The biggest hurdle to Duke quarterback Darian Mensah transferring to the University of Miami has been cleared. He’s no longer in court with his old school over leaving — and whatever NIL complications arose — after the 2 sides settled out of court on Tuesday.
That move clears the way for Mensah to play his way into potentially being a first round pick in the 2027 NFL draft if he can help lead the Hurricanes back to the College Football Playoff.
“Duke officials sued Mensah in Durham County Superior Court on Jan. 20 in an attempt to prevent him from transferring and enforce the multiyear NIL contract he signed with the school,” ESPN’s Max Olson wrote. “Duke entered Mensah’s name in the NCAA transfer portal on Jan. 21, but he was not permitted to enroll at another school until a North Carolina judge ruled on the school’s injunction request. A preliminary injunction hearing was scheduled for Thursday … Mensah, the No. 5 overall player in ESPN’s transfer rankings, will join the College Football Playoff runner-up Hurricanes after leading the ACC with 3,973 passing yards and 34 passing touchdowns this season while leading the Blue Devils to their first outright ACC title since 1962.”
Concerns About Mensah’s Weight Are Valid
The biggest concern about Mensah seems to be over his weight — he’s 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds. While he’s as tall or taller than over half the quarterbacks in the NFL playoffs this season, he’s still 5 pounds lighter than the shortest of that group with 5-foot-10, 210-pound Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.
Mensah might have something more important in common with those quarterbacks than weight — he’s also a winner. In 2 season as a starter at Tulane in 2024 and Duke in 2025, he’s led his teams to appearances in 2 conference championship games.
From NFL Draft Buzz: “At 6’3″ and 205 pounds, Mensah’s frame tells you everything about the concerns scouts have with him. He’s built like a college quarterback who can get away with being undersized against AAC and ACC competition, but the NFL is a different animal entirely. The tape shows a thrower who can pick apart defenses from clean pockets, but durability questions hang over everything when you’re barely over 200 pounds.”
2027 NFL Draft Could Break 1983 & 2024 Records
Mensah could be the player who helps the 2027 NFL draft break the record of 6 quarterbacks taken in the first round set in 1983 and 2024.
The 1983 draft class is perhaps the greatest in NFL history thanks to those quarterbacks, including a trio of Pro Football Hall of Famers in John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino.
The 2024 class seems to be on a similar path. Out of the 6 quarterbacks, 4 have already led their team to a playoff appearance or multiple playoff appearances and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick, is already playing in the Super Bowl.
The 2027 class currently has 4 quarterbacks who look like first round locks in Texas’ Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dante Moore, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby.
Oklahoma’s John Mateer, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss and Mensah could round out that group with big seasons in 2026.
Miami QB Darian Mensah’s NFL Draft Prospects