Early 2027 NFL mock draft features 2 Gamecocks going in the first round

Sure, the 2026 NFL Draft may have ended a few days ago. But it's never too early to start looking ahead at the 2027 NFL Draft, which is now officially just less than a year away. 

This past year saw just three former South Carolina Gamecocks drafted in cornerback Brandon Cisse going to the Green Bay Packers, Nick Barrett going to the Los Angeles Chargers and Jalon Kilgore going to the Buffalo Bills. 

On Tuesday after the draft, The Athletic's Dane Brugler released his first official mock draft. In it, he has a pair of South Carolina Gamecocks going in the first round, as well as one going as high as top-five. 

EDGE rusher Dylan Stewart: No. 5 overall to the Tennessee Titans

"After a Freshman All-America season in 2024, Stewart wasn’t as dominant on the 2025 tape," Brugler writes. "However, his athletic twitch at 6 feet 5 inches tall and 245 pounds is what NFL teams covet at the position."

OT Jacarrius Peak: No. 17 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals

Peak has high expectations heading into the 2026 season. He started his career at NC State, and transferred to South Carolina as the No. 5 overall ranked offensive tackle in the transfer portal. He did suffer a knee injury during a pick-up basketball game that limited him during spring football. But he is expected to be back on-track for fall camp, and to be a big boost for LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina's offense this season. 

Bryan Thomas Jr. hoping to follow in father's NFL footsteps

One big name that isn't on Brugler's list is Sellers. Although the quarterback was included on the initial list of odds for 2027's No. 1 overall pick, him being a first-round prospect largely depends on how his 2026 season goes.  

Outside of South Carolina players, Brugler also has several SEC stars going in the first round. He has Texas quarterback Arch Manning going No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals, and his teammate, wide receiver Cam Coleman, going No. 6 overall to join Fernando Mendoza in Las Vegas. 

His other first-round signal callers include Oregon's Dante Moore going No. 3 overall to the Cleveland Browns, Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker going to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 8, Notre Dame's CJ Carr going 15th to the New York Jets and the Detroit Lions taking USC's Jayden Maiava 23rd to be Jared Goff's eventual successor.

South Carolina lands Duquesne power forward via transfer portal

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