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It's too early to get a full read on the 2027 NFL Draft class. Things change quickly. But outside of being considered an especially good year to need a quarterback, there's likely to be another obvious positional strength next April: wide receiver.
Indiana's duo of Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, along with Alabama's Ryan Coleman-Williams, are some of the notable receivers expected to become high-end draft picks next year. But there's also a clear chasm between those names and the double-headed upper echelon of 2027 NFL receivers. In Week 2 of the college football season, those two superstar pass catchers will meet in the biggest game of the week.
Jeremiah Smith and Cam Coleman have separated themselves as true game-changing talents, creating a ton of NFL buzz as they've dominated the college ranks. When Ohio State and Texas meet in Austin this Saturday, their talents will be on full display.
Here's a look at how Smith and Coleman compare in early 2027 NFL Draft projections and their college numbers so far.
MORE: The Sporting News' early 2027 NFL Mock Draft
Jeremiah Smith NFL Draft projection
While Coleman is the clear No. 2 receiver in the class, at this point, Smith is also the consensus No. 1. Since he's stepped onto Ohio State's campus, he's continually dominated since a breakout true freshman season in 2024.
Smith isn't just being considered a potential top-5 pick in a draft class potentially loaded with star-level quarterbacks — he may just be one of the best wide receiver prospects ever. With a 6-4, 222-pound frame, he has plenty of NFL size. Yet, Smith has run a 4.32 40-yard dash, per NFL Draft Buzz, making him simultaneously one of the bigger, yet faster receivers in college football.
With the raw numbers to back his incredible physical tools, Smith may just wind up becoming a top-3 pick in the NFL Draft, depending on team needs. He also may wind up contending for the Heisman Trophy this season, a goal he has clearly set:
— Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) September 5, 2026Here's a look at how various outlets have projected his draft slot in early 2027 NFL Draft mocks:
The Dolphins have become a clear — but very early — pick for Smith, considering they're unlikely to contend in 2026 and have a lack of receiver star power after the departures of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
One way or another, Smith appears destined for NFL stardom. NFL Mock Draft Database's consensus rankings has him pinned as the No. 3 player in the class, trailing only Arch Manning and Dante Moore. He may wind up being one of the highest-drafted receivers ever.
MORE: Ranking the 25 best NFL prospects in Texas vs. Ohio State
Cam Coleman NFL Draft projection
Coleman hasn't gotten quite the same level of hype as Smith, primarily due to his more limited numbers in college so far. But that shouldn't be taken as a dig toward Texas' new star; in most drafts, he'd be the WR1.
Coleman stands at 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds, running a 4.42 40-yard dash, per NFL Draft Buzz. After being a consensus five-star recruit, he made immediate noise as a freshman at Auburn, showcasing elite deep-ball tracking skills and plenty of NFL size. While Coleman isn't as flawless of a prospect as Smith — he has work to do in yards after the catch and with ball security — he's very much a high-end receiver who should succeed in the pros.
After two years at Auburn in offenses that struggle at times, with Coleman now at Texas, he'll have an opportunity in 2026 to prove he's the potential top-10 pick many have speculated.
Not many receivers can make catches like these:
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) August 8, 2026Here's a look at how various outlets have projected Coleman's draft slot in early 2027 NFL Draft mocks:
Coleman is being viewed as a likely top-10 pick with a potential top-5 ceiling, depending on the growth he displays at Texas this season. Alongside Arch Manning, Trevor Goosby and Colin Simmons, the Longhorns may just have four top-10 picks come April.
NFL Mock Draft Database's consensus rankings have Coleman as the No. 7 overall player in the class.
MORE: Big board of top 100 NFL Draft prospects for 2027
Jeremiah Smith vs. Cam Coleman stats
Part of the reason Smith is considered the clear-cut better prospect than Coleman is that through two collegiate seasons, the Ohio State star's talent has translated to impressive numbers and a whole lot of wins. For Coleman, who has yet to top 1,000 yards in a season, playing for an Auburn team that went 5-7 in both 2024 and 2025 didn't help him much.
With Coleman now at Texas, though, things could change — he's likely to receive plenty of targets from Manning throughout the coming season.
Here's a look at how Smith and Coleman compare in their complete college production so far:
| Jeremiah Smith | Player | Cam Coleman |
| 171 | Receptions | 96 |
| 2,709 | Yards | 1,376 |
| 15.8 | Yards per catch | 14.3 |
| 29 | TDs | 15 |
MORE: Sporting News' expert picks for College Football Playoff, Heisman, more
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