Top 2027 NFL Draft prospects on Power Four teams that didn't produce a pick in 2026

These 10 college football programs hope to get back to developing NFL talent next year

Cody Nagel

Apr 28, 2026

8:56 am ET

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8 min read

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The 2026 NFL Draft was uneventful for 10 Power Four programs that didn't have a player selected. That list includes Colorado, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Syracuse, UCLA, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin. It was most notable for the Badgers, as a 48-year streak with at least one draft pick -- one of the longest active runs in college football -- came to an end.

Looking ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft, most of these rosters don't feature clear early-round prospects, and in several cases, there aren't any obvious mid- or late-round candidates either. That puts added pressure on internal development over the next year, with many of these programs needing multiple players to take meaningful steps forward just to have a chance to get back on the board.

Below is a look at the top NFL Draft prospects for each of the Power Four teams that didn't produce a pick last week.

Colorado

Top 2027 NFL Draft Prospects: Danny Scudero (WR), Boo Carter (S)

Half of the NFL Draft picks Colorado has produced under Deion Sanders were so good that they've already had their numbers retired in program lore. The problem is that there haven't been many of them. Only four Buffaloes have heard their name called during the Sanders era, all coming in the 2025 draft class that included Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders. Colorado was shut out again in 2026, the fourth time in five years without a selection.

The offense does get a boost with the addition of Danny Scudero, who arrives from San Jose State after leading the FBS in receiving production. He immediately slots in as the most productive, proven pass catcher on the roster and gives Colorado a legitimate 2027 NFL Draft candidate if the production translates to a Power Four stage. Former Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter is another high-upside transfer for the Buffaloes secondary, a versatile piece that Deion Sanders has spoken highly of this spring.

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North Carolina

Top 2027 NFL Draft Prospect: Jordan Shipp (WR)

Despite self-branding as the "33rd team," North Carolina didn't have a player selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, its first shutout since 2015. The outlook doesn't improve much heading into 2027 for Bill Belichick and general manager Michael Lombardi, with no clear draftable names on the current roster. If top returning receiver Jordan Shipp takes another step this fall, he could at least work himself into the conversation, but that's a thin foundation to build on. Shipp finished last season with 60 catches for 671 yards and six touchdowns in a passing offense that ranked second-worst in the ACC. Still, Belichick's track record of identifying and developing pro talent offers some long-term optimism in Chapel Hill.

Oklahoma State

Top 2027 NFL Draft Prospects: Drew Mestemaker (QB), Wyatt Young (WR)

A key factor in Oklahoma State's decline under Mike Gundy was inconsistent quarterback play. Mason Rudolph remains the only Cowboys quarterback drafted in the last 14 years. More broadly, the program has been shut out in three of the past seven NFL Drafts and hasn't produced a first-round pick since 2014, with just five Day 2 selections in that 12-year span.

Now under new coach Eric Morris, the reset begins around prized transfer quarterback Drew Mestemaker. His rise has been highly unconventional, going from a player who never started varsity in high school to a potential 2027 NFL Draft riser if his development trajectory continues in a Power Four system after success under Morris at North Texas. He'll be tied closely to receiver Wyatt Young, and if that chemistry develops as expected, it could become the foundation of Oklahoma State's first real draft-relevant offensive pairing in years.

Purdue

Top 2027 NFL Draft Prospects: Charles Correa (LB), Joey Tanona (OT)

There is a realistic possibility that Purdue could go back-to-back seasons without producing an NFL Draft pick for the first time in program history. As it stands, the 2027 class has a thin pool of draftable talent unless the Boilermakers get strong breakout seasons from a few key players or hit on impact transfers. In recent years, retaining top talent has been a challenge. Former standout safety Dillon Thieneman, for example, transferred to Oregon and ultimately became a first-round NFL Draft pick last Thursday.

For 2027, linebacker Charles Correa is the primary name to watch. After leading the team in tackles for loss in 2025, he could elevate his stock significantly with another strong season and potentially declare early for the draft. Offensively, tackle Joey Tanona is another intriguing prospect. A former highly r