Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Oct 17, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Drew Mestemaker (17) attempts a pass during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium.
Move over, Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Trinidad Chambliss, and Darian Mensah. There’s a new No. 1 quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft class, and his name is Drew Mestemaker.
But don’t take our word for it. Mestemaker, who has shined in his first season with Oklahoma State after following head coach Eric Morris over from North Texas, is the overwhelming favorite to be the first quarterback selected, according to NFL scouts.
“Mestemaker seems like the only real choice at this point,” one person told ESPN in its latest poll of 25 scouts across the league.
Mestemaker, who never even played quarterback until college, received zero first-place votes in the last poll conducted in August. In the newest poll, he received 17 of 25 possible first-place votes.
Four went to Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr. Three went to Moore, and one went to Mensah.
Drew Mestemaker Has Turned The 2027 NFL Draft Quarterback Class Upside Down
Entering the season, the quarterback class was thought to be among the strongest of all time. With Manning struggling and Moore getting injured for the season, that has changed.
But Mestemaker has found his way to the top with a combination of highlight-reel throws and impressive consistency.
“Before the season, this class was going to rival 1983,” one scout said, comparing the class to a year where five quarterbacks went in the first round. “But there’s been a lot of moving parts and Arch has fallen. It’ll be interesting to see who resurfaces.”
So, why Mestemaker?
“The size, the body type, and arm strength are the things that stood out to me right away,” a veteran scout said. “He’s got arm talent, power, and accuracy.”
There are still several months until the draft in Washington, D.C. A lot can change between now and then. But if you’d told someone before the season that Mestemaker would be QB1, you would have probably been laughed out of the building.
Now, it’s almost undeniable.