# Justin Melo: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 10, 2026 **Pundit:** Justin Melo — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/justin-melo **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/onsi/mock-drafts/2027-nfl-mock-draft-first-round-projection-before-college-football-season-changes-everything 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. > If Manning continues developing in the right direction, he'll be the favorite to go No. 1 overall. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Drake Lindsey to be picked at number 15** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Drake Lindsey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tae Johnson to be picked at number 16** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Tae Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars - Verdict: not settled yet - **Julian Sayin to be picked at number 3** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Julian Sayin, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Yhonzae Pierre to be picked at number 28** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Yhonzae Pierre, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet - **Carson Green to be picked at number 31** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Carson Green, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet - **C.J. Carr to be picked at number 4** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: C.J. Carr, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brice Pollock to be picked at number 19** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Brice Pollock, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Drew Mestemaker to be picked at number 14** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Drew Mestemaker, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Justin Scott to be picked at number 25** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Justin Scott, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **David Stone to be picked at number 30** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: David Stone, Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kade Pieper to be picked at number 21** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Kade Pieper, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **Leonard Moore to be picked at number 8** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Leonard Moore, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Will Echoles to be picked at number 11** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Will Echoles, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cam Coleman to be picked at number 10** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Cam Coleman, New York Giants - Verdict: not settled yet - **Carter Smith to be picked at number 24** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Carter Smith, Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **A'Mauri Washington to be picked at number 27** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: A'Mauri Washington, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenyatta Jackson to be picked at number 32** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Kenyatta Jackson, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Nick Nash to be picked at number 26** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Nick Nash, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jamari Johnson to be picked at number 20** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jamari Johnson, Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kelley Jones to be picked at number 18** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Kelley Jones, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **KJ Bolden to be picked at number 12** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: KJ Bolden, Washington Commanders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jadan Baugh to be picked at number 17** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jadan Baugh, Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ellis Robinson to be picked at number 13** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Ellis Robinson, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Zabien Brown to be picked at number 22** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Zabien Brown, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Matt Moore to be picked at number 2** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet - **Arch Manning to be picked at number 1** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Arch Manning, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Charlie Becker to be picked at number 23** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Charlie Becker, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Matayo Uiagalelei to be picked at number 29** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Matayo Uiagalelei, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dylan Stewart to be picked at number 7** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Dylan Stewart, Tennessee Titans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Colin Simmons to be picked at number 9** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Colin Simmons, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jeremiah Smith to be picked at number 5** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jeremiah Smith, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jordan Seaton to be picked at number 6** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jordan Seaton, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Drake Lindsey — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/drake-lindsey - Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers - Tae Johnson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tae-johnson - Jacksonville Jaguars — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jaguars - Julian Sayin — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/julian-sayin - Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/browns - Yhonzae Pierre — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/yhonzae-pierre - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Carson Green — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/carson-green - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bills - C.J. Carr — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/c-j-carr - New York Jets — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jets - Brice Pollock — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/brice-pollock - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bengals - Drew Mestemaker — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/drew-mestemaker - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/steelers - Justin Scott — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/justin-scott - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chargers - David Stone — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/david-stone - Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/ravens - Kade Pieper — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kade-pieper - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/lions - Leonard Moore — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/leonard-moore - Carolina Panthers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/panthers - Will Echoles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/will-echoles - Cam Coleman — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/cam-coleman - New York Giants — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/giants - Carter Smith — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/carter-smith - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/texans - A'Mauri Washington — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/a-mauri-washington - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Kenyatta Jackson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kenyatta-jackson - Nick Nash — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/nick-nash - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - Jamari Johnson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jamari-johnson - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Kelley Jones — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kelley-jones - KJ Bolden — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kj-bolden - Washington Commanders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/commanders - Jadan Baugh — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jadan-baugh - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bears - Ellis Robinson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/ellis-robinson - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Zabien Brown — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/zabien-brown - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Matt Moore — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/matt-moore - Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/dolphins - Arch Manning — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/arch-manning - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cardinals - Charlie Becker — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/charlie-becker - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - Matayo Uiagalelei — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/matayo-uiagalelei - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Dylan Stewart — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/dylan-stewart - Tennessee Titans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/titans - Colin Simmons — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/colin-simmons - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/saints - Jeremiah Smith — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jeremiah-smith - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Jordan Seaton — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jordan-seaton - Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/falcons ## What others said about the same people - Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0) - Ralph Vacchiano on Tua Tagovailoa: Vacchiano 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f782be9-64d3-47cf-b054-6566e14194d6 (scored 0) - Chris Brockman on Baker Mayfield: Brockman'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d508736e-a824-4fa0-854c-df4ebdd9ef02 (scored 100) - Mike Moraitis on DaRon Bland: Moraitis 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/66b5ed7b-41bd-4f67-9b4d-16eae4675e67 (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70a7844a-2fb6-44d7-814f-30ec9fbcc26d (scored 100) - John Shipley on Jack Kiser: Shipley 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c0a52b7c-63b2-4e18-b7da-9342dbbc111f (scored 0) ## More mock draft picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Gregg Rosenthal on Brandon Doughty: Rosenthal 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/16ab5f5d-0f01-48ee-a1df-63c1b1996dc3 (scored 2.63) - Peter Bukowski on Gennings Dunker: Bukowski 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f77d920f-e5fe-4684-83b6-9105b6304d5b (scored 100) - Damian Parson on Zachariah Branch: Locked 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b352f2ad-cf9f-4086-8229-68786b3029cf (scored 100) - Ollie Connolly on Kyle Louis: Connelly 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/451a3983-ef51-4051-988d-6842523d646b (scored 19.28) - Gregg Rosenthal on Eli Stowers: Rosenthal 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/3a597cb9-b56b-4f68-aedd-608eb30191cd (scored 62.09) - Peter Bukowski on Julian Neal: The 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/446cfe07-8174-4890-8305-acf2cdd70471 (scored 91.7) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=justin-melo