Mestemaker Surges to Lead 2027 QB Draft Poll With 17 Votes

Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker has surged to the top of the 2027 NFL Draft quarterback conversation, receiving 17 of 25 votes in ESPN’s midseason poll of scouts and executives—the most any quarterback has received in the poll’s three-year history. He had no votes in August, when Oregon’s Dante Moore led the poll; Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, Miami’s Darian Mensah and Moore now trail Mestemaker with four, three and one vote, respectively. Mestemaker’s rise follows a breakout season after transferring from North Texas, including strong performances against Oregon and Houston; he has thrown for 2,326 yards and 20 touchdowns while leading the Cowboys into the AP Top 25. Scouts have cited his size, arm strength and playmaking, while his sudden climb has also moved betting markets for the No. 1 pick. The outlook remains tentative, however: the season is ongoing, prospects’ draft decisions are unsettled, and this quarterback class has so far fallen short of expectations.