Forget the QB hype for a minute, because Eric Edholm’s first crack at the 2027 NFL Draft just put Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith at the top of the board, snagging the No. 1 overall pick for the Houston Texans. Yeah, you read that right. A receiver at number one, even with five quarterbacks projected to go in the first round. This “Mocktober” is already delivering some wild takes, and the landscape is looking spicy.
Smith Is the Next Level of Talent, Period
When a receiver is projected above everyone else, including a stacked quarterback class, you know he is something special. Smith is called the best player in college football right now, and Edholm is saying he might be the best prospect, regardless of position, in the past few draft cycles. We are talking Andre Johnson and Julio Jones-level rarity here, folks. That is unicorn status, a no-brainer top-five pick even in a class loaded with signal-callers. If the Texans landed him, they would be getting a Day 1 star. Think about that impact. It just changes everything for an offense to get a talent like that walking through the door.
Five QBs in Round 1, Plus Some Defensive Monsters
Beyond Smith blowing everyone’s minds at number one, this initial 2027 projection has five quarterbacks landing in the first round. Guys like Notre Dame’s CJ Carr and Missouri’s Austin Simmons are already on the radar and could climb higher. The pick movement around those QBs is gonna be a major storyline come April, especially with four first-round picks already traded. But it is not just about the offense. The top of this draft is also showing some serious defensive talent. Texas’s Colin Simmons, an edge rusher who just dropped a 5.5-sack game, is projected at No. 2 to the Titans, bringing that “Leo” rusher fire. Then there is Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore, a cornerback the Buccaneers could snag at No. 3. He is being compared to Sauce Gardner, which is high praise for any CB prospect. Even the Chargers, currently sitting at 0-4 and needing help, could grab a difference maker like Ole Miss’s Will Echoles at defensive tackle at No. 4, though Edholm wonders if that is too high. And yes, Arch Manning, the Texas QB, slides into the top five at No. 5 for the Dolphins, even with them having invested in Malik Willis already. It is a mix of high-end talent all over the field, which is exactly what you want to see.
This is just the first look, and a lot is going to change over the next six months leading up to the draft. But man, if this is how the early landscape is shaping up, we are in for one heck of a ride watching these prospects develop. Keep an eye on those QBs and especially on Jeremiah Smith. He is the real deal.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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