r/NFL_Draft

As September winds down, it is the perfect time to revisit my draft rankings. It’s been an eventful first month of the college football season, to say the least. We’ve had some exciting risers and quite a few players who have failed to live up to expectations.

I didn’t take position value into consideration here. I’m just trying to rank my top prospects based on what I have seen so far this season. Let’s dive in.

https://draftseasonneverends.substack.com/p/2027-nfl-draft-big-board-september

1. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
There really shouldn’t be a debate about this one. Smith is the Heisman frontrunner and one of the most pro-ready prospects we have seen in some time. He has excellent long speed, great agility for his size, super reliable hands and his route running has improved this season.

2. Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
There are few corners I have watched who come close to matching Moore’s coverage ability. He is just so incredibly sticky. He mirrors receivers’ movements well and looks even more physical this year. I think his tackling still needs a bit of work, but it is trending in the right direction.

3. Collin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
Simmons was already trending up prior to his dominant display in Knoxville on Saturday. He is an elite athlete coming off the edge with impressive college production. His pass-rush plan is improved this season. The run defense is still a weakness in his game, but teams will be willing to live with it if he can be even close to average because of how he can get after the quarterback.

4. Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana
No, Becker has not faced much legitimate competition so far this season. Indiana has faced North Texas, Howard, Western Kentucky and Northwestern to date. However, as you would want to see, Becker has dominated all of them. His long speed is special. He is a contested catch fiend. At this point, he just needs to keep producing against better competition and he should be locked in as a top-10 pick.

5. Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida
By far the best running back in this class, Baugh offers a unique blend of speed and size. At 6’1”, 225 pounds, he moves like a much lighter player. His burst, change of direction and contact balance are impressive. Florida’s offensive line deserves credit, but Baugh creates for himself plenty. He rarely goes down on first contact and has enough long-speed to turn the corner.

6. Will Echoles, DL, Ole Miss
While Florida did run over Ole Miss this past weekend in the swamp, there were still plenty of reps won by Echoles throughout the contest. He is also only a week removed from dominating LSU as well. He will fit best in a defense that prioritizes backfield penetrators. Just a true junior, his ceiling is immensely high.

7. Trevor Lauck, OT, Iowa
One of my favorite prospects in this class, Lauck is rock solid across the board. He brings good play strength, impressive foot speed and the level of compete you want to see on the offensive line. Now into his second season as Iowa’s starting left tackle, there will be questions about his length. I’ve seen plenty of discourse about Lauck needing to kick inside to guard. I’m more bullish on his projection as a tackle.

8. Cam Coleman, WR, Texas
It hasn’t been as prolific a start to the season as fans would have hoped for Coleman. He has been a threat in the red zone, scoring four touchdowns already this season, but he has not consistently made big plays in the way we expected him to after transferring from Texas. I’m not totally giving up on him. Obviously, he is still in my top 10. We can end the conversation about him contending to be WR1 in this class, though.

9. Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina
Whew, this has been a nightmare start to the 2026 campaign for Stewart so far. He missed the first two games due to a lingering back injury. He played limited snaps in a loss to Mississippi State, then completely tanked his draft stock against Alabama by ignoring his coaches and punching an opponent in the facemask. South Carolina suspended their star edge rusher indefinitely. Stewart has all the physical tools you want in an edge rusher. We are just waiting for him to fully put it together. Looks like we have to wait a bit longer now. This is a small drop for him right now from his preseason ranking, but he could definitely slide more depending on how this plays out.

10. Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
Is this a bit premature? Probably, but I don’t care. Mestemaker is only in his second season as a starting quarterback. Not just in college, but ever. He backed up Deuce Adams in high school, arrived at North Texas as a zero-star recruit and redshirted a year. He led the nation in passing yards as a redshirt freshman last year. This season got off to a miserable start in a dismal loss to Tulsa, but Mestemaker has been on fire since, notching impressive performances and wins against Oregon, Murray State and West Virginia. His arm talent and mobility are a lethal combination. He has a ton of development still to do as a processor, but his upside is off the charts.

11. Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
Goosby is a massive human being. Listed at 6’7”, 325 pounds, he is a tough man to get around, especially in pass protection. His pad level is good despite his massive frame and he has the movement skills to operate well as a puller in the run game. He does struggle with power at times, getting pushed back into the pocket. I also want to see him sustain his blocks a bit longer in the ground game. There is a lot to like here, but Goosby still lacks some polish.

12. Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon
There has been plenty of buzz that Johnson is actually a better prospect than his former teammate Kenyon Sadiq, who was drafted 16th overall this past year. He missed two games for the Ducks before returning against USC and dominating to the tune of 7 catches for 119 yards. He is built like a true in-line tight end, listed at 6’5”, 255 pounds. Already an excellent receiver, he is growing as a blocker as well. I like him as a well-rounded option who could climb even higher.

