For the fourth straight year, the eighth time in nine years and the 10th time in 12 years, a quarterback went No. 1 in the NFL Draft, Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Will a team make it five years in a row in 2027? Or will Jeremiah Smith become the first wide receiver to go No. 1 since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996?
Let’s look at the odds of pick no. 1 of the 2027 NFL Draft at FanDuel Sportsbook as of Oct. 22.
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Jeremiah Smith: +210
Drew Mestemaker: +330
CJ Carr: +330
Darian Mensah: +1000
Trinidad Chambliss: +1000
Arch Manning: +1100
Dante Moore: +2000
Austin Simmons: +2200
Here’s what you need to know about the chart of accounts:
Jeremiah Smith is now the all-time leading receiver in Ohio State history (Alex Slitz/Getty Images).
A wideout at number 1? Could Jeremiah Smith be the first pick in the draft? It is now the favorite at +210.
Against Indiana, Smith delivered one of his best moments of the season, outrunning two Hoosier defenders to haul in a jump ball on a critical fourth down. His highlight reel catch turned the momentum of the game and helped lead the Buckeyes to a huge road win.
Against Iowa two weeks ago, Smith caught 11 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, completing Ohio State’s triple crown by becoming the Buckeyes’ all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
That followed a Week 4 performance against Illinois in which he posted career highs with 12 catches, 217 yards and four touchdowns. He became the fourth Big Ten receiver since 2000 to record at least 200 receiving yards and four catches in a game. He also tied Ohio State’s single-game receiving touchdown record, becoming the fifth Buckeye to catch four.
Smith has recorded at least 150 receiving yards in four of his seven games this season: Ball State (151), Texas (164), Illinois (217) and Iowa (206). That ties the single-season record by an Ohio State player, set by David Boston in 1998. He is also the only player this season with at least 200 receiving yards in consecutive games and just the second in Big Ten history, joining Ty Fryfogle in 2020.
Smith is now one point away from Braylon Edwards for the most touchdowns in Big Ten history.
Can a receiver with that résumé move up to No. 1? Smith might just be that generation.
Arch Manning has dropped from the +165 favorite to the +1100 sixth pick to be the no. 1 overall in 2027 (David Buono/Getty Images)
Manning Falls: Archie Manning went second in the 1971 NFL Draft. His son, Peyton, went first in the 1998 NFL Draft. Then his other son, Eli, went first in the 2004 NFL Draft. Will his grandson, Arch, be the next Manning to hear his name called at the top of the draft? Arch served as a collegiate starter for the first time last season, leading the Texas offense. He completed 61.4% of his passes for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
However, through six games this season, Manning has struggled. He has thrown for 1,295 yards, 68th among FBS quarterbacks, with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. That includes a pick-six and a costly interception that sealed Oklahoma’s victory over Texas in the Red River Rivalry a few weeks ago. Texas followed that up with a home loss at double-digit favorite Florida, with Manning throwing for just 173 yards and five sacks.
He’s also shown he can deliver in big moments, leading Texas to two big wins: a dramatic comeback over Ohio State in Week 2 and a big road win over Tennessee in Week 4. But those wins haven’t been enough to make up for the struggles, as he’s fallen from the sixth pick to +1,100.
Texas and Manning have a great opportunity to turn the narrative around this week at home against No. 7 Ole Miss. The Longhorns’ season, and Manning’s draft position, may be riding on it.