Which Washington Huskies Could Hear Their Names Called in 2027 NFL Draft?
With less than six weeks until the college football season begins, NFL scouts and talent evaluators already have started to build their preliminary draft boards for 2027.
The Washington Huskies had a remarkable seven players drafted in 2026, despite only three (Jonah Coleman, Denzel Boston, Tacario Davis) showing up in mock drafts before the season began, a testament to the progress made in year No. 2 under coach Jedd Fisch and his staff.
Seven drafted Huskies was the most since 10 had their names called in 2024, which of course came after a birth in the College Football Playoff title game. Fisch’s ability to develop his players into NFL draftees is highlighted by his mantra “Be a Pro” that is plastered all over the team facilities on Montlake.
The players internalize and buy into this philosophy as noted by fourth-round draft pick Carver Willis, who said, “Playing for Washington was the best decision I ever made. I will forever love my time here. It absolutely helped. And my time here is something I hold in great regard... the people I’ve met here and the things I’ve learned here, we all preach ‘Be a Pro,’ how to be a pro.”
The Kansas State transfer was not thought of as a future NFL talent prior to buying into the UW program, but he now has the opportunity to battle for the starting left guard spot for the San Francisco 49ers.
The same story was told by defensive tackle Anterio Thompson and edge Zach Durfee. Both transferred from smaller programs at Western Michigan and Sioux Falls, bought into the program, and became pros after ending their journey in Seattle.
The former teammates parlayed one season of production and tape with elite athletic testing numbers at the Huskies Pro Day to appear on scouts’ radars. That culminated in sixth-round and seventh-round selections, respectively.
Which Huskies will get drafted this year? What players are already on scouts’ radars? Who has a chance to be this year’s under-the-radar flyer who skyrockets up draft boards leading up to the draft? Here are some players to look out for this year:
Already on NFL Radar
Drew Azzopardi, OT
The Huskies’ best shot at a top draft pick, right tackle Drew Azzopardi has a chance to be Fisch’s first offensive lineman drafted out of Washington. Pro Football Focus listed him at number 85 overall on their initial draft board for 2027. Azzopardi graded as the sixth-highest offensive tackle during his breakout 2025 season.
As of now, he projects as a prototypical right tackle, measuring 6-7 and 320 pounds. His towering frame allows him to dominate in the run game, routinely opening wide holes on runs to his side of the line.
In pass pro, Azzopardi is excellent against bull rushes, but when he does get beat, it is usually by high-end speed guys. Improving his lateral quickness and overall consistency in finishing blocks will allow him to ascend from a Day 2 pick to a potential first rounder.
Draft Projection: Round 2
Xe'ree Alexander, LB/EDGE
After a slow start in 2025, Alexander emerged as one of Washington’s top defenders towards the end of season. This culminated in him earning defensive MVP of the L.A. Bowl against Boise State, as he totaled seven tackles, one sack, one interception, and two passes defended.
Defensive coordinator Ryan Walters started moving Alexander around his defense in the second half of the schedule, taking advantage of his versatile skill set. Routinely starting him out as an inside linebacker on early downs, he started sending him after the quarterback in obvious passing situations as a blitzer or lining him up on the edge.
Wanting to maintain this positional flexibility, the UCF transfer has bulked up to 240 pounds, which at 6-2 allows him to both set the edge while maintaining his lateral quickness to drop back in coverage as an off-ball linebacker.
If he can build off his strong finish to last season into a dominant 2026, Alexander could go anywhere from the seventh round to as high as the second round if it all breaks right.
Draft Projection: Round 4
Alex McLaughlin, S
Washington has a long history of sending defensive backs to the next level. Both starting corners from 2025, Tacario Davis and Ephesians Prysock, went in the third and fourth round, respectively. Alex McLaughlin looks to follow in their footsteps.
His calling card is his rare athleticism that he translates into being a versatile chess piece for defensive coordinators. McLaughlin was fourth in the Big Ten last year in solo tackles with 61. He is an excellent in-the-box safety that wraps up ball carriers well. At his best flying downhill, he uses his hard-hitting mentality to stop runners in their tracks.
As athletic as he is, however, McLaughlin struggles in coverage when playing deep. He can make quick decisions in man coverage when lined up against tight ends or running backs split out wide, but isn’t great at handing off receivers in zone and staying home on his assignment.
McLaughlin should post strong counting stats this season. If he earns an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, his athletic testing could help him climb draft boards. Tidying up some mental mistakes in coverage, combined with his likely excellent testing numbers, could allow him to hear his name called in the later rounds.
Draft Projection: Round 5 or returning for a fifth season
Jacob Manu, LB
The leader on this Husky defense, Manu comes into the year primed to put his injury-filled 2025 in the rearview mirror. He was first team All-Pac-12 playing under Fisch in Arizona in 2023, but battled through injuries before arriving on Montlake ready to perform.
A preseason All-Big Ten honorable mention, Manu has unteachable instincts in defending both the pass and run game. At 5-11, 225 pounds, he does not have the traditional size that NFL scouts look for. Yet the tape shows a player who consistently plays bigger than his size.
His elite IQ is highlighted by how quickly he discerns blocking schemes, reading and reacting so fast he shoots past blocks into the backfield to blow up plays. Not just a run stuffer, he is excellent in zone coverage and can get home on the occasional blitz, as shown by his 6.5 sacks during the 2023 season.
A true three-down linebacker, Manu needs to stay healthy to stay on scouts’ radar, but with a defense that projects to be one of the best in college, he can stake his claim as a steady leader that can play at the next level.
Draft Projection: Round 6
Likely Needs One More Year
Demond Williams, QB
The face of Washington football, Williams is a dark horse Heisman candidate and already has the attention of NFL evaluators. Despite his small 5-11 stature, his exceptional burst and arm talent allow GMs to dream of him being the next Kyler Murray or Russell Wilson.
Williams will likely have another monster year after a turbulent offseason where he nearly left the Huskies, benefiting from continuity working with Fisch, but he still has too many things to clean up on tape before he’s ready to compete for Super Bowls.
He struggles to layer his throws, and can get caught staring down routes. He needs to learn to look off safeties better and progress through his reads more consistently. Too often he locks into his first read, and if it isn’t there, he takes off running.
While his game-altering running ability bails him out often enough in college, it might not translate as easily to the NFL. Williams needs to learn how to manipulate the pocket better instead of just bailing on plays and that likely will take another two seasons of college seasoning to achieve, if it happens at all.
Decker DeGraaf, TE
DeGraaf has shown flashes of receiving talent, but his blocking is not close to being NFL level yet. He reportedly showed significant improvement in spring camp, but he needs that to translate to Saturdays before scouts will take him seriously as an NFL prospect. Even with a breakout year, he will still likely need a year or two before leaving school as a draftable prospect.
Jacob Lane, EDGE
A local in-state player, Lane needs to utilize his newfound fifth year of eligibility to cement himself as a draftable talent. He was able to accrue four sacks last year in his first year starting, but currently projects as only a training camp invite if he declares after next season due to him lacking an NFL-caliber traits. This season presents an opportunity to improve that standing with scouts, however.
Landen Hatchett, C
One half of the Hatchett brother tandem, Landen Hatchett has a chance to make an NFL roster as early as next year. Yet, with his recent fifth year of eligibility approved, he should also return to wear the purple and gold. A breakout year and an all-conference selection could allow him to make the jump, but he will likely need to put together two good years of performance, as he lacks the elite athletic traits that NFL teams are looking for to go with his high football IQ.
