Overview of Building the Beast
This episode is a wide-ranging preseason scouting preview of the 2027 NFL Draft class as college football is about to kick off. Dane Brugler and the host walk through the deepest and most intriguing prospects by position, with a heavy emphasis on quarterbacks, receivers, edge rushers, and corners. The central theme: this class could be loaded, but much of its final shape will depend on who actually takes a step forward in 2025 and who decides to stay in school for one more year.
Biggest Takeaways
- Quarterback is the headline position: There may be more legitimate top-end QB prospects here than in the last couple of draft cycles.
- Arch Manning and Dante Moore are the early frontrunners, but the next tier could get interesting fast.
- Receiver may be the best non-QB group, led by one of the most special prospects in recent memory, Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith.
- Defense is stacked with premium athletes, especially at edge, corner, and safety.
- The class is still fluid: several players may actually be better fits for the 2028 draft depending on development and NIL decisions.
Quarterbacks
The top names
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Arch Manning (Texas)
- The conversation centers on his strong finish to last season after a rocky early stretch.
- Brugler highlighted his improved pocket movement, athleticism for his size, anticipation, and progression work.
- The big question now is whether he can build on that late-season growth against a brutal SEC schedule.
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Dante Moore (Oregon)
- Considered right alongside Manning at the top of the class.
- Praised for his quick release, touch downfield, and overall passing polish.
- Physical development is a big plus; he reportedly added weight and returned to school to mature both mentally and physically.
Deep and intriguing QB tier
The second tier is very large and may define the class:
- C.J. Carr (Notre Dame)
- Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State)
- LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)
- Darian Mensah (Miami)
- Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss)
- John Mateer (Oklahoma)
- Josh Hoover (Indiana, via TCU)
- Sam Leavitt (LSU)
- Jadyn Maiava (USC)
- Drake Lindsey (Minnesota)
- Julian Sayin (Ohio State)
Key QB theme
A major storyline all season will be whether these quarterbacks:
- live up to the preseason hype,
- improve enough to become first-round locks, or
- choose to return to school and reshape the class again.
Wide Receivers
Top of the class
- Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) is the clear headline name.
- Elite size, explosiveness, ball skills, and catch-point dominance.
- Brugler suggested he may be the most special receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson.
Other receivers to know
- Cam Coleman (Auburn → Texas)
Big, physical, highly talented; now in a better situation to showcase his game. - Charlie Becker (Indiana)
Broke out late last season and looks like a serious NFL prospect. - Nick Marsh (Michigan State → Indiana)
Expected to step into a bigger role in Indiana’s reworked passing attack. - Mario Craver (Texas A&M)
Undersized but explosive. - Ryan Williams (Alabama)
Tremendous talent, but needs more consistency and better all-around polish. - Evan Stewart (Oregon)
Still viewed as a very talented senior prospect if healthy. - Amarian Miller (Colorado → Arizona State)
A transfer worth keeping on the radar.
Edge Rushers
The headliners
- Dylan Stewart (South Carolina)
Flashy burst, twitch, and run-game impact; needs to turn traits into more consistent production. - Colin Simmons (Texas)
Right there with Stewart among the top edge defenders.
Other notable rushers
- Yonse Pierre (Alabama)
Expected to be a major factor for the Tide. - Quintavious Johnson (Georgia)
Another player Brugler thinks could rise. - Will Heldt (Clemson)
Senior edge with strong NFL potential. - Kenyatta Jackson (Ohio State)
A key returning piece for the Buckeyes after a late-season surge.
Offensive Tackles and Interior OL
Tackles
- Trevor Goosby (Texas)
Brugler’s current OT1; praised for his play strength. A recent bone bruise is worth monitoring. - Jordan Seaton (Colorado → LSU)
Former five-star with top-10 potential if he cleans up some consistency issues. - Jacarius Peake (South Carolina)
Tall, long, and talented, but needs more strength/anchor development. - Nicky Prongos (Stanford)
A strong senior tackle prospect with upside into the top 40 range.
Interior offensive line
- Greg Johnson (Minnesota)
Brugler’s favorite guard prospect; big, powerful, and mobile enough to stay on the field. - Cade Piper (Iowa)
Moving from guard to center; classic Iowa developmental prospect. - Anthony Knapp (Notre Dame)
More likely a guard/center type than a true tackle, but very solid. - Austin Cereveld (Ohio State)
Another Big Ten blocker with NFL traits, though his final position is still being sorted out. - Carter Smith (Indiana)
A steady, long-term NFL type who may end up inside.
Defensive Backs
Cornerbacks
- Leonard Moore (Notre Dame)
One of the best prospects in the class regardless of position.
Brugler compared the ceiling of his profile to the very best corners he has studied. - Ellis Robinson IV (Georgia)
Former elite recruit with major upside. - Christian Gray (Notre Dame)
- DJ McKinney (Notre Dame transfer from Colorado)
Safeties
- KJ Bolden (Georgia)
Top safety in the class entering the season. - Tay Johnson (Notre Dame)
Rangy, high-upside safety. - Jalen McClain (Ohio State)
Another key name in the safety group. - Zach Lutmer (Iowa)
- Jelani McDonald (Texas)
- Ty Benefield (LSU)
Physical freak with strong testing upside.
Linebackers
- Xavier Atkins (Auburn) was the standout discussion point.
- He may not have the ideal frame, but Brugler loves his “rabid pursuit” and urgency.
- Other names to know:
- Chris Cole (Georgia)
- Sammy Brown (Clemson)
Running Backs
This is a much deeper running back group than last year.
Best early names
- Kewan/Kiwan Lacy (Ole Miss)
Considered the most explosive of the top backs. - Jaden Baugh (Florida)
Big, powerful, and surprisingly elusive for his size. - Ahmad Hardy (Missouri)
A downhill, physical runner with true first-round traits.
More backs to watch
- Nate Frazier (Georgia)
- Re’Lique Brown and Hollywood Smothers (Texas transfers)
- Mark Fletcher (Miami)
- Justice Haynes (Georgia Tech)
- L.J. Martin (BYU)
Tight Ends
The tight end class is quirky and interesting, with both traditional and unconventional prospects.
Names to know
- Tradez/Travis Green (Ole Miss)
A 6'6", 238-pound “power slot” type with rare movement skills and major red-zone upside. - Jamari Johnson (Oregon)
Expected to step into the Kenyon Sadiq role. - Benjamin Brommer (Penn State)
Classic Big Ten tight end profile. - DJ Vannum/Vanham (Iowa)
Another dependable Iowa tight end pipeline prospect. - Terrence Carter Jr. (Texas Tech)
A more unusual, undersized TE body type.
Final Watchlist and Season Stakes
A few broad themes will shape the class over the next few months:
- Can the top quarterbacks hold their place?
- Will Jeremiah Smith and Leonard Moore live up to generational-level hype?
- Which edge rushers turn traits into production?
- Does the deeper RB and TE class actually hold together?
- How many of these players stay in school, especially with NIL money on the table?
The episode ends with excitement for Week 0 and the opening weekend slate, especially games that will let scouts get early eyes on names like Jadyn Maiava, Jordan Seaton, and the Clemson-LSU matchup.