The 2027 wide-receiver class may be the deepest position group in this draft.
I currently project the top three receivers as first-round selections, but the depth extends well beyond the opening night. Depending on how players finish the season and test during the draft process, I could see as many as 18 or 19 wide receivers being selected.
This group has everything NFL teams are looking for—size, speed, explosiveness, route-running ability and players capable of producing from multiple alignments.
Here are my top five wide receivers entering the pre-combine evaluation period.
- JEREMIAH SMITH, OHIO STATE
Jeremiah Smith is not merely the top receiver in this draft. He is the best overall player in it, and I have him locked in as the No. 1 pick.
Smith possesses the size, speed, body control and natural ball skills of a future No. 1 NFL receiver. He can defeat press coverage, separate at every level and dominate at the catch point. He is equally dangerous running away from defenders or using his strength to finish through contact.
There is no need to overcomplicate this evaluation. Smith is a rare prospect with the physical ability and receiving skills to become the centerpiece of an NFL offense.
PROJECTED RANGE: NO. 1 OVERALL
- CAM COLEMAN, TEXAS
Cam Coleman combines elite size with the athleticism to threaten a defense vertically. His catch radius makes him a difficult matchup, particularly along the boundary and in the red zone.
What separates Coleman from many big receivers is that he does not move like a possession target. He can accelerate, track the ball downfield and create explosive plays. He still has areas to refine as a route runner, but the physical tools are unquestionably first-round caliber.
Coleman projects as an outside receiver with the potential to develop into a legitimate NFL No. 1.
PROJECTED RANGE: FIRST ROUND
- CHARLIE BECKER, INDIANA
Charlie Becker is one of the most intriguing receivers in this class. He gives quarterbacks a large target, understands how to use his frame and has the athletic background to create separation more effectively than many receivers his size.
Becker plays with good body control and can win above the rim, but he is not limited to contested catches. He can stretch the field and force defensive backs to respect his ability to run past them.
I currently have Becker as the third receiver off the board and the final wideout carrying a first-round grade.
PROJECTED RANGE: FIRST ROUND
- RYAN COLEMAN-WILLIAMS, ALABAMA
Ryan Coleman-Williams is an explosive playmaker who can change a game whenever the ball reaches his hands.
He has the speed to attack a defense vertically and the quickness to turn short completions into major gains. His movement skills create matchup problems because an offense can move him around the formation and manufacture touches for him.
The questions will center on consistency, physicality and how he handles stronger NFL defensive backs. The talent is undeniable, but I currently see him falling just outside the first round.
PROJECTED RANGE: EARLY SECOND ROUND
- KJ DUFF, RUTGERS
KJ Duff has the length, athletic ability and developmental upside NFL scouts will find difficult to ignore.
He presents a large target, can extend beyond his frame and possesses the movement skills to become dangerous at multiple levels of the field. His ceiling may ultimately be higher than his initial draft position because he still has room to become a more polished and complete receiver.
Duff could climb during the pre-draft process, but right now I have him graded as a second-round selection.
PROJECTED RANGE: SECOND ROUND
JUST OUTSIDE THE TOP FIVE: BRYANT WESCO JR., CLEMSON
Bryant Wesco Jr. is knocking on the door of my top five.
Wesco brings legitimate vertical speed and big-play ability. He can stretch the secondary, track the deep ball and punish defensive backs who give him too much space. His explosiveness gives him a chance to rise significantly once testing begins.
The separation between Duff and Wesco is not substantial. A strong finish to the season and an impressive combine could easily push Wesco into the top five.
PROJECTED RANGE: SECOND TO THIRD ROUND
POSITIONAL OUTLOOK
Jeremiah Smith stands alone at the top of this draft, while Cam Coleman and Charlie Becker round out my first-round receiver grades.
Coleman-Williams, Duff and Wesco lead the next group, but the strength of this class is its depth. There will be starting-caliber receivers available well beyond the first two rounds, and several players who are currently outside the national conversation will emerge during the combine and pro-day process.
I expect as many as 18 or 19 receivers to be drafted in 2027. This is going to be one of the most closely watched and heavily debated position groups in the entire class.
— Jim Baxter
JB Talking Sportz
