The 2027 NFL Draft is shaping up to be a quarterback-rich affair, with The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner breaking down the talent into tiers. With the potential for five or more quarterbacks to be selected in the first round, the class is stacked with potential franchise-changing prospects. Baumgardner's top-tier quarterbacks include Texas' Arch Manning, Oregon's Dante Moore, Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker, Notre Dame's CJ Carr, Ohio State's Julian Sayin, and USC's Jayden Maiava. However, it's important to remember that these rankings are not set in stone, as players like Moore can surprise by returning to college despite early draft projections.
One player who has fallen from grace is Texas Tech's Brendan Sorsby, who was projected as a first-round pick until an investigation into his gambling activities began. Despite receiving an injunction to play this season, Sorsby's off-the-field red flags could see him fall further than expected. He'll need to have a strong season to remain a first-round prospect.
Baumgardner's Tier 3 consists of LSU's Sam Leavitt, Miami's Darian Mensah, Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss, and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers. Chambliss, in particular, had first-round buzz before deciding to return to Ole Miss, showcasing the depth of this quarterback class. Sellers and Leavitt also had early first-round potential but struggled to maintain consistent performances, leading them to return to school.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the draft presents an interesting dilemma. With the potential to select in the top half of the first round, they have the opportunity to grab a true game-changer at quarterback. However, the team already has Drew Allar and Will Howard, and an ideal scenario would be for them to develop into franchise quarterbacks. Nevertheless, with such a talent-rich class, it's a real possibility that the Steelers might still need to draft a quarterback in the first round.
The Steelers' decision will be influenced by the development of Allar and Howard, as well as the overall strength of the quarterback class. With 11 players in the top three tiers and a third tier filled with first-round talent, the team has a wide range of options to choose from. The 2027 draft is shaping up to be a fascinating one, with the Steelers having the opportunity to add a potential franchise quarterback to their roster.
