Jeremiah Smith Tops Kiper's 2027 NFL Big Board — SkimNews
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- Kiper updated his Big Board for the 2027 NFL draft with Smith at No. 1, explicitly says it is not a mock draft, bases it on film and conversations around the NFL, and says he will keep updating it through draft day.
- Jeremiah Smith recorded 52 catches for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns over seven 2026 games, pairing that production with just six drops on 289 career targets and a 16.5-yard average per catch.
- Drew Mestemaker ranks second after completing 65.7% of passes for 2,326 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions through seven games, while adding 211 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns; he has only 22 career starts.
- Leonard Moore ranks third with seven career interceptions and 23 pass breakups, adding five breakups and 13 tackles in six 2026 games before missing the Oct. 10 Stanford game with a concussion; he has since returned.
- Darian Mensah ranks fourth while leading college football in completion percentage at 81.4% and QBR at 89.8, and tying for first in yards per attempt at 10.5; scouts are watching his November trip to Notre Dame because Miami has faced a light schedule.
- Colin Simmons ranks fifth after posting nation-leading totals of 10.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss over six games, including 5.5 sacks against Tennessee in September.
- Xavier Gilliam moved from unranked to No. 6 with six sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and 24 pressures through eight games, the largest in-season rise in draft stock that Kiper identifies.
Why it matters: NFL teams now have Smith ranked above every other 2027 prospect on Kiper’s board, backed by 52 catches, 984 yards and 12 touchdowns in seven games. The important qualification is procedural: Kiper calls it a personal ranking that can change through the April 29 draft, so today’s order is not presented as a fixed draft map.
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