Wide Receivers To Watch For The 2027 NFL Draft: How High Will Jeremiah Smith's Rise During The CFB Season?

While all eyes are on next year’s loaded QB class, there is an abundance of wide receivers who are poised to elevate any offense they land with, including a generational talent at Ohio State who will rival Arch Manning and Dante Moore for the No. 1 overall pick. Below is a breakdown of some of the top WRs to watch in the 2026-27 CFB season and where they may be selected in next year’s draft.

WRs to Watch For The 2027 NFL Draft

Jeremiah Smith - Ohio State (Proj 1.03)

Arguably one of the best WR prospects we have seen in quite some time, Jeremiah Smith is a well-oiled machine in his routes, seamlessly creating separation with ease while flipping the field position in a flash. Smith was magical in 2025, hauling in 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns while securing multiple prestigious awards.

Not only is Smith blistering fast (unofficial 4.32-second 40-yard dash time), but he is also as consistent as it gets, dropping just two catchable balls on 106 targets in 2025. Whether he is stretching the field or burning you underneath, Smith is a surefire top-5 pick who is capable of turning any offense into a dominant unit as their primary WR1.

In my Way-Too-Early 2027 Mock Draft, I have Smith going to the Miami Dolphins at 1.03, a potential floor for him depending on how the draft order shakes out. While dethroning Dante Moore or Arch Manning for 1.01 is a stretch, it would not surprise me if he garners serious interest as the top overall pick should the duo fail to take a step forward with their production during the regular season.

$tex.svg$ Cam Coleman - Texas (Proj 1.10)

After two years at Auburn, Cam Coleman is now in a far more favorable position to thrive, pairing up with Arch Manning at Texas as their WR1. While his stat line last season seems underwhelming on paper, Coleman was held back due to Auburn’s inefficiencies on offense, a unit that ranked 122nd in offensive explosiveness and 104th in pass success rate.

Now with the Longhorns, Coleman will be able to take advantage of the extra space his teammates provide in their loaded offense, drastically improving the quality of his targets on a weekly basis. When given the opportunity, Coleman has been able to produce, averaging 12.6 yards per reception in 2025.

At 1.10, Coleman would give the Atlanta Falcons another weapon to help keep their offense competitive, even with their lingering question marks at QB. If Coleman can play at a high level in his new home, don’t be surprised if he rivals Smith at the top of the draft board.

Ryan Coleman-Williams - Alabama (Proj 1.06)

After hauling in 48 receptions for 865 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2024, Ryan Coleman-Williams fell hard back down to reality in 2025, finishing the year with fewer yards and touchdowns on more receptions. Williams’ stunning step back can be pointed towards Alabama’s regression on offense as a whole, a group that slid down to 56th in success rate and 48th in explosiveness.

Even during his underwhelming 2025 campaign, Williams was able to keep the Crimson Tide competitive, averaging over 14.0 yards per reception. When in the open field, Williams was able to skate past defenders with his elusiveness and leave them behind with his 4.28-second 40-yard dash speed.

While I do know I am far more bullish on Williams when compared to the consensus (1.27), I believe in the upside we saw in his freshman year, garnering far more attention from scouts and draft analysis once we reach the pre-draft process. While 1.06 is a massive reach from my previous mock draft, Williams possesses more than enough talent and production to climb into the top-15.

Fringe Round 1 WRs In The 2027 NFL Draft

Nick Marsh - Indiana

Like Coleman, Nick Marsh will also benefit from a change of scenery, leaving Michigan State to join Curt Cignetti and the reigning National Champions to help keep their offense competitive enough to make another run at the title.

Charlie Becker - Indiana

Indiana’s WR3 in their run to the national championship, Charlie Becker will now have the opportunity to shoulder a heavier workload in 2025, thrusting his name up the draft boards as a potential first-rounder.

Omarion Miller - Arizona State

A deep ball maestro, Omarion Miller will attempt to turn Arizona State’s pass attack around after transferring from Colorado, building his case to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft in the process.

Published Jul 7, 2026, 6:55 AM ETUpdated Jul 7, 2026, 9:10 AM ET