The Los Angeles Chargers now hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft after the Tennessee Titans took down the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6. With the NFL down to just two winless teams, could Ohio State superstar Jeremiah Smith be the player who changes the direction of the Chargers franchise?
The rumors, the chatter, and the increased scrutiny have centered around the Chargers and what they should do with Herbert. Now, with Los Angeles sitting at No. 1 and still searching for its first win, the possibility of adding a generational talent like Smith brings another intriguing option into the conversation.
Unless Herbert and the offense strike like lightning and charge the team to a tremendous turnaround in the coming weeks, changes could be ahead for the franchise. Whether that means a shakeup in the coaching hierarchy or a tough decision at quarterback remains to be seen.
The one caveat is that the 2027 NFL Draft QB class is not living up to the hype, particularly at the top. With Arch Manning struggling his way out of the first-round conversation, there is no runaway franchise QB for the Chargers to target if moving away from Herbert becomes the move.
That uncertainty could make Smith an even more attractive option at No. 1, but the Chargers aren't the only team that could have their eye on the Ohio State star.
Here's how the 2027 NFL Draft order looks entering Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season.
2027 NFL Draft order entering Week 7
Pick | Team | Record | SOS |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | LA Chargers | 0-6 | .556 |
2 | Miami Dolphins | 0-5 | .622 |
3 | Tennessee Titans | 1-5 | .480 |
4 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-5 | .505 |
5 | Washington Commanders | 1-4-1 | .470 |
6 | Dallas Cowboys (NY Jets) | 2-4 | .441 |
7 | Philadelphia Eagles | 2-4 | .465 |
8 | Houston Texans | 2-4 | .465 |
9 | Indianapolis Colts (NY Jets) | 2-4 | .490 |
10 | Arizona Cardinals | 2-4 | .500 |
11 | LA Rams (Cleveland Browns) | 2-4 | .525 |
12 | New Orleans Saints | 2-4 | .531 |
13 | New York Jets | 2-4 | .546 |
14 | Atlanta Falcons | 2-4 | .578 |
15 | Las Vegas Raiders | 3-3 | .495 |
16 | Seattle Seahawks | 3-3 | .520 |
17 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3-2 | .480 |
18 | Baltimore Ravens | 4-2 | .465 |
19 | NY Giants | 3-2-1 | .416 |
20 | Carolina Panthers | 3-2 | .505 |
21 | Detroit Lions | 3-2 | .526 |
22 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 4-2 | .495 |
23 | Denver Broncos | 4-2 | .520 |
24 | New England Patriots | 4-2 | .546 |
25 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 4-2 | .455 |
26 | Cleveland Browns | 4-2 | .480 |
27 | Green Bay Packers (Dallas Cowboys) | 4-2 | .510 |
28 | Chicago Bears | 4-2 | .542 |
29 | Buffalo Bills | 5-1 | .495 |
30 | Minnesota Vikings | 5-0 | .515 |
31 | Kansas City Chiefs | 5-0 | .450 |
32 | San Francisco 49ers | 6-0 | .424 |
Who currently owns the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft?
The Chargers present a fascinating situation as the losses continue to pile up. As they remain winless deeper into the season, there needs to be a discussion about whether they move on from Justin Herbert if they hold the No. 1 overall pick come April.
If a 2027 NFL Draft QB prospect emerges as the guy, that decision becomes harder. The Chargers could decide to reset by trading Herbert for more draft capital, selecting a quarterback like Drew Mestemaker or CJ Carr, and rebuilding the roster around that young player.
Or they could stick with the quarterback they know and build around him.
If they hold onto the No. 1 overall pick, adding a generational wide receiver like Jeremiah Smith could help Herbert tremendously. There is also the option to trade down, gain more draft capital, and select either Smith or another top talent at a key position of need, such as edge rusher Colin Simmons or cornerback Leonard Moore.
Whatever they decide to do, the Miami Dolphins are right on their heels as a team in position to land that No. 1 overall pick. Miami is interesting because the Dolphins could go quarterback with a top-five pick, but they could also take Smith.
When it comes to a receiver like Smith, don't overlook the Washington Commanders, who now have a top-five pick following their Monday Night Football loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
With Terry McLaurin dealing with a potentially significant injury, the need for a top wide receiver prospect heading into the 2027 NFL Draft could increase. Could Washington become another team in the Jeremiah Smith sweepstakes if the losses continue to mount?
2027 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting the top 5 picks
If the current draft order holds, here's how I see the first five picks playing out:
- Los Angeles Chargers: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
- Miami Dolphins: Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
- Tennessee Titans: Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
- Washington Commanders: Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina
Then there are the New York Jets, who could shake up the entire top of the draft.
With three of the top 15 picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, the Jets have the draft capital to trade into the top five and disrupt the current order.
With the Jets sitting at No. 6, could they be content staying put and selecting a quarterback like CJ Carr? Or do they become aggressive and move up if they fear another team has its eye on their preferred quarterback, whether that's Mestemaker, Carr, or someone else by the time April rolls around?
If the top of the order stands as is, each of those five teams could make a case for selecting Smith. Even the Dolphins could make a case for taking the Ohio State star instead of a quarterback.
So, with all the hype surrounding the 2027 quarterback class, there is a real possibility that the first quarterback doesn't come off the board until after the top five.
And that could make the Chargers' decision at No. 1 even more interesting.
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