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Columbia Daily Tribune
Way-too-early look at Missouri football’s possible 2027 NFL draft class
- Story byColumbia Daily Tribune
- Way-too-early look at Missouri football’s possible 2027 NFL draft class
In the past three years, Missouri football has sent more players to the NFL via the draft than at any point in program history .
The Tigers had a modern-record six players who were drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. That matches Mizzou's total from 2024. Those years are tied with 2009 and 2015 as MU's biggest draft classes since the event went to seven rounds in 1994.
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Zion Young (No. 45, Ravens ), Josiah Trotter (No. 46, Buccaneers), Chris McClellan (No. 77, Packers ), Keagen Trost (No. 93, Rams), Kevin Coleman Jr. (No. 177, Dolphins) and Toriano Pride Jr. (No. 220, Bills) are all league-bound.
Missouri has now sent 15 players to the league as draft picks in the past three years. That is the most in any three-year span since the NFL/AFL merger.
More: NFL undrafted free agent tracker, who will sign Missouri free agents?
More: How many Missouri players were picked in NFL Draft? MU ties modern record
And it doesn't look like the Tigers are about to slow down in 2027.
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Mizzou has two players who absolutely could earn some first-round buzz. All signs suggest this could be another strong year for Eli Drinkwitz's program at turning its players into pros.
It's obviously extremely early, but here are the players who could get picked in the 2027 NFL Draft out of Missouri:
Could Ahmad Hardy be next first-round pick out of Missouri?
One of the best — if not the best — returning running backs in the sport has first-round potential for next year.
Hardy, listed at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds, was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award alongside Jeremiyah Love, who was the No. 3 overall pick this year. The Mizzou running back led the nation with 1,181 yards after contact. He forced 97 missed tackles, per PFF.
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USA Today's way-too-early 2027 mock has Hardy at No. 17 to the Minnesota Vikings next year. He'll likely be in competition with Georgia's Nate Frazier and Ole Miss ' Kewan Lacy, a former Mizzou player, too, for the title of RB1 next season.
Missouri has had two first-round picks under Drinkwitz. Darius Robinson was the No. 27 pick in 2024, and Armand Membou was the No. 7 selection in 2025.
Sep 6, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy (29) runs for a touchdown against Kansas Jayhawks safety Taylor Davis (27) during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Cayden Green, left tackle
Green was a candidate to head to the draft this year, after the end of his junior year. The 6-5, 324-pound Lee's Summit native even had some very early first-round buzz before last year started.
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That might return with another season as Mizzou's starting left tackle.
In Pro Football Network's first 2027 mock draft, he's the No. 23 pick to the Detroit Lions. NFL Draft Buzz has him as the No. 2-ranked offensive line prospect next year, which is close to a first-round grade. Sporting News rated him as the No. 7 player on its big board for next year.
The All-SEC tackle has position versatility from his time at guard (where he was tabbed as a preseason All-American before shifting outside). He's got size, speed and is widely praised for his technical ability. Another good year, and Green should go quite early.
Nicholas Rodriguez, linebacker
Rodriguez has an extremely high ceiling this season and is a candidate to declare, like Josiah Trotter this year, for the draft after his third season in college.
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The Miami native, listed at 6-0, 225, broke into Mizzou's primary linebacker rotation as a sophomore and was among the Tigers' top priorities to bring back this year. He had 40 total tackles and two sacks last season and stands to take on an even bigger role in 2026.
He was excellent against the run in 2025 and appears to have added some size this offseason. Keep an eye on Rodriguez on these draft boards.
Sep 6, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez (20) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Kansas Jayhawks at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Cayden Lee, wide receiver
Mizzou has sent its slot receiver to the league in back-to-back seasons, as Luther Burden III went to the Bears as a second-round pick in 2025 and Kevin Coleman Jr. was picked by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round on Saturday.
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NFL Draft Buzz has Lee, an Ole Miss transfer, listed as the No. 201 overall prospect next year and the No. 16 wide receiver.
Next year sets up as an extremely strong wide receiver class. But, with a productive year with Austin Simmons at quarterback, Lee has a chance to be in that group.
Darris Smith, defensive end
Smith, who will be a defensive end/outside linebacker prospect next year, has the size and athleticism (6-5, 240) to hear his name called in 2027.
He showed his potential behind two tremendous edge rushers in Zion Young and Damon Wilson II last season, and by all accounts it's now his show in CoMo.
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Mizzou has sent an edge rusher to the league in three of the past four seasons, all in the first four rounds. Smith could be the next man up as the Tigers continue to develop pro-level defensive ends.
Brett Norfleet, tight end
Sep 6, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers tight end Brett Norfleet (87) scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Kansas Jayhawks at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
All of the measurables are there, so we'll need to see how healthy Norfleet can stay. The 6-6, 260-pound tight end is a tremendous talent, but a persistent shoulder injury has stopped him from fully realizing his potential.
Still, Norfleet had 75 catches for 686 yards and 10 touchdowns over the past three seasons. Tight ends seem to be in vogue in the NFL right now, and Norfleet has the ceiling to go quite high at his position.
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Who else could be drafted out of Missouri?
Some other names to keep an eye on as 2026 progresses: center Dominick Giudice, linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr., running back Jamal Roberts, defensive tackle Marquis Gracial, offensive tackle Josh Atkins and cornerback Chris Graves Jr.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Early look at Missouri football possible 2027 NFL draft class
