There has been an abnormal amount of excitement bubbling up regarding to the 2027 NFL Draft-eligible class, particularly Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams. Is that belief grounded in reason or another example of hyperbole?
The practice of evaluating talent can be a difficult venture because there are so many variables at play. Coaching, culture and supporting cast are some of the contributing factors. Some of the best receivers in the game — Justin Jefferson, Malik Nabers, Puka Nacua, etc. — were not even the first at the position taken in their respective drafts. Comparatively, Marvin Harrison Jr. was thought to be a clean prospect, and he has struggled out of the gate.
Coming into this college football season, we thought the offensive tackle position was deep and the wide receiver position was not. Garrett Nussmeier, LaNorris Sellers and Arch Manning — not Cade Klubnik, sorry — were thought to be the top quarterback prospects.
A lot can change when games are played, but the 2027 draft-eligible class brings as much promise as 2024, when young stars like Nabers, tight end Brock Bowers, edge rusher Jared Verse and offensive tackle Joe Alt entered the league. And that’s not even including the quarterback class, which featured Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix and J.J. McCarthy — all within the top-12 picks.
As a result, teams may be more stingy to part with early-round selections in the 2027 NFL Draft over the next week-plus as the trade deadline approaches.
Top 2027 NFL Draft prospects to know
The perception of a class is often dictated by the quality and quantity of quarterback prospects. Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola will likely factor into that conversation, and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr has shown ample development over the course of his first season empowered as the starting quarterback. Florida’s DJ Lagway will be at the mercy of the Gators’ next coaching hire, but obviously has the talent to take a leap.
Four prospects often present in 2025 first-round mock drafts — Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore, Alabama’s Ty Simpson and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers — all have eligibility beyond the current season. If one or more of those players return to play an additional year of college football, then that group becomes even stronger.
The wide receiver class is particularly intriguing with the list extending beyond Smith and Williams. Auburn’s Cam Coleman, Texas’ Ryan Wingo and Michigan State’s Nick Marsh are some others garnering attention from NFL talent evaluators.
Smith is the real deal. There is a speed at which he plays different from others on the field. The term