Drew Mestemaker Ranked No. 2 Overall, Top Quarterback on Mel Kiper's 2027 NFL Draft Big Board

STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker's rapid rise in college football has reached another milestone, with one of the sport's most recognizable NFL Draft analysts placing him among the nation's elite professional prospects.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. released his initial 2027 NFL Draft Big Board on Thursday, ranking Mestemaker as the No. 2 overall prospect and No. 1 quarterback in the class. Only Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith ranks ahead of the Cowboys' signal-caller.

Perhaps even more notable is where Mestemaker stands compared to two of college football's most heavily discussed quarterback prospects. Texas quarterback Arch Manning checks in at No. 24 overall, while Oregon's Dante Moore sits at No. 25.

That puts Mestemaker 22 spots ahead of Manning and 23 ahead of Moore on Kiper's board, illustrating how dramatically the quarterback evaluation landscape has shifted during the first half of the 2026 season.

Kiper's initial Top 25 features seven quarterbacks, with Mestemaker leading the group.

The quarterback rankings within the overall board are:

Mestemaker is also the only Big 12 player represented in Kiper's Top 25.

The rankings represent Kiper's evaluation of the best available prospects rather than a prediction of where players will be selected. Still, being placed second overall reflects the considerable attention Mestemaker is receiving as a potential NFL quarterback.

Mestemaker's emergence did not begin in Stillwater. Last season at North Texas, he led the FBS with 4,379 passing yards while throwing 34 touchdowns.

After following head coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State, Mestemaker has continued producing against Power Four competition.

Through five games, he has thrown for 1,575 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 315 passing yards per game. The Cowboys' quarterback has also recorded four consecutive 300-yard passing performances, including 304 yards and two touchdowns in Oklahoma State's 42-28 victory over UCF.

His ability to attack defenses downfield has been particularly impressive. According to Kiper's evaluation, Mestemaker has completed 30 passes gaining at least 20 yards this season, the third-highest total in the FBS.

Kiper also highlighted Mestemaker's ability to survey the field, remain patient in the pocket and make difficult throws while possessing the mobility to extend plays.

The combination of arm talent, toughness and room for further development has made Mestemaker an increasingly intriguing NFL prospect.

Mestemaker's placement becomes even more significant when compared to Kiper's previous quarterback outlook.

In September, Kiper listed Mestemaker behind Dante Moore and Arch Manning in his projected quarterback rankings for the 2027 draft. Less than a month later, Mestemaker has moved ahead of both players and every other quarterback on the analyst's initial Big Board. The Cowboys' quarterback has also received high praise from other ESPN draft analysts, including Field Yates and Jordan Reid.

While the 2027 NFL Draft remains months away, Mestemaker's performances have firmly established him as one of the nation's most closely watched quarterback prospects.

Mestemaker's rising draft profile comes as Oklahoma State prepares for one of its most important games of the season.

The Cowboys enter Saturday's matchup at Houston riding a four-game winning streak with a 4-1 overall record and a 2-0 start in Big 12 play.

Another strong performance against the Cougars would give Mestemaker an opportunity to build on his early-season success while helping Oklahoma State remain unbeaten in conference play. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT on FOX.

For a quarterback who arrived in Stillwater after leading the nation in passing at North Texas, the journey from productive college starter to one of the top-ranked NFL Draft prospects has been remarkably fast.

And according to Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest evaluation, no quarterback in the 2027 class currently ranks higher than Drew Mestemaker.