Justin Melo· Aug 10, 2026
Melo published a very early 2027 NFL first-round mock draft with four quarterbacks going in the top four picks, led by Arch Manning at No. 1 to Arizona, and Jeremiah Smith as the top non-QB at No. 5.
“If Manning continues developing in the right direction, he'll be the favorite to go No. 1 overall.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
32 checkable claims — 32 mock draft picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 61 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 10 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 8.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- A'Mauri Washington
- New England Patriots
- Drew Mestemaker
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Tae Johnson
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Julian Sayin
- Cleveland Browns
- Yhonzae Pierre
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Carson Green
- Buffalo Bills
- C.J. Carr
- New York Jets
- Brice Pollock
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Justin Scott
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Jadan Baugh
- Chicago Bears
- Nick Nash
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Drake Lindsey
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Kade Pieper
- Detroit Lions
- Ellis Robinson
- Minnesota Vikings
- Arch Manning
- Arizona Cardinals
- Carter Smith
- Houston Texans
- Kenyatta Jackson
- Cam Coleman
- New York Giants
- Jordan Seaton
- Atlanta Falcons
- Zabien Brown
- San Francisco 49ers
- Matt Moore
- Miami Dolphins
- Dylan Stewart
- Tennessee Titans
- Matayo Uiagalelei
- Seattle Seahawks
- David Stone
- Baltimore Ravens
- Jamari Johnson
- Denver Broncos
- Kelley Jones
- Colin Simmons
- New Orleans Saints
- Jeremiah Smith
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Charlie Becker
- Dallas Cowboys
- Leonard Moore
- Carolina Panthers
- Will Echoles
- KJ Bolden
- Washington Commanders
32 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.
A'Mauri Washington to be picked at number 27
“27. New England Patriots: A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Drew Mestemaker to be picked at number 14
“14. Pittsburgh Steelers: Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksTae JohnsonJacksonville JaguarsAug 10, 2026
Tae Johnson to be picked at number 16
“16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Tae Johnson, S, Notre Dame”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJulian SayinCleveland BrownsAug 10, 2026
Julian Sayin to be picked at number 3
“3. Cleveland Browns: Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Yhonzae Pierre to be picked at number 28
“28. Philadelphia Eagles: Yhonzae Pierre, EDGE, Alabama”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksCarson GreenBuffalo BillsAug 10, 2026
Carson Green to be picked at number 31
“31. Buffalo Bills: Cayden Green, IOL, Missouri”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksC.J. CarrNew York JetsAug 10, 2026
C.J. Carr to be picked at number 4
“4. New York Jets: CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksBrice PollockCincinnati BengalsAug 10, 2026
Brice Pollock to be picked at number 19
“19. Cincinnati Bengals: Brice Pollock, CB, Texas Tech”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJustin ScottLos Angeles ChargersAug 10, 2026
Justin Scott to be picked at number 25
“25. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Scott, DT, Miami”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJadan BaughChicago BearsAug 10, 2026
Jadan Baugh to be picked at number 17
“17. Chicago Bears: Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksNick NashKansas City ChiefsAug 10, 2026
Nick Nash to be picked at number 26
“26. Kansas City Chiefs: Nick Marsh, WR, Indiana”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Drake Lindsey to be picked at number 15
“15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Drake Lindsey, QB, Minnesota”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksKade PieperDetroit LionsAug 10, 2026
Kade Pieper to be picked at number 21
“21. Detroit Lions: Kade Pieper, IOL, Iowa”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksEllis RobinsonMinnesota VikingsAug 10, 2026
Ellis Robinson to be picked at number 13
“13. Minnesota Vikings: Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksArch ManningArizona CardinalsAug 10, 2026
Arch Manning to be picked at number 1
“1. Arizona Cardinals: Arch Manning, QB, Texas ... he'll be the favorite to go No. 1 overall.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksCarter SmithHouston TexansAug 10, 2026
Carter Smith to be picked at number 24
“24. Houston Texans: Carter Smith, Indiana, OL”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksKenyatta JacksonCleveland BrownsAug 10, 2026
Kenyatta Jackson to be picked at number 32
“32. Cleveland Browns (via LAR): Kenyetta Jackson Jr., EDGE, Ohio State”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksCam ColemanNew York GiantsAug 10, 2026
