Quarterback is the most coveted position in football by a wide margin. Teams spend premium draft capital and cap space to secure their future under center. Most franchise quarterbacks are found through the NFL Draft. However, the position has been thin in the past couple of years. Only two signal-callers were taken in the first round in each of the past two drafts.
That will almost certainly not be the case in the 2027 NFL Draft, as there should be several first-round caliber prospects. Dante Moore and Arch Manning headline a class that has the chance to rival 2024, in which six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks. While there is no shortage of talent in the 2027 NFL Draft, which teams are most likely to spend a first-round pick on a quarterback?
Teams Most Likely to Pick a Quarterback in the First Round of the 2027 NFL Draft
New York Jets
The Jets find themselves in a familiar position, needing a franchise quarterback. New York added several promising players in the 2026 NFL Draft, but a void remains under center. It traded for a familiar name this offseason, acquiring Geno Smith to be the starter this season. Smith is on a one-year deal and turns 36 in October. Given his recent struggles, it’s clear that he is a bridge for New York until it gets a long-term option at the position. The Jets should be picking high in the 2027 NFL draft, so they will likely have plenty of prospects to choose from.
Cleveland Browns
Another franchise that has been in quarterback purgatory for decades, the Browns are once again a prime candidate to select a top QB prospect. The Deshaun Watson era is all but over after 2026, even if he ends up winning the starting job. Neither Shedeur Sanders nor Dillon Gabriel showed much as rookies to give Cleveland long-term optimism. Given that Gabriel and Sanders weren’t high draft picks, the Browns don’t have a ton of investment in them. Cleveland has a strong defense, and it addressed its offensive line and wide receiver room in this past draft. Barring a massive improvement from Sanders this season, the Browns will look to take a quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers
While Aaron Rodgers is back under center for Pittsburgh, he stated that 2026 will be his final season. His eventual retirement leaves the Steelers with an unproven quarterback room. Since Rodgers will remain the starter in 2026, they probably won’t get a look at either Will Howard or Drew Allar. It would be incredibly risky for Pittsburgh to pass on a quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft and roll with either Howard or Allar without seeing them in action. While the Steelers likely won’t be picking as high as the Browns and Jets, they can still grab a quality quarterback prospect.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals drafted Jeremiyah Love with the third-overall pick in 2026 and have plenty of talent at skill positions. While Arizona’s offense has potential, it needs a quarterback to realize it. Jacoby Brissett is in line to start this season, but he isn’t the long-term solution at the position. The Cardinals picked Carson Beck in the third round last month, but they can get a better prospect at the top of the 2027 NFL Draft. Arizona is in a brutal division and is an early contender to hold the first-overall pick next April.
Miami Dolphins
The four aforementioned teams are extremely likely to take a quarterback in the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft. These next three are certainly candidates, however they all have possible long-term starters already on the roster. The Dolphins made 13 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, more than any other team. Despite all their picks, they didn’t take a quarterback. This is because Miami signed Malik Willis in free agency.
Depending on how Willis performs this year, he may be sticking around in South Florida for the foreseeable future. While he has impressive traits, his sample size is incredibly small, and the Dolphins have arguably the worst roster in the NFL. If Willis struggles and Miami has a top pick, it may decide to move forward with a top prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Minnesota Vikings
After letting Sam Darnold walk in free agency, Minnesota has struggled immensely under center. The Vikings spent the 10th-overall pick in 2024 on J.J. McCarthy, but his lackluster performance and injury history are concerning. They signed Kyler Murray to a one-year prove-it deal this offseason. If Murray can succeed as Darnold did during his one-year deal with the Vikings, they probably won’t make the same mistake twice. If neither quarterback is productive in 2026, then Minnesota will struggle in a tough NFC North. This means it will have a top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft to take a quarterback who can get the most out of a talented roster.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are in a similar spot as the Vikings regarding their quarterback situation. Like Minnesota, Atlanta spent a top-ten pick in 2024 on a quarterback who has struggled with injuries and production. Although Michael Penix Jr. has been better than McCarthy when healthy, he needs to show improvement in 2026. He might not even be the starter come Week 1, as the Falcons brought in Tua Tagovailoa to battle with Penix. Tagovailoa likely isn’t a long-term answer for Atlanta, and this is a make-or-break year for Penix. If Penix doesn’t perform well or even start, then the Falcons have to entertain getting a new signal-caller in the 2027 NFL Draft.
