Julian Sayin's hot streak puts Ohio State QB in top 5 of 2027 NFL Draft rankings
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is climbing the 2027 NFL Draft board after back-to-back 300-yard performances, including a strong showing against Iowa that caught the attention of scouts nationwide. The latest rankings show Sayin moving into the top five as the quarterback class continues to take shape.
Week 5 saw several top quarterback prospects idle with bye weeks, including Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Trinidad Chambliss, and Drew Mestemaker. But those who played largely delivered, headlined by Notre Dame's CJ Carr in a rainy road win over North Carolina.
Who tops the 2027 quarterback draft class?
Oregon's Dante Moore holds the No. 1 spot despite missing Week 5 with a concussion. The Ducks had a bye, and Moore has returned to practice. He hasn't thrown an interception in 99 pass attempts this season, keeping him atop the board even as others make their case.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning sits at No. 2, though his pedestrian season has some scouts questioning the hype. Manning didn't account for a touchdown against Tennessee and has thrown an interception in three of four starts. He faces Oklahoma next, and NFL front offices want to see more from the redshirt junior.
CJ Carr rising after dominant performance
Notre Dame's CJ Carr jumped to No. 3 after a 21-of-29 performance for 234 yards and four touchdowns in tough conditions at North Carolina. The redshirt sophomore has 13 touchdowns against just one interception this season, showing impressive accuracy that has him tracking as a high first-round pick.
Carr is also positioning himself as a Heisman Trophy contender, though quarterbacks may be shut out of the race if Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith keeps his otherworldly pace.
Julian Sayin surges after big games against Illinois and Iowa
Sayin, the Ohio State quarterback, has been excellent in back-to-back starts, throwing for more than 300 yards in each game against Illinois and Iowa with a combined seven touchdowns. While an up-and-down performance against Texas earlier this season opens questions, his recent play has him climbing the rankings to No. 5.
Iowa fans got a firsthand look at Sayin's talent when the Buckeyes faced the Hawkeyes, and his performance was a reminder of the quarterback talent emerging in the Big Ten.
What about the rest of the top 10?
Miami's Darian Mensah sits at No. 4 despite a slightly human performance against Clemson. He's completing better than 84 percent of his passes for 1,438 yards, 15 touchdowns, and no interceptions this season.
Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker (No. 6) and Ole Miss's Trinidad Chambliss (No. 7) both had byes in Week 5. USC's Jayden Maiava (No. 8) was pedestrian in a narrow win over Washington, and scouts are still waiting for a breakout performance against a tough opponent.
LSU's Sam Leavitt (No. 9) and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers (No. 10) round out the top 10, with both facing questions about consistency and turnovers.
Which quarterbacks are rising outside the top 10?
Indiana's Josh Hoover is flying under the radar but deserves attention. The TCU transfer threw four touchdowns with only seven incompletions in a rout of Rutgers, giving him 15 touchdowns and zero interceptions on the season. He faces Nebraska, Ohio State, Michigan, and Minnesota in the coming weeks, which will be a true test.
Minnesota's Drake Lindsey (No. 11) had a rough outing against Michigan with two interceptions, but his raw traits keep NFL front offices intrigued as the Golden Gophers face a tough Big Ten stretch.
What should Iowa football fans watch for?
With the Hawkeyes having already faced Ohio State, Iowa fans have seen two of the top quarterback prospects this season. The Big Ten continues to produce elite quarterback talent, and several of these signal-callers could be leading NFL franchises by 2027.
As the college football season progresses, these rankings will shift. But for now, the 2027 quarterback class looks deep, with multiple players capable of becoming franchise cornerstones.