Jordan Reid's 2027 NFL Draft Rankings: Jeremiah Smith Tops Loaded Class

The Next Big Thing Is Already Here

The 2026 NFL season just kicked off, but ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid is already looking two years down the road — and he says the 2027 class could be special. Reid released his first top-50 big board for the 2027 NFL Draft (set for April 29 in Washington, D.C.), and sitting at No. 1 is a name college football fans already know well: Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Why Jeremiah Smith Is No. 1 This Early

Reid isn't shy about the praise, calling Smith arguably the best wide receiver prospect in the past 15-20 years. At 6-foot-4, 222 pounds, Smith checks every box teams look for: elite ball skills, the strength to win at the catch point, and the kind of smooth, gliding speed that makes defensive backs look average. Reid does note one area for improvement — Smith's footwork and change of direction can get choppy when working back toward the quarterback — but that's a minor nitpick for a player many evaluators believe has true All-Pro potential before he even plays a down in the NFL.

What makes this ranking notable is the timing. Smith is only entering his junior year, and it's rare for a non-quarterback to be this firmly entrenched at the top of a draft board this far out. It signals just how dominant his tape has been since bursting onto the scene as a freshman phenom.

How These Early Rankings Work

Reid's board isn't just a guess — it's built from film study, in-person scouting, and ongoing conversations with NFL scouts and evaluators. He's upfront that this list will shift significantly over the next 18 months. Prospects will rise, some will fall off entirely, and others may choose to return to school rather than enter the draft early. Think of this as a draft snapshot in October, not a finished product.

Why Fans Should Pay Attention Now

For NFL fans, especially those attached to rebuilding franchises, early draft boards like this are a preview of which college stars could be wearing their team's jersey in a couple of years. It also adds a fun subplot to watching college football this season — every Ohio State game now doubles as a scouting report on a potential generational NFL talent. Reid plans to expand this list as the season progresses, with full scouting reports eventually covering the top 25 prospects at every position.

The Big Picture

It's early, sure. But when a respected draft analyst calls a sophomore the best receiver prospect in two decades, it's worth filing away. The 2027 draft class is shaping up to be one worth tracking from day one — and Jeremiah Smith is the name to know first.