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
- Drake Lindsey
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 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
- Drew Mestemaker
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Justin Scott
- Los Angeles Chargers
- David Stone
- Baltimore Ravens
- Kade Pieper
- Detroit Lions
- Leonard Moore
- Carolina Panthers
- Will Echoles
- Cam Coleman
- New York Giants
- Carter Smith
- Houston Texans
- A'Mauri Washington
- New England Patriots
- Kenyatta Jackson
- Nick Nash
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Jamari Johnson
- Denver Broncos
- Kelley Jones
- KJ Bolden
- Washington Commanders
- Jadan Baugh
- Chicago Bears
- Ellis Robinson
- Minnesota Vikings
- Dylan Stewart
- Tennessee Titans
- Zabien Brown
- San Francisco 49ers
- Matt Moore
- Miami Dolphins
- Arch Manning
- Arizona Cardinals
- Charlie Becker
- Dallas Cowboys
- Colin Simmons
- New Orleans Saints
- Jeremiah Smith
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Matayo Uiagalelei
- Seattle Seahawks
- Jordan Seaton
- Atlanta Falcons
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.
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 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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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.
- 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 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.
- 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 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.
- 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 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 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.
- 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 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 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 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.
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 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.
What others said about the same people
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona.
- Ralph VacchianoDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta.
- Chris BrockmanTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100Brockman's season-preview overreactions: Fernando Mendoza becomes an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist; Dak Prescott wins MVP and the Cowboys win the Super Bowl; Jesse Minter's Ravens win the AFC North; C.J. Stroud leads Houston to the AFC's No. 1 seed; Jonathan Taylor approaches 2,000 rushing yards; Baker Mayfield wins the NFC South, goes 12-5 and reaches the NFC title game while landing a $60 million-per-year deal; and Aaron Rodgers throws 35-plus touchdowns as the Steelers go 11-6 and win the North.
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandHit · 100Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 0Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there.
More mock draft picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Gregg RosenthalMock Draft Picks · Brandon DoughtyMiss · 3Rosenthal gave first reactions to Vegas win totals: overs on the Steelers, Broncos, Vikings, Buccaneers, 49ers and Cardinals, unders on the Falcons and Commanders, plus he expects Shedeur Sanders to start about 10-11 games and thinks the Cowboys' 9.5 is beatable.
- Peter BukowskiMock Draft Picks · Gennings DunkerHit · 100Bukowski breaks down Iowa offensive lineman Jennings Dunker as a Packers fit and puts a late second-/early third-round grade on him, noting that range overlaps where Green Bay picks.
- Damian ParsonMock Draft Picks · Zachariah BranchHit · 100Locked On's draft analyst laid out where several prospects should land in the upcoming draft: Zachariah Branch as a Day 2/third-round target for the Chargers, Penn State's top offensive lineman gone well before pick 22 (ideally 14 to Baltimore), Akeem Mesador and Malachi Lawrence as first-round edge rushers, Derrick Moore as a Day 2 edge, and Texas's left tackle as a top-10 pick next year.
- Ollie ConnollyMock Draft Picks · Kyle LouisMiss · 19Connelly assesses the 2026 draft class: he sees Jeremiah Love as a top-ten most productive player at running back with an Ezekiel Elliott-to-Bijan/McCaffrey range, projects Fernando Mendoza as a top-8-to-12 starting QB in the league, pegs Ty Simpson as a top-of-the-second-round pick he'd only be comfortable taking in the third, and slots various tight ends and late running backs into specific rounds.
- Gregg RosenthalMock Draft Picks · Eli StowersClose · 62Rosenthal is bullish on Jeremiah Love as a near-certain hit worth a top pick, thinks Kenyon Sadik won't last long on the board and could go in the top fifteen, expects Garrett Nusmeyer to have a long NFL career as a good backup, and pegs Eli Stowers as a third-to-fourth-round type player.
- Peter BukowskiMock Draft Picks · Julian NealHit · 92The Packers' beat host argues corner is a poor value at pick 52 based on historical hit rates, names what he considers the top four cornerbacks in the class, and says Julian Neal looks like a fourth-round pick.