5. Houston Texans: Xavier Gilliam, IDL, Tennessee
The Houston Texans have had one of the best defenses in the NFL for most of DeMeco Ryans’ coaching career, but they could add another special player to the defensive front if they end up with this high of a pick in 2027.
Tennessee defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam has been one of the most dominant forces in all of college football this season, no matter if we’re talking about his productivity as a pass rusher or run stopper. He has 11.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks in his first 8 games this season and has mostly been unblockable.
Imagining this guy creating problems on the interior with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter coming off the edge is scary.
6. Philadelphia Eagles: Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina
Although there are definitely some questions that have to be answered about Stewart’s outburst earlier this season on the sideline, he’s also played some dominant football.
And the Philadelphia Eagles have shown that they are willing to take some risks, even high in the NFL Draft.
Stewart fits arguably the Eagles’ biggest need as a team right now, although there are more of those than you might think for a squad that just won the Super Bowl two seasons ago. They need pass rush off the edge on a consistent basis, but they could also be in the market for OT help and receivers here.
7. New York Jets (from Colts): Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
This is a tough dilemma for the New York Jets. Do you take the next-best quarterback on your board here, passing on the top cornerback in the class? Or do you take Moore and hope for the best at the quarterback position?
Normally, if you’re super convinced that a quarterback could be your franchise guy, you’re just going to take him and forsake everything else. But with three picks in the top 12 overall, the Jets can have their cake and eat it, too.
Nobody is loving the fact that the Colts are dumping players ahead of the trade deadline more than Jets GM Darren Mougey.
8. Arizona Cardinals: Darian Mensah, QB, Miami
The Cardinals just used a 3rd-round pick in last year’s draft on Miami quarterback Carson Beck, so maybe they dip into that talent pool to try and find their franchise QB of the future once again.
We haven’t gotten the chance to see Beck play yet, obviously, but nobody is really expecting him to be built around as a franchise quarterback. The Cardinals still have to answer that question, along with plenty of others, as they continue building the roster.
Even if other positions make sense here, you’ve got to work up the courage to take a QB again at some point.
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