PITTSBURGH — The 2025 NFL draft in Green Bay kicked off with a relatively ho-hum No. 1 pick in quarterback Cam Ward, but it also featured the likes of two-way Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, prolific running back Ashton Jeanty and polarizing passer Shedeur Sanders.

The 2027 NFL draft in the nation’s capital almost certainly will be highlighted by Texas prodigy Arch Manning, nephew of Peyton and Eli, and Ohio State phenom wide receiver Jeremiah Smith — to say nothing of what’s expected to be a much deeper quarterback class.

Of course, that’s what experts and analysts had in mind for the 2026 NFL draft here in Pittsburgh.

Those projections have aged about as well as subprime mortgages, and now the teams that planned around them are left holding the bag.

“When the official decision date for the underclassmen came, I believe we moved over 25 guys off our board that we had top 75, top 100,” Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach told reporters at the NFL combine in Indianapolis earlier this year. “So it really impacts, I think, the draft, and then you’re getting older, older prospects as you go on.”

With apologies to presumed 2026 No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza of Indiana University, the crop of prospects who will be in the spotlight on the North Shore has some people feeling like this is a down cycle. Mendoza did his part, and the quarterback is essentially a lock to complete the trio of Heisman winner, national champ and first overall pick.

In fact, Mendoza’s dominance is almost too boring from a storyline perspective. There’s no drama or debate between now and April 23 regarding what the Las Vegas Raiders should do (which is also a reflection of just how poorly the team has managed the position in its own right).

Any given year, the quarterback group is the tide that lifts all ships. The more big names at that spot, the better.

That’s why 2024 in Detroit, with six quarterbacks in the first round — all in the top 12 — was such a show. That tied the record set in 1983, and a “30 for 30” documentary was made on that draft.

And it’s why 2004 holds such reverence around these parts. Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger provided palace intrigue on the front end and Hall of Fame careers on the back.

But this draft? There’s Mendoza way out in front, and then a pack of prospects jostling for draft position behind him. The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks don’t sound dismayed that they have a league-low four picks.

“You have to evaluate every class, and so we evaluated this class as, ‘OK, 2025 is going to be stronger than 2026, and 2027 may be stronger,’ ” Seahawks general manager John Schneider said. “It’s not the individual players. It’s kind of the collective, like the whole group, so that’s why you saw us make some of the decisions we made [trading picks].”

Sure, you have your stud edge rushers such as Arvell Reese of Ohio State, Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami and David Bailey of Texas Tech. The Buckeyes also bring all-around linebacker Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs to the party. And Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has perhaps as much star power as anyone not named Mendoza in this class.

But compelling subplots are few and far between.

Going back to the quarterbacks again, the 2023 NFL draft in Kansas City was headlined by Bryce Young versus C.J. Stroud, with Anthony Richardson and even Will Levis hovering around that conversation.

From a local perspective, it also had Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey established as a first-round prospect, Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. in the mix and ex-Pitt receiver Jordan Addison trying to capitalize on his lone season at Southern California.

Speaking of Pittsburgh-centric draft hype, 2022 didn’t have much going for it in the category of elite talent, but it did have Kenny Pickett.

This year, the Panthers put out cat-quick linebacker Kyle Louis — who could go as early as the second round — and not much else.

There’s a case to be made this is the weakest collection of NFL targets since that ill-fated 2022 draft, but the draftniks can always find excitement in the process. And, to be sure, the wide receivers offer personality, potential and production in droves.

Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and USC’s Makai Lemon are the top dogs, while second-tier types Denzel Boston of Washington, KC Concepcion of Texas A&M and Omar Cooper Jr. of Indiana could land in the first round, too.

None of them are Smith, the grand prize a year from now who might have been a top-five pick after his freshman year with the Buckeyes. But they’re more than capable of making an instant impact for whomever writes their names on the card.

If you do like Buckeyes, however, this is a draft for you. After Mendoza, there’s a remote possibility that Ohio State will have the next four picks, and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald also figures to get called on the first night.

Otherwise, the casuals might have less to sink their teeth into. That doesn’t mean the more negative evaluations will hold.

“You know, I feel like every year, for the last five years, everyone said, ‘Oh, it’s not a good draft.’ I don’t really buy that,” New England Patriots general manager Eliot Wolf said at the combine.

“I feel like if you’re doing your job, you’re going to be able to find players, rounds one through seven, that can help your team.”

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