Jeremiah and Pollack Back Drew Mestemaker for 2027 NFL Draft

Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker has emerged as a leading candidate for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft after an impressive start to the college football season. NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah considers him the class's most intriguing quarterback, while former ESPN analyst David Pollack has predicted that the former walk-on will become the first player selected next April.

Mestemaker, a transfer from North Texas, has helped Oklahoma State reach a 3-1 record under first-year head coach Eric Morris after the Cowboys finished 1-11 in 2025. His combination of passing production, mobility and potential has attracted attention from draft analysts despite his relatively limited experience at the highest level of college football.

Speaking with Rich Eisen, Jeremiah explained why Mestemaker currently stands out among the 2027 quarterback prospects.

"Where we are right now, I think the most intriguing player when you put all that stuff together would be Mestemaker," Jeremiah said.

Jeremiah acknowledged that Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has been dealing with an injury and has not played his best football early in the season. He also compared Mestemaker with Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, highlighting the Oklahoma State passer's physical tools.

"Just off early season here. Dante Moore, obviously he's hurt, hopefully he's OK after that horrendous hit that he took, but he has not played his best ball. They were on the same field, I watched that tape, and from an NFL standpoint, Mestemaker was just so much more intriguing with the athleticism that he has to go along with the other array of skills.

In an ideal world for him and his development, just more playing time, another year would be great. But in terms of where we are at this point in the season, Mensah's been outstanding with the decision-making and the accuracy; I think Mestemaker is a little more toolsy than him. When we get in draft time, Rich, that's usually what takes the cake," Jeremiah said.

Jeremiah also praised Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, distinguishing the senior's readiness to contribute immediately from Mestemaker's developmental upside.

"And I'm a Chambliss guy too. I've been saying that from the jump. He's my favorite one to watch of all these guys.

He is so talented and so tough and just such a natural thrower. Like to me, if you said who of all these quarterbacks you've got to win an NFL game tomorrow, like come in and win game one, he's the guy who's most equipped to help you win. He's ready to go," Jeremiah said.

Mestemaker's statistics have strengthened his draft case. According to the figures reported by Bleacher Report, he had thrown for 1,271 yards and 11 touchdowns against five interceptions through four games, averaging 317.8 passing yards per game and 9.0 yards per attempt.

His most notable performance came in a 39-31 upset of Oregon, then ranked No. 6 nationally according to Yahoo Sports. Mestemaker accounted for 426 total yards, including 317 passing yards and 109 rushing yards, and contributed three touchdowns.

Yahoo Sports also reported that Mestemaker threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-24 victory at West Virginia. His early-season production followed a difficult opener against Tulsa, when Oklahoma State lost 24-10 and he completed 29 of 49 passes for 241 yards with two interceptions.

Pollack nevertheless believes Mestemaker's potential deserves consideration at the top of the draft. Appearing on the Brandon Walker College Football Show, the former ESPN College GameDay analyst argued that the quarterback's background has influenced how his prospects are perceived.

"If Drew Mestemaker's last name was Manning, he would already be projected as the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft this year," Pollack said.

Pollack also backed Oklahoma State over Texas Tech in the Big 12 race, criticizing the latter's inconsistent offensive performances while acknowledging the Cowboys' loss to Tulsa.

"I do not believe what I'm seeing from Texas Tech. I can't buy into this inconsistency on offense," Pollack said.

Explaining his choice in the conference discussion, Pollack pointed to Oklahoma State's overall potential despite its opening defeat.

"Give me the Cowboys, bro. I know they lost to Tulsa. I get it," Pollack said.

Pollack attributed that loss partly to missed opportunities on fourth down and turnovers, arguing that the opening result did not fully reflect the team's capabilities.

"If you watched the game, they had four fourth-down conversions that they missed. They turned the ball over several times," Pollack said.

After the opening defeat, Mestemaker produced 1,030 passing yards and 10 touchdowns across three victories, according to Yahoo Sports. His performances against Oregon and West Virginia helped Oklahoma State improve to 3-1 and opened discussion about his potential first-round selection.

Pollack further emphasized his confidence in the quarterback's ability, citing qualities he believes could translate to the professional level.

"I see so much greatness in that kid," Pollack said.

Mestemaker's rise has been particularly striking given his path through college football. The Austin native did not start at quarterback for Vandegrift High School and joined North Texas as a walk-on in 2024. He led the nation with 4,379 passing yards in 2025 before following Morris to Oklahoma State.

His 2027 draft eligibility makes this season an important opportunity to establish himself among the leading prospects. The Athletic's Dane Brugler ranked Mestemaker fourth among quarterbacks in August, behind Notre Dame's CJ Carr, Oregon's Dante Moore and Texas' Arch Manning.

Bleacher Report's September 22 big board placed Mestemaker seventh among the quarterbacks listed in its top 50. Darian Mensah ranked fourth overall at No. 4 with an 8.4 grade, followed by Moore at No. 13 with an 8.1, Chambliss at No. 14 with an 8.0, Manning at No. 17 with an 8.0, Carr at No. 34 with a 7.8, Jayden Maiava of USC at No. 36 with a 7.7, and Mestemaker at No. 47 with a 7.6.

Oklahoma State's next test was scheduled against UCF at noon Eastern on Saturday, with the game set to air on ESPN2 after the Cowboys' bye week. Texas Tech was scheduled to visit Stillwater on November 14, offering another significant Big 12 matchup for Morris's team.

The 2027 NFL Draft is scheduled to begin April 29 in Washington, D.C. Mestemaker's standing among quarterback prospects remains subject to further evaluation as the season progresses and additional game footage becomes available.