NFL Draft 2027 Prospects Rising & Falling Down The Rankings: Colin Simmons, Darian Mensah On The Rise
NFL Draft

NFL Draft 2027 Prospects Rising & Falling Down The Rankings: Colin Simmons, Darian Mensah On The Rise

Coach Gene Clemons has identified a group of risers and fallers among NFL Draft prospects for 2027.

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The month of September has been great because college football has hit the ground running at warp speed. There have been so many elite performances that it's difficult to point out only a few guys who've seen their stock rise through the first few games of the season. It is equally as difficult to be critical of slower starts from players who may just need those first few games to get their engines going and live up to the potential they had coming into the season.

Let's see who has helped themselves the most, and the guys who may have fallen off from their preseason expectations as prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Prospects Rising & Falling Down the Rankings for the 2027 NFL Draft

Riser: Colin Simmons, Edge, Texas

There has been a battle for the No. 1 spot among edge rushers in the 2027 draft class, and Simmons may have cemented himself at the top of the list over the first few games of the season. There's nothing better than when a prospect combines elite physical traits, like a 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame that is much more stout against the run than one would imagine, with production at the highest level. Simmons already has seven sacks on the season, including a five-sack performance versus Tennessee. That follows up a nine-sack performance as a freshman and a 12-sack campaign as a sophomore. Simmons just continues to check boxes and thrive under the microscope, while others seem as if the bright lights may be too hot.

Faller: Dylan Stewart, Edge, South Carolina

Don't get it twisted. Stewart is still an elite talent and prospect, but clearly lacks the maturity that you would want from a guy who knows that his future rests in the NFL. Unlike Simmons, he has never been an elite producer, but he has all of the traits and the measurables you would want from a future 3-4 rush linebacker or 4-3 wide-technique defensive end. 2026 was supposed to be the year that he put the production with the speed in the 6-6, 250-pound frame, and so far that hasn't been the case. What he has shown is an ability to get frustrated and make poor decisions, like punching an opponent while playing against Alabama and being suspended indefinitely by his head coach.

Riser: Darian Mensah, QB, Miami

Darian Mensah was one of the more intriguing transfers in the offseason as he moved for the second time in his collegiate career, from Duke to Miami. The aerial show that he has put on so far through the first quarter of the season is nothing short of spectacular. He has flashed the arm talent that NFL scouts covet, as well as the patience and moxie that allow quarterbacks to ascend as leaders on a team full of alphas. Mensah has more athleticism than originally thought, but seems to revel at the opportunity to show how good of a pocket passer he can be.

Faller: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

Moore came into the 2026 season as one of the most veteran options at the position. He could have come out after last season and been a first-round pick, and with another collegiate season under his belt, many believed he could be the first overall pick. He had some early-season struggles against competition he would normally dominate, and then he ran into some injuries that have scouts slightly worried about his durability in what continues to be an extremely violent league. Moore has proven to be streaky this season. It almost seems as if he turns it on and off within the game.

Riser: Ryan Wingo, WR, Texas

While people have paid massive amounts of attention to fellow Texas receiver Keon Coleman, Ryan Wingo has slowly but consistently risen up draft boards. He has gone a long way toward establishing himself as one of the better options as an explosive boundary receiver. He combines the magic recipe for receivers to go high in NFL drafts: size and elite-level speed. His 6-2 frame, which has more definition than you realize, also allows him to get vertical quickly and blow past defenses at the third level. He has shown the ability to track deep passes over the shoulder and play through contact while fighting for the ball.

Faller: Bryant Wesco Jr., WR, Clemson

Early in his collegiate career, Wesco flashed the ability to create separation from defenders and to take the top off the defense. But in order to be an early-round receiver and receive consideration by scouts, they need to be able to see more consistency out of Wesco. On top of just basic ability and consistency, and showing his ability at the highest level, there are some durability concerns. He plays with such a long, skinny frame that it leaves him vulnerable to injury. His struggles and inconsistencies show up against aggressive man coverage defenses and how they play when they're trying to limit timing and rhythm passing concepts.

Riser: Will Echoles, DT, Ole Miss

Will Echoles has turned himself into one of the premier disruptors on the interior defensive line in the 2027 NFL Draft class. He is a heavy-handed tackle, built like a fire hydrant, and explodes off the line of scrimmage with violent intentions. He can quickly reset the line of scrimmage with his bull rush, get across face on zone blocking, and disrupt their flow, as well as anchor down in gap schemes and against double teams to make it hard for offenses to set an edge. As a three-technique, he has enough ability as a one-gap penetrator with counter moves to keep offenses guessing.

Faller: David Stone, DT, Oklahoma

Stone is a former blue-chip prospect who has flashed elite, one-gap penetrating ability. Although Stone remains effective on third downs, his struggles transitioning into becoming an every-down factor have been noticeable. One of the biggest issues he has is an inability to anchor at the point of attack against downhill man and gap scheme offenses. He doesn't always hold up, and he can get washed out of the play rather easily. Obviously, having pass-rushing ability makes you viable in the NFL. But if you don't show the ability to be an every-down factor, it's going to drop your draft stock. NFL scouts need to see more from Stone.

Riser: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame

Moore has emerged as the premier coverage option in this draft. At 6-2, he has ideal height and length for the position. He is a major force in press-man and has shown that he is sticky in coverage. He does an excellent job of disrupting releases, pattern matching and breaking up passes. He plays through the hands instead of just looking to tackle receivers when they are trying to catch the ball. There is also no doubt that he is at the right school to get the maximum amount of exposure. Scouts don't even have to be at the game in order to see him play consistently because of the media profile the Fighting Irish enjoy.

Faller: Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia

Robinson came into college with a lot of hype, and he has flashed the promise that many believed he would have when he earned his spot on the field. He has shown the ability to be a ballhawk, but he has also shown that he can get out-muscled by bigger boundary X receivers. He can also get a little anxious and fall for a double move. NFL scouts know that he can play tight coverage, but they want to see more patience and technical proficiency overall, especially playing off man and in run support.

Riser: Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida

The University of Florida has emerged as a player in the SEC this season as it has staked its claim toward SEC supremacy. Jadan Baugh has seen his draft status continue to increase. At 6-1, 225 pounds, he has the perfect frame for an early-down, North-South hammer in the NFL. NFL scouts get even more giddy when you pair that type of frame with light feet to give the back surprising agility for his size. He also possesses great contact balance, which makes it difficult to bring him down. One of the reasons he has risen is because of competition; Florida's had an opportunity to face some heavyweights.

Faller: Ahmad Hardy, RB, Mizzou

Hardy is extremely productive. He has produced wherever he's carried the ball in his collegiate career. Everyone can see it, and many of his opponents can feel it. What we don't get to see a lot is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. When you couple that with sketchy reps in pass protection and questions about his long-term durability, you can see why the buzz on Hardy has subsided.

Players Mentioned in this Article

  1. Keon Coleman
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    3.4

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