As the college football season reaches October 2026, scouts and analysts are stacking the top prospects for the 2027 NFL draft, which begins on April 29 in Washington, D.C. Early evaluations highlight Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith at the top of major big boards alongside other elite collegiate talent.
Jeremiah Smith Claims Top Spot on 2027 Big Boards
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has anchored himself as the premier prospect for the 2027 NFL draft class following a historic start to his campaign. Evaluators have compared his potential to some of the best wide receiver prospects of the past fifteen to twenty years, noting his ability to glide past defenders and secure contested catches.
Through the opening weeks of the season, Smith has hauled in 33 receptions for 617 receiving yards with an average of 18.7 yards per reception and seven touchdowns. Analysts point to his vertical threat capability as an immediate upgrade for any future professional offense, though scouts note he still needs to sharpen his change of direction on route cuts.
Leonard Moore and Colin Simmons Lead Defensive Rankings
Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore holds the second spot on major draft boards. Known for his length, speed, and technique in press man coverage, Moore displays the ball skills to track passes effectively downfield, though evaluators indicate he must refine his discipline and hand timing at the top of routes.
Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons ranks third, bringing high-effort pass rushing with a quick first step past blockers. Simmons has recorded 13 tackles, 7.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery through early October. Ole Miss defensive tackle Will Echoles and South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart round out the upper tier of trench defenders, with Echoles logging 12 tackles and 0.5 sacks.
Quarterbacks Rank Lower in Early Draft Evaluations
Quarterbacks occupy a different tier in early 2027 draft evaluations. While Bleacher Report scouts placed Miami quarterback Darian Mensah at No. 4 on their board, initial rankings from ESPN placed no signal-callers inside the top ten prospects.
Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker emerged as the highest-ranked passer on those lists at No. 11, described by analysts as a streaky player with high-end moments. Other signal-callers on the board include Darian Mensah at No. 14, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss at No. 16, Texas quarterback Arch Manning at No. 17, and Oregon quarterback Dante Moore at No. 20.
Jordan Reid of ESPN noted that top prospects, including those like Manning, have aspects of their game that could be improved down the stretch of the season.
As college football approaches Week 5 action, prospects across all positions continue working on improving their draft stock ahead of the April draft in Washington, D.C.
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