With the 2026 NFL Draft two weeks away in Pittsburgh, teams are already turning attention to the 2027 quarterback prospects, according to draft analyst Dane Brugler. Brugler noted frequent discussions about next year's class during conversations with scouts since the Combine. The move highlights disappointment in the current year's quarterbacks.
The 2026 NFL Draft, set to begin in Pittsburgh, has generated little excitement at the quarterback position after high expectations entering the 2025 season fell flat. Analysts project just two potential first-round picks: Fernando Mendoza, expected to go No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, and Ty Simpson, who could land in the first or early second round. An NFL insider suggested it would not surprise if those are the only quarterbacks selected in the first two days, with roughly 10 expected over the full three days, many on Day 3. The Athletic's Dane Brugler, speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, shared that talks with teams and scouts have organically shifted to the 2027 class. > “Going back to the Combine and talking to teams and scouts, it’s funny how often the 2027 quarterback class was brought up organically,” Brugler said. “Teams already have their eye on next year’s class. And that’s not unusual. I think teams are always advanced scouting.” Led by prospects like Texas' Arch Manning, Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss, Oregon's Dante Moore, and Ohio State's Julian Sayin, the 2027 group has generated significant buzz. Good teams with stability at the position are using advanced scouting to decide whether to pursue aggressively or pass, as many may do this year. For teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers searching for a franchise quarterback, the hype offers a potential target in 2027.