Nico Iamaleava is not the fashionable answer to the question of who will go No. 1 overall in the 2027 NFL Draft. Arch Manning and Dante Moore have dominated that conversation, but one analyst believes UCLA’s quarterback has enough raw ability to crash it.
Analyst Sees No. 1 Overall Upside in Nico Iamaleava
In a recent segment on “The McShay Show,” Stephen Muench argued that Iamaleava could rise all the way to the top pick if UCLA improves under first-year coach Bob Chesney and the quarterback finally turns his physical gifts into a complete season.
“100%, man. 100%,” Muench said when asked whether Iamaleava could become the first overall pick. “UCLA was terrible last year. I mean, outside of the win for Penn State, it was a bad year.”
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The Bruins finished 3-9 in 2025, but Iamaleava supplied their biggest moment. He accounted for five touchdowns in a 42-37 upset of then-No. 7 Penn State, rushing for 128 yards and three scores while throwing for two more.
“Bob Chesney’s in town now. I believe that program’s gonna be turned around by Chesney,” Muench added. “The question is, how fast does it happen? And I think when you have a quarterback like Nico Iamaleava, who is wildly talented, it could happen quicker than people realize.”
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That optimism starts with traits. Iamaleava is listed by UCLA at 6-foot-5 and has completed 64.0% of his career passes for 4,858 yards and 34 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 934 yards and 10 scores.
“He’s a tall kid, great frame, strong arm, all the arm talent in the world,” Muench continued. “But people, I think, maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like people underrate this kid as a runner. He can scoot. He can move. He can extend plays. He’s also tough.”
Iamaleava Has Ground to Make Up in 2027 NFL Draft Race
The prediction is aggressive because the current draft picture looks different. PFN’s latest 2027 mock draft has Manning going No. 1 overall and Moore No. 2, while CBS Sports recently listed Iamaleava as an honorable mention behind its top quarterback group.
His 2025 numbers explain some of that gap. Iamaleava threw for 1,928 yards, 13 touchdowns, and seven interceptions during UCLA’s three-win season. His 78.5 PFN CFB QB Impact grade ranked No. 75 nationally.
Chesney arrives after going 21-6 at James Madison, winning the Sun Belt and reaching the 2025 College Football Playoff. UCLA opens Sept. 5 at California, giving Iamaleava an immediate chance to start changing the conversation.
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The analyst also noted that several top 2027 candidates can return to school. His prediction requires plenty to break Iamaleava’s way, including a UCLA turnaround and a sizable statistical leap.
That is what makes the call interesting. Iamaleava is not currently viewed as the safest quarterback in the class, but the analyst believes his ceiling is high enough to turn today’s long-shot projection into a real discussion by next spring.
