Justin Melo· Nov 2, 2026
Melo's 2027 first-round mock draft assigns all 32 picks, headlined by Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith going No. 1 overall to the Chargers and Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker as the first quarterback off the board at No. 3 to Miami.
“Instead of replacing the QB, they select the best overall prospect in Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith and return next season with a new offensive play caller.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
35 checkable claims — 32 mock draft picks, 2 position order calls and 1 team draft slot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 60 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 14 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 6 and below it on 8.
Where this call stands in the room
Drew Mestemaker · 2026 season · overall pick6 calls from 5 pundits between 1 overall pick and 3 overall pick. Justin Melo said 3 overall pick. the room's median is 2 overall pick. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Carter Smith
- Denver Broncos
- Jadan Baugh
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Brauntae Johnson
- Detroit Lions
- Dylan Stewart
- Tennessee Titans
- Xavier Williams
- New York Giants
- Chris Cole
- New York Jets
- Boubacar Traore
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Ashton Hampton
- Baltimore Ravens
- Arch Manning
- Arizona Cardinals
- Trevor Goosby
- Kansas City Chiefs
- C.J. Carr
- David Stone
- Will Echoles
- Trinidad Chambliss
- Cleveland Browns
- Zalance Heard
- Atlanta Falcons
- Kade Pieper
- Minnesota Vikings
- Drew Mestemaker
- Miami Dolphins
- Will Heldt
- San Francisco 49ers
- Los Angeles Chargers
- KJ Bolden
- New England Patriots
- Jaylen McClain
- Buffalo Bills
- Greg Johnson
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Colin Simmons
- New Orleans Saints
- Devan Thompkins
- Ellis Robinson
- Dallas Cowboys
- Trevor Lauck
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Jeremiah Smith
- Charlie Becker
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Leonard Moore
- Washington Commanders
- Kelley Jones
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Yhonzae Pierre
- Seattle Seahawks
- Jordan Seaton
- Houston Texans
- Zereoue Williams
- Carolina Panthers
35 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Mock Draft PicksCarter SmithDenver BroncosNov 2, 2026
Carter Smith to be picked at number 29
“29. Denver Broncos (6-2): Carter Smith, OL, Indiana”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jadan Baugh to be picked at number 28
“28. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2): Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brauntae Johnson to be picked at number 26
“26. Detroit Lions (5-2): Brauntae Johnson, S, Notre Dame”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dylan Stewart to be picked at number 2
“2. Tennessee Titans (1-7): Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Xavier Williams to be picked at number 22
“22. New York Giants (4-2-1): Xavier Gilliam, DT, Tennessee”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksChris ColeNew York JetsNov 2, 2026
Chris Cole to be picked at number 5
“5. New York Jets (2-6): Chris Cole, LB, Georgia”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Boubacar Traore to be picked at number 11
“11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5): Boubacar Traore, EDGE, Notre Dame”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ashton Hampton to be picked at number 15
“15. Baltimore Ravens (4-4): Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Arch Manning to be picked at number 12
“12. Arizona Cardinals (3-5): Arch Manning, QB, Texas”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Trevor Goosby to be picked at number 24
“24. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2): Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Position Order CallsC.J. CarrNew York JetsNov 2, 2026
C.J. Carr to be 2nd quarterback off the board
“Notre Dame's CJ Carr is currently QB2 in this class.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksDavid StoneTennessee TitansNov 2, 2026
David Stone to be picked at number 27
“27. Tennessee Titans (via CHI, 5-2): David Stone, DT, Oklahoma”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksWill EcholesNew York JetsNov 2, 2026
Will Echoles to be picked at number 10
“10. New York Jets (via DAL, 3-5): Will Echoles, DT, Ole Miss”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Trinidad Chambliss to be picked at number 16
“16. Cleveland Browns (via LAR, 4-4): Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksZalance HeardAtlanta FalconsNov 2, 2026
Zalance Heard to be picked at number 13
“13. Atlanta Falcons (3-5): Lance Heard, OT, Kentucky”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksKade PieperMinnesota VikingsNov 2, 2026
Kade Pieper to be picked at number 30
“30. Minnesota Vikings (6-1): Kade Pieper, IOL, Iowa”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Drew Mestemaker to be 1st quarterback off the board
“The rebuilding Miami Dolphins aren't picking in the top spot, but they still land QB1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksC.J. CarrNew York JetsNov 2, 2026
C.J. Carr to be picked at number 4
“4. New York Jets (via IND, 2-6): CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Will Heldt to be picked at number 31
