Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith just shot to the top of ESPN’s latest 2027 NFL Draft Big Board, and college football is already losing its mind. This dude has had a historic start to his season, pushing him right into the conversation as the undisputed top prospect for 2027. ESPN’s Jordan Reid put Smith at number one in his most recent rankings, a decision backed by his own scouting and chats with NFL scouts across the league.
The Unanimous #1 Pick And What He Needs To Fix
It’s not just Reid seeing this. Bleacher Report’s own NFL scouts are also locking in Smith, alongside Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore and Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons, as their top three guys. It really feels like Jeremiah Smith is the real deal, a dominant wide receiver who’s showing out. But even the best have stuff to work on. Reid pointed out that Smith could get sharper with his changes of direction, which, honestly, is nitpicking given how electric he’s been. Moore needs to improve his discipline and hand timing at the top of routes, while Simmons could use more consistent counter moves in his pass rush. Even Florida running back Jadan Baugh, who B/R scouts have as the highest-ranked running back, needs to work on his pass protection. These are all small tweaks for guys who are already playing at an elite level, but the scouts are watching every detail.
The Quarterbacks Are Way Down, But Don’t Get Fooled
Now, here’s where things get wild. While Reid’s top-10 list is stacked with playmakers and trench warriors, there isn’t a single quarterback on it. Not one. That’s a massive shift from what we usually see. The highest-ranked signal caller on Reid’s list is Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, who clocks in at number 11. Reid describes Mestemaker as a “streaky passer” with some serious “wow” moments. Other quarterbacks like Miami’s Darian Mensah (No. 14), Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss (No. 16), Texas’ Arch Manning (No. 17), and Oregon’s Dante Moore (No. 20) are all hanging further down the list. This is a huge contrast to B/R’s NFL scouts, who had Mensah all the way up at No. 4 on their own big board. We all know how it goes, though. Quarterback-needy teams can throw these rankings out the window on draft day, so don’t be surprised if some of these guys end up going way higher than projected.
College football just hit Week 5, and every single snap from here on out is under the microscope for these future pros. It’s gonna be a wild ride watching these guys continue to improve their draft stock.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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