The 2026 NFL Draft hasn’t even happened yet, but people are already starting to buzz about next year’s class and what lies ahead. A big reason for that is how much college football has changed with NIL. Guys don’t feel the same pressure or need to rush to leave early anymore, so you’re seeing more players stick around and develop.
That said, not everyone is built to wait.
Why Jeremiah Smith Is Already a Top 2027 NFL Draft Prospect
Jeremiah Smith looks like one of those players who probably won’t need the extra time. The Ohio State Buckeyes receiver has already started to get early draft buzz, and some of it is pretty loud. One of the more notable takes came from Jacob Infante over at PFSN, who had this to say regarding the star Buckeye:
“Very early in my 2027 draft prep, but Jeremiah Smith might have the best grade of any prospect I’ve watched in 2025, 2026 or 2027. Size, speed, great hands, ball skills, route refinement. He’s a physical freak of nature and has the technique to match.”
That’s a bold statement, especially this early, but when you watch him, it doesn’t feel like a stretch.
Smith has the kind of build you look for right away. He’s around 6-foot-3, somewhere in the 220- to 225-pound range, and he moves like someone a lot smaller. That size is terrifying for any opposing cornerback on the opposite side of him. He can separate, he’s strong through contact, and he’s comfortable making plays on the ball in traffic.
The “physical freak” label gets thrown around a lot, but in this case, it actually fits. He’s been one of the more hyped players at the receiver position since Ja’Marr Chase or Julio Jones.
What stands out just as much, though, is how polished he already is at age 20. The route running doesn’t look raw, his catching is basically like having sticky glue on his gloves, and he seems to understand how to attack different coverages. That’s usually the stuff that takes time, but he’s been exposed to more playing time than most at this stage of his development.
The production backs it up, too. He has graded out as a top-five receiver according to PFSN CFB WR Impact scores in each of his first two seasons, and it hasn’t felt fluky or system-driven by any means. He’s been productive no matter what the offense has looked like around him.
And that’s another thing that helps his case; he’s had to adjust to different schemes in each year he’s been in college. Between working with Chip Kelly in Year 1, developing under Brian Hartline in Year 2, and now playing in a system led by Arthur Smith, he’s been exposed to different styles and expectations. That kind of flexibility matters more than people think when projecting to the next level.
Smith will be a big reason for Ohio State’s expected success, with a top-three percentage of winning the national championship according to PFSN CFB Playoff Meter.
Going into 2027, he’s going to be the clear focal point for Ohio State, and the spotlight is only getting bigger. But based on everything so far, that doesn’t really seem like something that’s going to bother him; it might actually be where he’s at his best.
