Who are OU football's top 2027 NFL Draft prospects? We examine Sooners

NORMAN — The 2026 NFL Draft is behind us.

Oklahoma football had its most players selected since 2022, including defensive end R Mason Thomas, defensive tackle Gracen Halton and wide receiver Deion Burks. While there wasn't a Sooner picked in the first round last Thursday night in Pittsburgh, there is already buzz about what next April could look like. 

This season’s Sooners roster is loaded with potential NFL Draft picks and even some players who could elevate their play enough to sneak into the first round. If all goes to plan, it could be a historic draft class.

Here’s a way-too-early look at which draft-eligible OU players might be selected in next year’s 2027 NFL Draft:

Oklahoma NFL Draft tracker: Where Sooners players are selected in 2026 draft

1. David Stone, defensive lineman

If Stone keeps on his current trajectory and increases his sack numbers next season, he’ll be a first-round lock. At 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, he has the ideal body type and quickness to be a 3-technique lineman. CBS Sports ranked him as the No. 10 best prospect in its way-too-early 2027 prospects ranking last week, while Pro Football Focus has him as the ninth-best prospect. A former consensus five-star, Stone led all Sooner defensive tackles and ranked seventh on the team with his 42 total tackles last season despite making only two starts. He also totaled eight tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.

2. Eli Bowen, defensive back

At only 5-foot-9, Bowen might be overlooked, but he’s expected to be one of the best corners in the country as a junior. After a breakout freshman season in which he made eight starts, Bowen earned All-SEC Third Team honors as a sophomore. After missing the first four contests due to injury, he started the last nine games, totaling 24 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups. Based solely on his production thus far at this age, Bowen deserves to be this high. ESPN listed him as a sleeper for the 2027 NFL Draft.

3. Jayden Jackson, defensive lineman

Jackson could easily switch places with Bowen or Stone on this list. He broke out as a true freshman in 2024, starting 10 games and earning a Freshman All-SEC Team nod after totaling 30 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and one pass breakup. He started six games as a sophomore last season and totaled 28 tackles, including five for loss and three sacks, as well as two quarterback hurries.

4. Taylor Wein, defensive lineman

Following a breakout 2025 season, Wein projects as a solid Day 2 pick. An All-SEC Second Team selection, Wein made eight starts, collecting 39 tackles, including 15 for loss and seven sacks, six QB hurries, an interception, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and a blocked field goal. He led the team in tackles for loss and sacks. The sky is the limit for him in 2026.

5. Kip Lewis, linebacker

Lewis would've gotten drafted this year if he didn't decide to return for another season. He started all 13 games in 2025 and led the team with 76 total tackles, while also adding 10.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and a forced fumble. If he continues on his current trajectory, the sky is the limit for Lewis.

6. John Mateer, quarterback

Where Mateer gets drafted next season is perhaps the biggest question mark and it will depend on what version of him we see in the fall. If he vastly improves and is a Heisman Trophy contender, then he could skyrocket up this list — especially since some draft analysts were still high on him following this past season. NFL scouts seem to be looking at last season as a year in which Mateer was injured and showed toughness to battle through that. But if he has a similar season to last year or improves slightly, sometime on Day 2 seems likely for Mateer.

7. Peyton Bowen, defensive back

We could very likely see two Bowens drafted in 2027. Bowen enters his fourth season in Brent Venables’ defense after an All-SEC Second Team performance as a junior. He’s been one of OU’s best players for years now and his football IQ should impress NFL teams. For Bowen, it could come down to what he looks like at the combine, but he also projects as a solid Day 2 pick like Wein.

More: OU football grades for every position after spring camp. How did Sooners fare?

8. Isaiah Sategna III, wide receiver

Sategna could certainly be the first offensive Sooner selected. He’s expected to be OU’s WR1 this season and is fresh off an All-SEC Second Team performance last year. In 2025, he started all 13 games and served as the team’s primary returner on kickoffs and punts. He totaled team highs of 67 receptions, 965 yards and eight touchdown receptions. If the Sooners’ offense improves like they hope it will, those numbers should only increase this season.

9. Trell Harris, wide receiver

If Harris can replicate his 59 receptions for 847 yards and five touchdowns, he could go anywhere from the third to the seventh round. Harris recorded multiple receptions in every game and at least four receptions in nine games last season. If he can stay healthy and keep his current pace, he should be drafted.

10. Owen Heinecke, linebacker

When he took the stand as a witness in Heinecke’s eligibility hearing, OU general manager Jim Nagy said if Heinecke would’ve left for the draft this year he projected as a fifth- or sixth-rounder. Now that Heinecke gets a fourth year of football, his stock should only grow next year. In 2025, he was an All-SEC Second Team selection and made five starts at linebacker, ranking second on the team with his 74 tackles. He also totaled 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, four pass breakups, one forced fumble and two QB hurries. Nagy and Venables believe Heinecke has yet to scratch the surface when it comes to his potential.

11. E’Marion Harris, offensive lineman

It’ll be interesting to see where Harris is after a full season with offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, who is known for his development of NFL talent. Harris is 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds and started 11 games for Arkansas last year.

12. Tate Sandell, kicker

Sandell should get drafted. He won the Lou Groza Award last season as the nation’s best kicker. He set or tied eight career or single season school, conference, FBS or stadium records. Sandell was 24 for 27 on field goal attempts (89%) with a long of 55 yards (made four times). He was also 8 for 9 on field goal attempts from 50-plus yards.

Wait and see: defensive end Adepoju Adebawore, tight end Hayden Hansen, defensive back Jacobe Johnson, offensive lineman Jake Maikkula, defensive lineman Danny Okoye and linebacker Cole Sullivan.

2028 NFL Draft lookahead

There is sky-high potential with OU’s next two draft classes. 

It’s way too early to be talking about 2028, but the possibilities are endless. Could up-and-coming offensive lineman Michael Fasusi be a first rounder? If Okoye doesn’t go in 2027, where could he be selected in 2028? What about SEC All-Freshman Team member, defensive back Courtland Guillory?

The bottom line: the Sooners have done a better job of stockpiling talent than in previous years. OU has a lot to be excited about the next couple of seasons.

Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing adigital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football's top 2027 NFL Draft prospects show loaded class of sooners