If Notre Dame football fans thought the CJ Carr hype had already hit its ceiling, they were very wrong.
NFL analyst Peter Schrager took the hype around the star quarterback to new heights this week when he spoke about where he thinks Carr will be selected in the 2027 NFL Draft. He appeared on the Pat McAfee show and made it clear that NFL teams are looking very hard at the Fighting Irish QB1. So hard, he might even be the first pick and could surge past Arch Manning in the process.
Notre Dame football QB CJ Carr could turn a softer 2026 schedule into a monster draft rise
“He is not getting as much press as Arch Manning ...” Schrager proclaimed about the Notre Dame quarterback. “But CJ Carr might be the guy we're talking about come January, February, March, April, NFL Draft first overall."
"CJ Carr blew everybody away at the Manning Passing Academy..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 18, 2026
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
Schrager is far from the first person to believe that Carr’s ceiling could be a very high draft pick. Of course, there’s also no guarantee he’s headed for the draft this winter, as he’ll have two years of eligibility remaining. But if the 2026 season goes as well as most believe, it would be incredibly hard for the quarterback to turn down a shot at being the No. 1 overall pick.
It also isn’t the first time that an analyst believes that Carr can beat out Manning and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, among others. When the Notre Dame star participated in the Manning Passing Academy, Todd McShay said he was the obvious standout, despite the Texas quarterback's home-field advantage.
“Wasn't even close. Wasn't even close,” McShay said about handing the Manning Passing Academy MVP to the Fighting Irish star. “Julian Sayin was there, and Arch Manning was there, and there were a lot of other guys that were exceptional. And I say that his performance in throwing the football was... That's the jumping-off point.”
Coming off his first year as a starter, Carr is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the sport this season. While some think there are things he needs to improve and prove, his talent, arm, and pocket presence are good enough that he is a sure first-round pick in the next NFL Draft.
There are also plenty of analysts who have decided that the Notre Dame football star could be a Top 5 pick. However, Schrager is one of the few to go so far as to say Carr could be the top player selected.
Carr completed 195 of 293 passes (66.6%) for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He also rushed for 33 yards and three touchdowns, giving him 27 total touchdowns in his first season as the starter. The star quarterback threw at least one touchdown pass in every game and posted multiple touchdown passes nine times, highlighted by a career-high 354 passing yards and four touchdowns against Arkansas.
With a Notre Dame football schedule considered quite a bit easier than even 2025’s slate, and no Jeremiyah Love or Jadarian Price to drive the running game, CJ Carr could put up a monster statistical season.
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