Nick Baumgardner Pre-Season Top 50

[mayoclinic]

Dane Brugler's top 50 should be out next week, this one is from his colleague at The Athletic:

2027 NFL Draft rankings: Jeremiah Smith leads preseason list, Arch Manning cracks top 10

Smith is an elite prospect, but he's not alone in what could be a loaded 2027 draft class.

www.nytimes.com

Of note:

6. Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson
9. Nick Marsh, WR, Indiana
12. Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss
13. Trey'Dez Green, TE, LSU
15. Kade Pieper, IOL, Iowa
18. Trevor Lauck, OT, Iowa
20. Jelani McDonald, S, Texas
21. Yhonzae Pierre, EDGE, Alabama
22. Jaden Baugh, RB, Florida
24. Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson
27. A'Mauri Washington, IDL, Oregon
31. Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia
32. Greg Johnson, IOL, Minnesota
35. Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon
34. Zeke Berry, CB, Michigan
37. David Stone, IDL, Oklahoma
38. Jacarrius Peak, OL, S. Carolina
40. Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
41. Clev Lubin, EDGE, Louisville

7 QBs: Arch Manning (10), Dante Moore (11), CJ Varr (23), Drew Mestemaker (25), Sam Leavitt (44), Julian Sayin (48), Drake Lindsey (50).

9 offensive skill players in top 17: Jeremiah Smith (1), Cam Coleman (4), Charlie Becker (7), Nick Marsh (9), Arch Manning (10), Dante Moore (11), Kewan Lacy (12), Trey'Dez Green (13) and Ryan Coleman-Williams (17).

Missing:

Justin Scott, IDL, Miami
Chris Cole, LB, Georgia
Kyngstonn Viliamu-asa, LB, Notre Dame
Carter Smith, OL, Indiana
Austin Siereveld, OL, Ohio St.

 

[mayoclinic]

If the draft went according to his rankings, the Pats could have Ellis Robinson IV, Justin Scott, David Stone, Chris Cole, Kyngstonn Viliamu-asa, Jamari Johnson and Jordan Seaton still on the board when they pick. Other than possibly the LBs, I doubt any will be available.

 

[manxman2601]

If the draft went according to his rankings, the Pats could have Ellis Robinson IV, Justin Scott, David Stone, Chris Cole, Kyngstonn Viliamu-asa, Jamari Johnson and Jordan Seaton still on the board when they pick. Other than possibly the LBs, I doubt any will be available.

I think the 2025 draft is a little bit similar to this one, less so at the top, but strong on DT, two clear cut TEs, Jalon Walker = Chris Cole?. I then went and looked at Dane's pre-season top 50. Oh man, I wouldn't read too much into today's rankings and what happens in April.

NFL Draft 2025 Big Board: Will Johnson, Abdul Carter lead Dane Brugler’s initial top 50

The quarterbacks stole the show at the 2024 NFL Draft. At least early on, though, the 2025 class has more of a defense-heavy feel.

www.nytimes.com

Lander Barton, Isaiah Bond, Danny Stutsman, Elic Ayomanor, someone called Sam Brown who I've never heard of, Conner Weigman and Patrick Payton. (Funnily enough, he had Mansoor Delane on this top 50 but not his '26 one).

Things will change a lot and I'm intrigued with what those changes will be. I feel pretty good with where the consensus top 50 is now but history says, maybe a third to a half of them won't be top 50 next year.

 

[mayoclinic]

I've commented on this before.

Brugler and Jeremiah are the best currently around, but even so Brugler only had about 50% accuracy this far out.

I think 2027 is s bit easier than 2026 to predict, but there will be wild cards.

Baumgardner has guys in his top 50 who I think have no business sniffing that territory - Will Held, Kenyatta Jackson, Ty Benefield. I think David Stone, Justin Scott and Jordan Seaton will be top 15 picks, possibly top 10. He's got them at 37 (Stone), 40 (Seaton) and NL (Scott).

There will be a lot of upheaval on the "professionals" list. I think much less on ours, JMHO.