STILLWATER, Okla. — Former Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is weighing in on the Cowboys' current quarterback and his rapidly rising NFL Draft stock.
Gundy appeared on Bleacher Report's BR Big Board alongside NFL Draft analyst Mike Renner on Wednesday, breaking down Drew Mestemaker's performance against Iowa State and discussing why the Oklahoma State quarterback could become the No. 1 overall selection in the 2027 NFL Draft.
The former Cowboys coach highlighted Mestemaker's ability to make NFL-caliber throws, extend plays and deliver in critical situations.
One of the first plays Gundy examined was Mestemaker's 41-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Justin Bowick during Oklahoma State's 51–49 loss to Iowa State. The play demonstrated Mestemaker's ability to deliver an accurate throw under pressure, even with a defender closing in.
Gundy pointed out that Mestemaker released the football in less than two seconds while preparing to absorb a hit from an unblocked defender. The former coach explained that NFL quarterbacks must consistently make those types of throws, particularly when facing tight one-on-one coverage.
"He's throwing the same type of throw that we see happens in the NFL all the time," Gundy said.
The throw also showcased Mestemaker's trust in Bowick, who finished the Iowa State game with seven receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
Gundy was equally impressed by Mestemaker's remarkable fourth-down conversion during the fourth quarter. Facing fourth-and-3 from Oklahoma State's own 32-yard line, Mestemaker escaped a potential sack, maintained his balance and stretched the football forward to reach the first-down marker.
The play kept the Cowboys' comeback hopes alive in a game where they eventually took a late lead before falling on a last-second field goal. Gundy described the effort as something that cannot be taught through conventional coaching.
"I call this a CCI (can't coach it)," Gundy said.
He explained that Mestemaker's combination of awareness, balance and athleticism allowed him to extend the play when his receivers were covered. Gundy also believed Oklahoma State's chances of winning would have been severely diminished without the conversion.
Mestemaker finished the Iowa State matchup completing 27 of 42 passes for 323 yards and five touchdowns, along with one interception.
Beyond the film breakdown, Gundy and Renner discussed Mestemaker's potential positioning in the 2027 NFL Draft. Renner currently has Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, South Carolina defensive lineman Dylan Stewart and Notre Dame defensive back Leonard Moore ranked ahead of Mestemaker on his overall prospect board.
However, Gundy emphasized the importance of the quarterback position when evaluating potential top selections. The former Oklahoma State coach specifically identified the New York Jets as a team that could have the draft capital to pursue Mestemaker.
Gundy suggested the Jets could explore trading ahead of another quarterback-needy franchise, such as the Miami Dolphins, to secure their preferred prospect. He also argued that the frequency with which quarterbacks handle the football makes the position especially valuable compared with other positions.
Gundy's evaluation comes as Mestemaker continues attracting attention from NFL scouts and draft analysts. In a recent ESPN poll of 25 NFL scouts and executives, 17 selected Mestemaker as the quarterback they would take first in the 2027 NFL Draft. That represented 68% of the respondents, placing him comfortably ahead of Notre Dame's CJ Carr, Miami's Darian Mensah and Oregon's Dante Moore.
Mestemaker has helped lead Oklahoma State to a 5–3 record and a 3–2 mark in Big 12 play entering Saturday's matchup at Kansas State.
For Gundy, the Bleacher Report appearance provided an opportunity to analyze the quarterback now leading the program he coached for more than two decades.
And for Mestemaker, the praise from a former Oklahoma State head coach adds another notable voice to the growing conversation surrounding his NFL future.
