2027 NFL Draft order: Forget the QBs, 5 wide receivers could steal the spotlight

Forget the quarterbacks for a moment. While much of the attention surrounding the 2027 NFL Draft has centered on who will emerge as QB1, another position could steal the spotlight when the first round gets underway. With Ohio State superstar Jeremiah Smith leading the way, the race for the top pick is becoming just as intriguing for teams looking to land a game-changing wide receiver.

As the NFL's lone winless team, the Los Angeles Chargers currently hold the No. 1 overall pick, putting an interesting question front and center. Would a team really select Smith over a quarterback with the top pick? For a team like the Chargers, that decision becomes even more intriguing because they already have Justin Herbert, unless the franchise decides to go in another direction at the position.

While Smith stands head and shoulders above the rest of the wide receiver class, let's not ignore the talent behind him. As highlighted in my latest 2027 NFL Mock Draft, there are several other game-changing receivers in this draft, including two who could push their way into the top 10. That could make the battle for wide receiver talent just as entertaining as the race to land the top quarterback.

Could Smith go No. 1 overall? More importantly, how many wide receivers could hear their names called in the first round?

With several teams battling for positioning near the top of the draft, here's how the updated 2027 NFL Draft order looks following Week 7, along with five potential landing spots for the top wide receivers in the class.

2027 NFL Draft order entering Week 8

Who currently owns the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft?

The Chargers, with an 0-6 record, are a team at a crossroads as the 2026 NFL season approaches its midway point.

They not only face an interesting decision ahead of the NFL trade deadline on whether to trade Justin Herbert or other players who could bring value to teams looking to contend this season, but they also have a franchise-altering decision ahead if they finish the season holding the No. 1 overall pick.

With a generational talent like Smith available, could adding him to the roster help transform Herbert's performance and give the Chargers the offensive spark they have been missing?

When Herbert had a top wide receiver like Keenan Allen, the two developed instant chemistry. Allen became his go-to guy, and the connection and trust between the two made the offense more reliable.

Smith could bring that same impact to the offense. He is a skilled receiver with great hands, impressive route-running ability and the kind of contested-catch skills that could make him one of Herbert's favorite targets from Day 1.

If the Chargers know Smith is their man, they could even explore trading down a few spots and still landing him within the top five. That would be a gamble, but one worth considering if quarterback-needy teams are desperate enough to move up for their guy.

Another team that does not need a quarterback but could value a top receiver is the Washington Commanders. Currently selecting No. 4, they are in range for Smith. But if the Ohio State star is already off the board, would Washington consider another receiver that high, perhaps Indiana's Charlie Becker?

Beyond Smith and Becker, the wide receiver prospects in this draft are another group to watch. Texas star Cam Coleman, Indiana's Nick Marsh, Rutgers' KJ Duff and the re-emergence of Alabama star Ryan Coleman-Williams are all talented playmakers who could provide immediate help to teams seeking another dynamic weapon on offense.

With that in mind, let's take a look at five potential first-round landing spots for the top receivers in the 2027 NFL Draft.

2027 NFL Draft: Projecting five first-round wide receiver landing spots

If the season ended following Week 7, here is where each wide receiver could land based on the current draft order and team needs.

What stands out here is that three of the top five wide receivers in this draft would land in the AFC West, giving three quarterbacks in the division another talented downfield option.

Jeremiah Smith's potential impact on the Chargers is obvious, but for a team like the Las Vegas Raiders, who need a true WR1, what better option than Becker, who would reunite with Fernando Mendoza?

That connection alone makes this one of the more intriguing potential landing spots in the first round. The chemistry is already there, and Becker could step into an offense with a quarterback who knows exactly what he brings to the field.

Becker sliding to No. 13 is possible if the Commanders go in another direction at No. 4 and pass on a receiver. Washington could also explore trading down if it has its eyes set on Becker or Coleman.

Another option would be waiting until Day 2, where a talented receiver like Coleman-Williams could be sitting there as one of the best players available if he slips out of the first round.

Marsh to the Cowboys, Coleman to the Falcons and Duff to the Chiefs are win-win scenarios for the teams and players.

Duff would get the opportunity to catch passes from a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes, while Marsh and Coleman would enter situations where established WR1 talent is already in place. That would allow both receivers to develop without immediately carrying the pressure of being the top option.

The biggest takeaway is just how much the 2027 NFL Draft could reshape the AFC West. Imagine Herbert throwing to Smith, Mendoza reconnecting with Becker and Mahomes adding another explosive weapon in Duff.

That's a lot of wide receiver talent entering one division, and it all starts with what the Chargers decide to do with the No. 1 overall pick.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow