For four years running, a quarterback has heard his name called first in the NFL Draft, making it eight of the last nine and ten of the last twelve. Fernando Mendoza just went to the Las Vegas Raiders as the 2026 No. 1 pick, but looking ahead to 2027, that streak could finally be broken by a wide receiver, something we haven’t seen since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996. The odds for the 2027 NFL Draft No. 1 Pick are already shifting, and it is a fascinating board to dive into.
Smith’s Dominance: A Wideout’s Historic Run
Jeremiah Smith, the dynamic wideout, is now the heavy favorite at +150 to be the first name called, and for good reason. He’s been absolutely lighting up the college football scene. Remember that Indiana game? Smith delivered one of his season’s best moments, leaping over two Hoosier defenders to haul in a jump ball on a critical fourth down. That highlight-reel catch completely flipped the momentum of the game, helping lead the Buckeyes to a huge road win.
Just two weeks prior, against Iowa, Smith went off for 11 catches, 206 yards, and two touchdowns. He didn’t just have a good game, though; he completed the Ohio State triple crown by becoming the Buckeyes all time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. And before that? Against Illinois in Week 4, he set career highs with 12 catches, 217 yards, and four touchdowns. That performance made him only the fourth Big Ten receiver since 2000 to record at least 200 receiving yards and four touchdown catches in a single game. He even tied Ohio State’s single game receiving touchdown record, becoming the fifth Buckeye to snag four.
This dude is a stat machine. He’s recorded at least 150 receiving yards in four of his seven games this season, with 151 against Ball State, 164 against Texas, 217 against Illinois, and 206 against Iowa. That ties the single-season record by an Ohio State player, set by David Boston way back in 1998. He’s also the only player this season with at least 200 receiving yards in back-to-back games, and just the second in Big Ten history, joining Ty Fryfogle in 2020. Oh, and he is now only one touchdown away from Braylon Edwards for the most receiving touchdowns in Big Ten history. Yeah, this guy is special.
From Punter To Potential No. 1: Mestemaker’s Unbelievable Ascent
While Smith is tearing up the record books, a quarterback is making a wild charge up the odds board: Drew Mestemaker, currently sitting at +250. His story is unbelievable. This guy was a high school punter at Vandegrift High School in Austin, Texas. He never even started a varsity game at quarterback, playing backup while earning all-district honors as a punter. Fast forward to now, and he’s emerging as one of the top quarterbacks in the country, a legitimate contender for the No. 1 overall pick in 2027.
Through seven games at Oklahoma State this season, Mestemaker has thrown for an incredible 2,326 yards and 20 touchdowns. That ranks him second in FBS in passing yards and fourth in touchdown passes. If you zoom out a bit further, looking at his time at North Texas and Oklahoma State since the start of 2025, he leads the entire FBS in passing yards and ranks second in passing touchdowns. From high school punter to a potential No. 1 pick? You can’t make this stuff up!
So, we’ve got a historically dominant wide receiver battling a surging quarterback with an incredible backstory for the top spot. CJ Carr sits at +350, Darian Mensah at +1200, Trinidad Chambliss at +1400, Arch Manning at +1600, Austin Simmons at +2700, and LaNorris Sellers bringing up the rear at +6500. The 2027 NFL Draft feels a long way off, but the battle for that No. 1 spot is already heating up. Keep an eye on Smith’s continued assault on the record books and Mestemaker’s improbable journey. It’s going to be wild to see who ultimately gets the nod!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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