Early 2027 NFL Mock Draft: Jeremiah Smith Rises To The Top

With the “star-studded” class of QBs failing to meet expectations, a new No. 1 has emerged, giving Justin Herbert an explosive threat on the outside. To help build out the rest of the mock, I use a wisdom of the crowds approach to create a range for each player to match each team's needs.

Early 2027 NFL Mock Draft—October

Draft order is determined by Tankathon’s current standings.

1.01 Chargers - Jeremiah Smith (WR, Ohio State)

The betting favorite for the Heisman Trophy, Jeremiah Smith gives the Los Angeles Chargers a much-needed injection of talent.

1.02 Dolphins - CJ Carr (QB, Notre Dame)

Arch Manning’s downfall is CJ Carr’s gain, leaping over the Texas prospect as the first QB taken off the board.

1.03 Titans - Drew Mestemaker (QB, Oklahoma State)

With Cam Ward holding the offense back, Tennessee selects Drew Mestemaker to give the Titans offense more stability.

1.04 Buccaneers - Colin Simmons (EDGE, Texas)

Arguably the most talented player in the draft, Colin Simmons gives the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a Day 1 starter on the edge.

1.05 Commanders - Leonard Moore (CB, Notre Dame)

While I debated putting Cam Coleman here, the Washington Commanders have a higher need for a CB, leading to Leonard Moore at 1.05.

1.06 Jets (via Cowboys) - Darian Mensah (QB, Miami)

A riser up the boards, Darian Mensah may see his name listed even higher by the next edition of this mock draft.

1.07 Eagles - Trevor Goosby (OT, Texas)

After Lane Johnson suddenly retired, the Philadelphia Eagles will select Trevor Goosby to fill in for the future Hall of Famer.

1.08 Texans - Jordan Seaton (OT, LSU)

Jordan Seaton’s versatility is exactly what the Houston Texans need, giving them a dominant force who can be plugged in at multiple positions across the offensive line.

1.09 Jets (via Colts) - Dylan Stewart (EDGE, South Carolina)

With their second pick in the first round, the Jets will turn their attention toward the defensive line by selecting Dylan Stewart, a machine on the edge who can collapse the pocket at a moment’s notice.

1.10 Cardinals - Dante Moore (QB, Oregon)

While I fully expect Dante Moore to bounce back up the board once he returns from injury, his slide stops at 1.10, giving the Arizona Cardinals a talented prospect to replace Jacoby Brissett.

1.11 Browns (via Rams) - Arch Manning (QB, Texas)

While Moore is poised to bounce back, Arch Manning has shown no signs of progress, potentially plummeting even further down the board. With his ADP still hovering in the top 15, the Cleveland Browns will draft the Longhorns QB, potentially replacing Deshaun Watson.

1.12 Saints - Ellis Robinson IV (CB, Georgia)

Ellis Robinson IV will plug the New Orleans Saints hole in the secondary, giving them a talented CB who is just as productive at stopping the run as he is at defending the pass.

1.13 Jets - Will Echoles (DT, Ole Miss)

To pair with Stewart, the Jets will address the interior of the defensive line by selecting Will Echoles to help bolster the pass rush.

1.14 Falcons - Cam Coleman (WR, Texas)

Cam Coleman will give Drake London the support he needs to pull defensive attention away from him, turning the Atlanta Falcons offense into a more efficient unit.

1.15 Raiders - Charlie Becker (WR, Indiana)

Former college teammates reunite with Charlie Becker giving Fernando Mendoza a reliable WR1 to lean on.

1.16 Seahawks - Yhonzae Pierre (EDGE, Alabama)

With the Seattle Seahawks thin at EDGE, the reigning Super Bowl champions will target Yhonzae Pierre to help avoid suffering a dropoff at the position.

1.17 Bengals - Ashton Hampton (CB, Clemson)

To help turn the defense into a more well-rounded unit, the Cincinnati Bengals will address the secondary by selecting Ashton Hampton, a lockdown CB who can neutralize one side of the field.

1.18 Ravens - Trey’Dez Green (TE, LSU)

Sorry Baltimore fans, it's time to move on from Mark Andrews. Not only is Trey’Dez Green a lethal pass catcher at TE, he can also kick out to the outside, making the Ravens offense even more versatile.

1.19 Giants - David Stone (DT, Oklahoma)

After trading Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals, the New York Giants will attempt to replace him with David Stone, a menace in the interior.

1.20 Panthers - Trevor Lauck (OT, Iowa)

With Bryce Young reviving his career, the Carolina Panthers will use their first-round pick to give him the protection he needs to continue to develop by selecting Trevor Lauck to anchor the outside.

1.21 Lions - Kelley Jones (CB, Mississippi State)

The Detroit Lions can use all the help they can get in the secondary, leading to Kelley Jones who will give the back end a much-needed boost in production.

1.22 Steelers - Trinidad Chambliss (QB, Ole Miss)

With Aaron Rodgers nearing the end of his career, the Pittsburgh Steelers will attempt to replace him with Trinidad Chambliss, a lethal dual-threat QB.

1.23 Broncos - Jamari Johnson (TE, Oregon)

Until it is reported that Bo Nix is on the hot seat, the Denver Broncos will continue to give him the tools he needs to play at a higher level.

1.24 Patriots - Chris Cole (LB, Georgia)

Chris Cole’s freak athleticism has him skyrocketing up the draft boards, giving the New England Patriots a high-motor engine to man the middle of the defense.

1.25 Jaguars - KJ Bolden (S, Georgia)

KJ Bolden’s slide down the board due to the lack of positional need bodes well for Jacksonville, giving the Jaguars a productive S to help bolster the secondary.

1.26 Browns - A’Mauri Washington (DT, Oregon)

With the Browns in desperate need of a run stopper, A’Mauri Washington will help fill the void in the middle while commanding double teams to give Jared Verse more room to work with on the outside.

1.27 Cowboys (via Packers) - Tae Johnson (S, Notre Dame)

With the Dallas Cowboys defense ranking dead last in DVOA, they will select Tae Johnson to pair with Caleb Downs, giving them a dangerous duo on the back end.

1.28 Bears - Justin Scott (DT, Miami)

A glaring need heading into the offseason, the Chicago Bears will fill the void at DT by drafting Justin Scott to help climb back up the board in rush EPA allowed per play.

1.29 Bills - Greg Johnson (OG, Minnesota)

With CB and S suffering a dropoff in production, the Buffalo Bills will address the offensive line by drafting Greg Johnson to give the interior much needed depth.

1.30 Vikings - Jadan Baugh (RB, Florida)

With Kyler Murray starting to find his footing, the Minnesota Vikings will pair their QB1 with Jadan Baugh to help turn the offense into a more dynamic unit.

1.31 Chiefs - Nick Marsh (WR, Indiana)

With the Kansas City Chiefs pass catchers constantly revolving, Nick Marsh will give the position some stability to help Patrick Mahomes stretch the field.

1.32 49ers - Kade Pieper (OG, Iowa)

Like the Bills, the San Francisco 49ers are also thin on the interior, using the last pick of the first round to select Kade Pieper to instantly plug in the middle of the offensive line.