“31. San Francisco 49ers (6-1): Will Heldt, EDGE, Clemson”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Team Draft Slot CallsLos Angeles ChargersNov 2, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to pick at number 1
“1. Los Angeles Chargers (0-7)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Drew Mestemaker to be picked at number 3
“3. Miami Dolphins (1-6): Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
KJ Bolden to be picked at number 21
“21. New England Patriots (5-3): KJ Bolden, S, Georgia”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJaylen McClainBuffalo BillsNov 2, 2026
Jaylen McClain to be picked at number 32
“32. Buffalo Bills (6-1): Jaylen McClain, S, Ohio State”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Greg Johnson to be picked at number 8
“8. Philadelphia Eagles (2-5): Greg Johnson, IOL, Minnesota”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Colin Simmons to be picked at number 9
“9. New Orleans Saints (2-5): Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Devan Thompkins to be picked at number 18
“18. Cleveland Browns (5-3): Devan Thompkins, DL, Alabama”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksEllis RobinsonDallas CowboysNov 2, 2026
Ellis Robinson to be picked at number 20
“20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB, 5-3): Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Trevor Lauck to be picked at number 25
“25. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2): Trevor Lauck, OL, Iowa”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jeremiah Smith to be picked at number 1
“1. Los Angeles Chargers (0-7): Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Charlie Becker to be picked at number 14
“14. Las Vegas Raiders (4-4): Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Leonard Moore to be picked at number 6
“6. Washington Commanders (1-4-1): Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kelley Jones to be picked at number 23
“23. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2): Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Yhonzae Pierre to be picked at number 17
“17. Seattle Seahawks (4-3): Yhonzae Pierre, EDGE, Alabama”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJordan SeatonHouston TexansNov 2, 2026
Jordan Seaton to be picked at number 7
“7. Houston Texans (2-5): Jordan Seaton, LT, LSU”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Zereoue Williams to be picked at number 19
“19. Carolina Panthers (3-4): Zereoue Williams, OT, Utah”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Parker HurleyTrade and Signing Calls · Jessie BatesMiss · 0Hurley argues a Jessie Bates trade to San Francisco is unrealistic because Atlanta remains in the weak NFC South race and likely won't sell, and he expects 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown to depart in free agency after this season.
- Jeremy BrenerScore Predictions · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback.
- Albert BreerGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Breer picks the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in their Week 9 NFC West matchup.
- Tyler SullivanGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Sullivan picks the Seahawks to win in Week 9.
- Dave RichardGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Richard picks the Seahawks over the Cardinals.
- John PluymGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Pluym picks the Seahawks over the Cardinals.
More mock draft picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Chris SimmsMock Draft Picks · Malachi CorleyMiss · 11Simms named the Bears the NFL's best overall offense and best rushing offense, the Bengals the best passing offense, Seattle the best total defense, Minnesota the best pass defense and Tampa Bay the best run defense; he also called Tristan Wirfs the league's best offensive lineman, projected Miami's Malachi Toney as a top-15 pick, and predicted a 30-14 Jaguars win in Baltimore.
- Todd McShayMock Draft Picks · Keelon RussellMiss · 0While breaking down LSU's offense, McShay called receiver Jackson Harris a top-50 NFL draft prospect, and later said LSU's Sam Levitt and Alabama's Keelan Russell are potential top-10 picks in a future draft.
- Philip HughesMock Draft Picks · Kyle KennardMiss · 34Evaluating edge rusher Kyle Kennard ahead of the draft, the account projected him as a Day 2 selection.
- Blaine GrisakMock Draft Picks · Brian Thomas Jr.Hit · 84Grisak argues the Rams should not trade a second-round pick for Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr., calling it too great a risk and too high a cost. In an embedded tweet of his own from the 2024 pre-draft period, he suggested the Rams could select Thomas at pick No. 19.
- WaltMock Draft Picks · Garrett NussmeierMiss · 0In a running series of coach/GM hiring and firing grades, Walt projects Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 overall pick of the Raiders in the 2026 draft and has LSU's Garrett Nussmeier going No. 2 overall in his 2026 mock draft.
- Rob RangMock Draft Picks · Malachi CorleyMiss · 24Rang updated his quarterback board for the 2027 NFL Draft, moving Ole Miss's Trinidad Chambliss to No. 1 ahead of Dante Moore and Arch Manning, and sorting the 14 QBs into first-round, Day 2 and Day 3 tiers. He also projects Jeremiah Smith as the No. 1 overall pick and says Manning would be a first-round pick if eligible.