 of 323 (64.4%), 1,928 yards, 13 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 27 sacks, 112 rushing attempts

Total number of games evaluated (2024 and 2025): 24

Scouting Reports:

Nico Iamaleava Receives Undraftable Free Agent Grade

New UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava Shows NFL Potential

Summary: Iamaleava is tough, poised, and competitive. But he has regressed.

Biggest concern: Telegraphing throws.

QB18 CJ Bailey, NC State, 6-foot-6, 213 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: UDFA

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.85 seconds

2025 PBUs: 22 in 13 games (1.69 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 273 of 397 (68.8%), 3,105 yards, 25 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 23 sacks, 89 rushing attempts

2025 games evaluated: 13

Scouting Reports:

NC State Quarterback CJ Bailey is Hot and Cold

Summary: No question Bailey looks the part. The problem is playing it. There’s no quit in him, but his inconsistent throwing mechanics and poor decision-making hold him back.

Biggest concern: Eyesight.

QB19 Sam Leavitt, LSU, 6-foot-2, 216 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: UDFA

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.94 seconds

2025 PBUs: 25 in 7 games (3.57 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 145 of 239 (60.7%), 1,628 yards, 10 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 18 sacks, 73 rushing attempts

Total number of games evaluated (2024 and 2025): 16

Scouting Reports:

New LSU Quarterback Sam Leavitt Isn’t Developing

ASU QB Sam Leavitt Shows Promise

Summary: Leavitt is a scrappy, raw, and competitive prospect. He excels at handing the ball off, running himself, and throwing short passes. Outside of that, he is too undependable.

Biggest concern: Struggles to get the ball out of his hand.

QB20 DJ Lagway, Baylor, 6-foot-3, 237 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Game Film Grade: UDFA

2025 Time to Throw (Pro Football Focus): 2.71 seconds

2025 PBUs: 12 in 12 games (1.00 per game average)

2025 ESPN Stats: 213 of 337 (63.2%), 2,264 yards, 16 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 19 sacks, 71 rushing attempts

2025 games evaluated: 12

Scouting Reports:

New Baylor Quarterback DJ Lagway Struggles with Accuracy

Summary: Lagway is a raw prospect with a good arm.

Biggest concern: Decision-making.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as appearing as a guest on ESPN Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and Fearless with Jason Whitlock. Featured in USA Today. For more information, visit whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.