Texas Longhorns defensive end Colin Simmons (#11) tries to get around the block of Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Josh Fryar (#70) during the CFP Semifinal Cotton Bowl Classic football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns on January 10, 2025 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up ahead of the Lone Star Showdown, the rivalry match-up between the Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 28, 2025.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) passes the ball against Texas A&M Aggies defense during the first half of an NCAA college football game in the Lone Star Showdown in Austin, Texas, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman
Arch Manning may get the headlines, but there’s plenty of talent on the Texas football roster for 2026.
Don’t believe that latter part of that sentence? Just look at some early draft rankings. The 2027 NFL Draft is still more than nine months away, but the league recently finalized its plan for the three-day event. Washington, D.C. and the Commanders will host the draft in 2027, which is slated to run April 29 to May 1.
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MORE: Longhorns add trio of defenders to recruiting class
Pro Football Focus and Tankathon have draft boards they update throughout the year. ESPN draft experts have already begun ranking the top-five players at a number of positions and there was no shortage of Longhorns. In fact, no school had as many selection in the ESPN exercise as Texas. So who could join Manning as first-round draft picks? Here are some of the highly regarded Longhorns:
NFL 2027 draft: Where Cam Coleman, Trevor Goosby land
Matt Miller had seven players ranked in the top five at their various positions and four were deemed the best at their position. He had Manning as the top quarterback in the class and Trevor Goosby as the top offensive tackle. Goosby, listed at 6-foot-7, 325 pounds, was first-team All-SEC in 2025 and could have been a Day 2 pick had he declared for 2026 draft. Fellow offensive lineman Brandon Baker is the No. 3 guard in the class, switching positions after starting as a tackle last season. Manning threw for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season. He also ran for 399 yards and 10 scores.
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Cam Coleman comes in at No. 2 for the wide receivers. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Alabama native transferred to Texas from Auburn after catching 56 passes for 708 yards and five touchdowns. Another transfer — running back Raleek Brown — is the No. 5 prospect at his position, according to Miller. He recorded 1,141 yards on just 186 attempts with four rushing touchdowns in 2025 while playing for Arizona State. The Californian also caught 34 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns.
MORE HORNS: SEC men’s schedule released for Texas
On defensive, Miller has edge rusher Colin Simmons and linebacker Rasheem Biles as the top prospect in their groups. Simmons, a Dallas-area native, has spent his entire collegiate career with Texas, racking up 12 sacks and 15½ tackles for a loss in 2025 after notching nine sacks and 14 TFLs a freshman. Biles transferred from Pitt after recording 101 tackles (17 for loss). 4½ sacks and six pass breakups last season.
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Jordan Reid has six Longhorns among his top fives. His lists are a good deal different. Sure, he agrees with Manning as the top passer and Coleman as the No. 2 pass catcher. He also has Goosby as the No. 1 tackle. But those are the only similarities.
Reid doesn’t have Brown in his top five for backs, nor does he rate Baker so far. Simmons, also All-SEC first team last year, is No. 2 among edges and Biles is No. 2 among linebackers. But the ESPN analyst is higher on Jelani McDonald, ranking him third among the class’ safeties. The senior had 80 tackles and three interceptions last season.
Tankathon 2027 draft rankings
Texas could be extremely busy on Day 1 of the NFL draft if this board, as of Monday, comes to fruition. Manning is projected the No. 2 overall pick with Simmons at No. 3. Coleman is ranked seventh and Goosby comes in at 10th. Clearly a lot can change, but four top-10 picks would be among the most impressive draft classes the Longhorns ever had. Texas has never had more than three first-round draft picks.
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Wide receiver Ryan Wingo was No. 50 on this board and Biles was No. 54.
Pro Football Focus: Where Longhorns land in 2027 rankings
PFF is less high on Manning — he comes in at No. 6 overall and the No. 3 quarterback. Simmons is the top edge prospect at No. 4 overall. Goosby is ranked No. 10 and the second-highest offensive tackle. Coleman isn’t far behind at No. 12 and is also No. 2 at his position. Also second at his position is Rasheem Biles, narrowly missing the first-round projection at No. 33 overall.
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