NFL DRAFT

Jeremiah Smith tops NFL’s Senior Bowl prospect ranking

The NFL’s midseason look at the 2027 class puts Ohio State’s receiver first, with four other prospects detailed in the published excerpt.

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The NFL’s updated ranking of prospects for the 2027 Panini Senior Bowl places Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith at No. 1, followed by Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore and Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons.

The NFL published the assessment at the midpoint of the 2026 college football season. The Senior Bowl is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2027, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama; it is a future event, not a game already played.

Smith leads the published top five

The NFL report describes Smith, an underclassman, as having exceeded expectations at Ohio State. It cites 19.1 yards per catch and 152.7 receiving yards per game, and highlights his size, speed, toughness and route-running.

Moore, also an underclassman, is ranked second. The report points to his press-man ability, instincts in zone and physical play. It says he missed Notre Dame’s previous game with a concussion and that there was reported optimism he would return that week.

Simmons is third after recording 9.5 sacks through five games in 2026, according to the NFL. The report notes his quick first step and ability to pressure quarterbacks, while identifying run defense as an area for improvement.

Stewart and Seaton round out the detailed selections

South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart is fourth. The NFL says he had played in three games at the time of the assessment, after missing two while recovering from a back injury and sitting out another on suspension. In a performance against Florida the previous weekend, he had five tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles. The report also notes that evaluators may consider questions about his maturity and his sack production.

LSU offensive tackle Jordan Seaton is fifth. The NFL assessment highlights his pass protection and says his run-blocking technique and consistency had improved in 2026. The supplied report excerpt begins its entry on Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker but cuts off before providing a ranking or evaluation, so no further detail is included here.

Senior Bowl and draft dates ahead

The NFL says the Senior Bowl will be broadcast live on NFL Network at 2:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 30, 2027. The 2027 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 29–May 1 in Washington, D.C.

The report cautions that prospects’ evaluations may change during the remainder of the college season, bowl games, all-star events and the NFL Scouting Combine. It also notes that the NFL cleared draft-eligible underclassmen to participate in college all-star games in 2023.