13. Ahmad Moten Sr., DL, Miami
Miami’s edge rusher duo got all the publicity last year. 2026 belongs to the Hurricanes’ interior pairing. I have to do a bit more work on Justin Scott. Moten is a bit further along in his development as a fifth-year senior, as opposed to the true junior Scott. Moten has a penchant for winding up in opponents’ backfields. He has good versatility. I could see him as a shade nose or a 3-tech. I want to see him improve his rush lane integrity, especially against some of the better teams on Miami’s schedule late in the season.

14. Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
Seaton spent the offseason overhauling his body and preparing to play in the SEC after two seasons at Colorado. Mission accomplished. Seaton looks much leaner, but still has the mass necessary to play the position. He is an incredible athlete for the position, capable of reaching the second level and acting as a puller in the run game. At this point, though, he is still a bit of a project. He needs to sustain blocks longer and I want to see him improve his lower body strength. He has the tools to be a franchise tackle down the line.

15. Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson
Clemson has once again underwhelmed, but the school’s individual talent is still strong. Brown is a dynamic athlete who has a nose for the football. He has true sideline-to-sideline ability with his speed and he is an excellent tackler in space. His coverage skills are strong enough for me to consider him a first-round linebacker.

16. Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson
Another Clemson player that I am banking on being even better away from the program, Hampton is my type of corner. He is big, listed at 6’2”, 205 pounds, and physical. I do have some concerns about his long speed, but he excels as a press-man corner. However, he has the instincts and change of direction to play in zone. Go watch some clips of him blowing up screen passes and you will understand why I like him so much.

17. Trey’Dez Green, TE, LSU
For any team that struggles in the red zone, Green is likely the answer. He is a massive target with great ball skills. Listed at 6’7”, 242 pounds, he is still growing into that frame. His role as a blocker has expanded this season, but his calling card remains his ability to make contested catches. This spot is a bit tentative right now, as Green was carted off late in LSU’s loss to Ole Miss. He missed this past game against Texas A&M. His return is TBD at the moment. His medicals will definitely be important to track moving forward.

18. Ellis Robinson, CB, Georgia
Robinson is the latest Georgia defensive back who has caught the attention of NFL scouts. He is long and lean. His frame has some room to add some muscle. We haven’t seen the same ball production yet this season, but he hauled in four interceptions as a redshirt freshman just a year ago. Big tests against Alabama and Ole Miss will likely dictate which way his stock is trending.

19. CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
Notre Dame has basically sleepwalked through its schedule, but there is still plenty to like from Carr. He is a young player, just a redshirt sophomore, but his arm talent, pocket presence and touch on deep passes make him an enticing option. He could go back to school, especially if he struggles in the Irish’s two big regular-season tests, at BYU and hosting Miami. We will see how he progresses the rest of the season.

20. KJ Bolden, S, Georgia
Much of the discussion around Ellis Robinson applies here as well. I like what I’ve seen from Bolden so far, but Georgia hasn’t really been tested by a competent passing offense yet. Bolden checks every box you would want physically. I will be eager to see how he handles the challenge of facing dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks like Keelon Russell, Austin Simmons and Trinidad Chambliss.

21. Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
Speaking of the Ole Miss star and Heisman candidate, Chambliss, despite all of the red flags about his recruiting profile, checks into the top 25 here. Yes, he will be 25 by the time his rookie season starts. Yes, he is undersized for the position. Yes, he was playing Division II football just two years ago. No, I don’t know if any of it matters. Chambliss throws with elite anticipation. He is accurate, elusive and knows how to beat the blitz. He is a lower-ceiling prospect at this point given his age and stature, but he is easily the most pro-ready quarterback in this draft class.

22. Greg Johnson, G, Minnesota
If you are a fan of players with tons of starting experience, position versatility, great measurables and impressive tape, you will like Johnson. He is locked in as Minnesota’s left guard, but he started the entire 2024 season at center and started a game at both left and right tackle in 2025. He plays like a grown man, opening holes as a puller in the run game and absorbing plenty of power moves on the interior. Very few players are ever truly plug-and-play in the NFL, but Johnson feels pretty close to that.

23. Kade Pieper, OL, Iowa
Pieper is a great athlete. He played offensive and defensive line in high school. He also played basketball and won a state title in the shot put. He is an experienced player, now in his third year as a starter with the Hawkeyes. At 6’3”, 298 pounds, he is a bit undersized for the position, but there is still plenty to like about his game.

24. Chris Cole, LB, Georgia
I have a feeling that Cole is going to be a fast riser as the year continues. His speed is truly outrageous for a linebacker. He showed it off on a huge scoop-and-score against Oklahoma this past week. That alone is enough to turn heads. He started just one game last year, playing behind CJ Allen. As a true junior, there is always a chance he returns to school, but he will earn high marks from the NFL if he keeps producing at this level.

25. Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Manning deservedly tumbles after a lackluster month of September. He has shown flashes of the highly-touted quarterback we were promised when he arrived at Texas four years ago. The issue for Manning isn’t anything physical. It’s the mental side of the game he still seems to be struggling with. His processing is still a bit slow, as he gets stuck on reads or finds them late. He also has not consistently played at a high level. He has plenty of opportunity to turn his trajectory around, but it has been rough so far.