2027 NFL Draft buzz: Jeremiah Smith could go absurdly high right now

With the 2026 NFL Draft just days away, it is time to take an early look ahead at the 2027 NFL Draft. This class already features plenty of elite talent, headlined by Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who would have easily been the top receiver in this year’s class.

In this week’s NFL Draft Buzz, we break down what makes Smith stand out, spotlight the most underrated running back in the Big Ten, and more. 

Would Jeremiah Smith have been the top pick in the NFL Draft

While it is all but certain that Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is going to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the type of player who would be in that same conversation if he were eligible. In fact, according to On3.com’s Chris Low, “If you were to poll coaches around the country, this year or last year, they would almost unanimously tell you that Smith would be their top pick if they had a choice of any player in the country.”

So what makes Smith such a special prospect?

To start with, his production is already elite. Even early in his college career, he has already been an All-American and has been named the Big Ten’s Richter-Howard Wide Receiver of the Year in back-to-back seasons. Over that span he has put up 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns, which leads the country over that stretch. He has also been the fastest Buckeyes ever to hit major milestones, getting to 100 receptions in 20 games, 1,000 yards in 19 games, 1,500 yards in 24 games, and 25 touchdowns in 25 games.

On top of that, the physical tools are ridiculous. At 6-foot-3, 223 pounds, he is just a bully at the wide receiver position. He consistently wins at the catch point, he is tough to bring down after the catch, and he plays way stronger than most defensive backs he goes up against. At the same time, he still has legit speed for his size and tracks the ball extremely well, which is why he already has 10 catches of 50-plus yards over the past two seasons.

The hands are as good as it gets too. According to PFF, only 1.8 percent of passes thrown his way have been dropped, which shows how consistent he is even when he is heavily targeted and covered.

About the only thing that could prevent Smith from being the top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft is if a franchise quarterback is available, which may be the case as both Arch Manning and Dante Moore look like they could develop into truly elite NFL quarterbacks. However, unless he has a truly bad 2026 season, which is very doubtful, it is almost a guarantee he will be a top-three pick next April.

Mr. Underrated

A player going into the 2026 season that is being criminally underrated is Iowa’s Lendon Phillips Jr., who was somehow rated as just the 104th running back in the transfer portal by 247Sports despite coming off a spectacular season at South Dakota. That season included leading the FCS in rushing yards with 1,921, forced missed tackles with a total that was ten more than any other player according to PFF, runs of 10+ yards with 55, and runs of 15+ yards with 33.

He has the skill set to be productive in the Big Ten, especially running behind an Iowa offensive line that should be elite again this season, and he has the ability to work his way into being a mid-round pick in the NFL Draft. The first thing that stands out when watching him is his powerful running style. At 5-foot-9, 225 pounds, he has a strong lower body which makes it tough for defenders to wrap him up. He also shows good vision, which should help him fit well in Iowa’s mid-zone running game. On top of that, he brings surprising quickness for a back his size, which helped him break off so many long runs last season.

There is a lot to like about Phillips, and he should easily outplay that transfer ranking, but it is still hard to see him as more than a mid-round pick if he declares early. The biggest concern is his long speed, which looks more solid than elite, making it tough to project him as a true home run threat at the NFL level. He also needs to show more in the passing game. While he had 28 receptions last season, most were short dump-offs. His pass blocking also needs work, as he posted just a 49.6 grade from PFF, which is low for a back with his size and build.

This season, look for Phillips to go over 1,000 rushing yards for Iowa and put himself in position to have a real decision to make about entering the NFL Draft early.

Breakout candidate

A defensive player who could have a breakout season this year is new Penn State defensive end Ikenna Ezeogu, who followed head coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State to Penn State. A big reason for the hype is his strong spring, with Campbell saying, “Ike’s a guy that you talk about has flashed maybe every single day so far.”

Another thing working in his favor is the scheme change. He is moving from the Cyclones’ 3-3-5 defense to the Nittany Lions’ 4-3, which will allow him to rush the passer more freely instead of being asked to consistently tie up blockers.

When it comes to Ezeogu’s pro potential, there are several things working in his favor where, with more production, he should be able to hear his name called on NFL Draft weekend. One of those is his impressive size at 6-foot-5, 285 pounds, which makes him one of the bigger defensive ends in the 2027 NFL Draft and could allow NFL teams to view him as both a defensive end and a 3-technique defensive tackle. He also shows impressive athletic ability for a player his size, including an eye-catching pass breakup against Kansas State last season.

Jordyn Tyson replacement

Arizona State suffered a major loss in its passing game with Jordyn Tyson entering the NFL Draft as he led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches. They didn’t just sit back though, they were able to land one of the better receivers in the transfer portal to help replace him in former Boston College wide receiver Reed Harris who was named the fourth best receiver pickup in the transfer portal according to The Athletic.

What Reed brings to the table is impressive size at 6-foot-5, 217 pounds, and when you combine that with his athletic ability for a player his size it gives the Sun Devils quarterback a big window to get him the ball. In addition to having a large catch radius he also has some of the surest hands in the 2027 NFL Draft having not dropped a single pass last season. He has also been a big play threat downfield, averaging over 17 yards per catch each of the past two seasons including a ridiculous 28.6 yards per catch in 2024.

When it comes to what Reed needs to work on this season, I would like to see him become a more crisp route runner especially when it comes to getting in and out of his breaks. If he can do that, look for his production to increase significantly from the 39 receptions he had last season.

Turning heads in Lincoln

While the Huskers lose their most dominant offensive player from last season in running back Emmett Johnson, who should be a mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and also lose quarterback Dylan Raiola to Oregon, they are going to have to find more playmakers.

One of those players will likely be former UNLV quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who transferred to Lincoln this offseason and has been impressive since joining the team. That includes a strong spring game where he accounted for over 100 total yards and two touchdowns in limited playing time. He has also drawn praise from Dana Holgorsen, who has said he has never coached a quarterback as mobile as him.

There is no doubt Colandrea will make an impact for the Huskers because of his quickness, his ability to create big plays in both the passing and running game, and how well he throws on the move. The question is how he looks as an NFL prospect.

When it comes to the NFL, he will need to show scouts a couple of things this season. The biggest is ball security after throwing 29 interceptions in his first three years in college and fumbling nine times last season. He also needs to improve as a pocket passer if he wants a legitimate shot of getting drafted next April.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow