DJ Lagway declared future No. 1 overall pick by NFL Draft analyst Field Yates

Through his freshman year at Florida, DJ Lagway has shown his potential after taking over as the starter. In fact, NFL Draft analyst Field Yates thinks his ceiling is a future No. 1 overall pick.

Lagway arrived in Gainesville as a Five Star Plus+ recruit, and the initial plan was for him to sit behind Graham Mertz and develop. But a season-ending injury opened the door for the star freshman to take over as QB1, and he’s living up to the billing.

In fact, Lagway is showing so much promise, Yates declared him the top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. It was some high praise for the Florida quarterback, who had his mind on a second consecutive upset as the Gators took on Ole Miss.

With the first pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, [insert team here] selects Florida QB DJ Lagway. https://t.co/e5kPARTgYY

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 23, 2024

“With the first pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, [insert team here] selects Florida QB DJ Lagway,” Yates wrote on X on Saturday afternoon.

Lagway was the No. 3 overall player and No. 1-ranked quarterback from the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. His arrival was an important one for Billy Napier, and he’s handled the transition to the college game well as one of the top young dual-threats.

Entering Saturday, Lagway had 1,297 yards and seven touchdowns, along with five interceptions, through the first nine games of his career. He also missed a game with a hamstring injury against Georgia, though he played well prior to his departure in that game.

Lagway made his return last time out against LSU and operated mostly from the pocket, rather than getting on the run. He still shined, throwing for 226 yards and a touchdown to lead Florida to the upset victory at The Swamp to give some momentum heading into Saturday’s game against Ole Miss. That game, Lagway said, showed him how to trust his protection.

“I feel like Coach Napier and the offensive staff did an amazing job of game-planning, just my strengths and weaknesses for this week,” Lagway said. “And I feel like this week’s taught me a lot, just learning how to truly play in the pocket and just maneuver and trust in my o-line and trust in all the guys around me. It was a great week, and I’m excited to build forward.”