Arch Manning may be the biggest name in the NFL Draft pool next April, but scouts are not necessarily buying him as the top quarterback in the class.
ESPN conducted a poll of 25 scouts and executives and asked them to predict the first quarterback taken in the 2027 NFL Draft. Manning received seven votes, but Oregon quarterback Dante Moore doubled that with 14. The quarterback class is expected to be deep no matter who goes first, but Moore is currently seen as the better pro prospect.
Moore could have been a top-five pick last season, but he opted to return to Oregon for his junior season. His experience and college production has helped him, along with the fact that some scouts may well view him as the more pro-ready quarterback.
Manning started poorly last season, but improved throughout the season. By the end of the year, he did not look NFL-ready either, but expectations are high for him this year, in part because of his famous pedigree.
Manning and Moore could find themselves competing for multiple honors this season. There is a clear expectation, however, that one of them will be the first quarterback off the board in 2027.
