Analyst warns not to sleep on Notre Dame football’s CJ Carr as No. 1 pick in 2027 NFL Draft

The 2027 NFL Draft remains over a year away, but the franchise quarterback hype train is already leaving the station. While Texas Longhorns sensation Arch Manning naturally dominates the national headlines, NFL Network analyst Peter Schrager wants fans and executives alike to keep their eyes on a different rising star: Notre Dame football quarterback CJ Carr.

During a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Schrager detailed how Carr turned heads at the prestigious Manning Passing Academy. It was not just his elite arm talent that impressed the seasoned observers in attendance.

“I always like to get a good litmus test of who was ‘the guy.’ And apparently, CJ Carr blew everybody away at the Manning Passing Academy,” Schrager explained. “Not just on his play, but was like the Pied Piper and everyone was following him.”

"CJ Carr blew everybody away at the Manning Passing Academy..

He might be the guy that we're talking about going at number one in the NFL Draft..

That shows the depth of this quarterback class"@PSchrags #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/2vxtI4kPY6

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 18, 2026

Schrager emphasized that NFL scouts are quietly taking rigorous notes, even if the mainstream media continues to focus heavily on Manning.

“I will tell you, NFL teams have their eyes on this guy, and he is probably not getting as much press as Arch Manning and more,” Schrager noted. “But CJ Carr might be the guy that we’re talking about come January, February, March, April for the NFL Draft first overall, and that just shows the depth of this quarterback class.”

The insider’s bold prediction perfectly aligns with Carr’s incredible on-field production. During his spectacular 2025 campaign, Carr completed 66.6 percent of his passes for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. He showcased his true superstar ceiling in a dominant 56-13 road victory against the Arkansas Razorbacks, dissecting the defense by completing 22 of 30 passes for a career-high 354 yards and four highlight-reel touchdowns.

Notre Dame football clearly boast a bona fide star under center. If Carr continues this impressive upward trajectory, the race for the first overall selection in 2027 will be an absolutely thrilling storyline to follow.