STILLWATER, Okla. — Mel Kiper Jr. listed former North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker among the “maybe” candidates for the first round of the 2027 NFL draft in an ESPN column published Friday, one day before Mestemaker made his Oklahoma State debut in a 24-10 loss at Tulsa.
Kiper predicted at least five first-round quarterbacks in 2027. He wrote that he feels most solid on Oregon’s Dante Moore, Texas’ Arch Manning, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, Miami’s Darian Mensah, and USC’s Jayden Maiava for Day 1, then placed Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Mestemaker in the next group.
Kiper wrote that there are probably a dozen quarterbacks who could get into Round 1 if they perform.
“Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker is only 20 years old and joins the Cowboys from North Texas, so there is an unknown there, but I love the traits,” Kiper wrote.
Drew Mestemaker’s 2025 Season In Denton
Mestemaker completed 319 of 463 passes (68.9%) for 4,379 yards with 34 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 14 starts for North Texas in 2025. He led the FBS in passing yards and passing touchdowns, won the Burlsworth Trophy as the nation’s top player who began his career as a walk-on, and was named American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American Conference.
North Texas won 12 games, a program record, reached the American Conference Championship Game, and beat San Diego State 49-47 in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 27. Mestemaker went 27-of-47 for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns in the bowl, according to CBS Sports.
He joined North Texas as a walk-on in 2024 after playing defensive back and backup quarterback at Vandegrift High School in Austin. His first career start came in the 2024 First Responder Bowl. He committed to Oklahoma State in January to follow Eric Morris, who left Denton for Stillwater before the 2025 regular-season finale, and he reunited with offensive coordinator Sean Brophy, who also coached him at North Texas.
Oklahoma State’s Opener At Tulsa
On Saturday, Mestemaker went 29-of-49 for 241 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. He threw an interception in the end zone with just over four minutes left and another in the final minute. Oklahoma State turned the ball over four times and converted 2 of 6 fourth downs, according to The Sporting News.
Caleb Hawkins, who set an FBS freshman record with 29 total touchdowns at North Texas last season, ran 18 times for 79 yards. Oklahoma State has 21 players who played for Morris at North Texas among 70 newcomers. Left tackle Jacob Sexton was carted off with a lower-body injury in the first quarter.
Oklahoma State hosts Oregon and Moore on Saturday, Sept. 12.
