Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the top wide receiver in the nation, and he wasted little time reminding everyone why. While Miami's Malachi Toney and Texas' Cam Coleman are making statements of their own, recent mock drafts have Smith as the top non-quarterback coming off the board in the 2027 NFL Draft.
In this edition of the 2027 NFL Mock Draft Roundup, we look at two of those mock drafts, as Bleacher Report and CBS Sports predict landing spots for the next great wide receiver out of Ohio State.
Smith showcased that greatness in a 56-3 blowout victory over Ball State in Week 1, hauling in eight receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns. After striking the Heisman pose during a touchdown celebration, the uber-talented wideout has NFL teams stargazing at his potential at the next level.
The question throughout the season and come 2027 NFL Draft time won't be whether Smith can elevate whichever offense he joins. It will be just how impactful he can be for that team.
Where is he landing after his explosive season debut?
B/R NFL Mock Draft: Jeremiah Smith becomes a 'legitimate weapon' in Miami
If the Miami Dolphins have something in Malik Willis at the quarterback position, finding him a prime-time target in the offense is the direction Bleacher Report is going in its Scouting Department's 2027 NFL Mock Draft.
In this pre-2026 season edition, Brent Sobleski acknowledges QB might be high on the Dolphins' radar, but a generational talent like Smith could elevate the play at quarterback.
Sobleski writes:
"The Miami Dolphins are the NFL's least talented squad, hence why they're projected to own next year's No. 1 overall draft pick. Obviously, a quarterback should be in play, but Malik Willis did sign a two-year deal. Instead, Miami selects the class' No. 1 overall prospect, Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, to give Willis a legitimate weapon."
The need for talent is obvious, but if the Dolphins are drafting high enough to select Smith, that will likely mean the quarterback position is still unsettled. The exception would be if Miami proves to be competitive and the offense shows glimmers of hope with Willis under center. If that is the case, adding Smith would bring tremendous talent to the offense, giving the Dolphins a prolific playmaker who could serve as the face of South Beach.
While the Dolphins are an intriguing fit for Smith, another team that already has talent on offense could take it to another level with the Ohio State star added to the mix.
That team is the Arizona Cardinals.
CBS Sports NFL Mock Draft: Jeremiah Smith lands in Arizona
The Cardinals are in a similar situation to the Dolphins. They could and should be watching the deep QB class closely, but they could also have the answer already on the roster. If Carson Beck gets an opportunity and shines, the Cardinals could instead look to put more playmakers around him.
In his latest mock draft, CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson has the Cardinals taking Smith with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. The selection would pair Smith with another former Ohio State wide receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr. Or perhaps Smith would eventually be his replacement?
Wilson writes:
"Smith is better than Marvin Harrison Jr. coming out of Ohio State. And if the rest of the 2026 season goes like 2024 and 2025, the comps to Julio Jones, Megatron and/or Terrell Owens will intensify. Obviously, the Cards could be in the QB business here unless Carson Beck pulls a Tyler Shough in 2026."
The interesting storyline here is that if Beck proves to be the answer at QB, the Cardinals adding Smith could push Harrison Jr. into the WR2 role. Most mock drafts and early predictions have the Cardinals going QB, but if that is not their biggest need come draft day, adding Smith would heat up the desert.
Think about an offense featuring Smith, Harrison Jr. and Jeremiyah Love, along with Trey McBride, who is considered one of the best, if not the best, tight ends in football.
NFL Mocks: Jeremiah Smith gives Miami a new offensive centerpiece
In our latest full first-round NFL Mock Draft, I also have the Dolphins selecting Smith with the No. 2 overall pick. Like B/R, it is the play of Willis that could be the biggest X-factor come 2027 NFL Draft time. There is a chance he plays well and the Dolphins still grab a top quarterback, but the question for Miami would be whether they could afford to pass up a playmaker of Smith's caliber.
For a Dolphins offense looking for a new identity, Smith wouldn't just give Willis another weapon. He would give Miami the type of game-changing talent an offense can be built around.
While it is very early in the college football season, Smith's Week 1 performance only enhances his stardom and would give any team in position to take him a generational playmaker in a draft that already looks loaded with franchise-caliber talent.
The quarterbacks will dominate the conversation, but Smith might be the player capable of transforming an offense the fastest.
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