Cam Coleman to be picked at number 10
“10. New York Giants: Cam Coleman, WR, Texas”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJordan SeatonAtlanta FalconsAug 10, 2026
Jordan Seaton to be picked at number 6
“6. Atlanta Falcons: Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksZabien BrownSan Francisco 49ersAug 10, 2026
Zabien Brown to be picked at number 22
“22. San Francisco 49ers: Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksMatt MooreMiami DolphinsAug 10, 2026
Matt Moore to be picked at number 2
“2. Miami Dolphins: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksDylan StewartTennessee TitansAug 10, 2026
Dylan Stewart to be picked at number 7
“7. Tennessee Titans: Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Matayo Uiagalelei to be picked at number 29
“29. Seattle Seahawks: Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksDavid StoneBaltimore RavensAug 10, 2026
David Stone to be picked at number 30
“30. Baltimore Ravens: David Stone, DT, Oklahoma”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJamari JohnsonDenver BroncosAug 10, 2026
Jamari Johnson to be picked at number 20
“20. Denver Broncos: Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksKelley JonesNew York JetsAug 10, 2026
Kelley Jones to be picked at number 18
“18. New York Jets (via DAL): Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksColin SimmonsNew Orleans SaintsAug 10, 2026
Colin Simmons to be picked at number 9
“9. New Orleans Saints: Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJeremiah SmithLas Vegas RaidersAug 10, 2026
Jeremiah Smith to be picked at number 5
“5. Las Vegas Raiders: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksCharlie BeckerDallas CowboysAug 10, 2026
Charlie Becker to be picked at number 23
“23. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksLeonard MooreCarolina PanthersAug 10, 2026
Leonard Moore to be picked at number 8
“8. Carolina Panthers: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksWill EcholesNew York JetsAug 10, 2026
Will Echoles to be picked at number 11
“11. New York Jets (via IND): Will Echoles, DT, Ole Miss”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksKJ BoldenWashington CommandersAug 10, 2026
KJ Bolden to be picked at number 12
“12. Washington Commanders: KJ Bolden, S, Georgia”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · New York GiantsHit · 100Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Cincinnati BengalsMiss · 0Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 100Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksMiss · 0Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
More mock draft picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Ryan WilsonMock Draft Picks · J.J. McCarthyMiss · 37Recalling his pre-draft evaluation, Wilson notes he had ranked J.J. McCarthy as the fifth quarterback in the 2024 class and given him a second-round grade rather than a first-round one, citing the gap between Michigan's system and NFL demands.
- Gregg RosenthalMock Draft Picks · K.C. ConcepcionClose · 68Rosenthal disagrees most with Casey Concepcion being left out of the first round, arguing he could go as high as the top 15 and certainly won't last past receiver-needy teams in the late twenties.
- Nick ShookMock Draft Picks · Francis MauigoaHit · 88Shook walks through his full first-round mock draft, assigning a prospect to every pick from No. 1 to No. 32, headlined by Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, David Bailey to the Jets and Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals in the top three.
- Daniel JeremiahMock Draft Picks · R Mason ThomasClose · 59In discussing teams without first-round picks, Jeremiah projected specific Day 2 picks: Clemson WR Antonio Williams to the Falcons at 48, Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez to the Colts in the second round, Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas to the Packers at 52, and Auburn edge Keiroon Crawford to the Broncos at 62. He also expects Riley Leonard to open as the Colts' starting QB and Travis Hunter to play cornerback full time in Jacksonville.
- Jeff CavanaughMock Draft Picks · Lorenzo StylesMiss · 1Streaming from the NFL Combine, Jeff pegged safety Dylan Thienemann's draft range at roughly picks 20-35, said LSU safety AJ Halsey would cost a second- or third-round pick, and insisted Sonny Styles' brother would not be a top-50 selection despite a fast 40.
- Steve MenschMock Draft Picks · Makai LemonHit · 100Making the even-numbered picks in the mock, he sent Arvell Reese to the Jets at No. 2, Spencer Fano to the Giants at 5, Jordan Tyson to the Saints at 8, a Tennessee cornerback to Miami at 11, Keldric Faulk to Baltimore at 14, Akheem Mesidor to Dallas at 20, Kenyon Sadiq to Philadelphia at 23, Caleb Banks to Buffalo at 26, Ty Simpson to the Rams at 29 and Chris Johnson to Seattle at 32, plus Caleb Lomu to Detroit at 17.