October football is here, and with it comes the first real look at how the 2027 NFL Draft board could start to take shape. The 2026 season is only in Week 4, but some prospects are already separating themselves from the pack, and Jeremiah Smith is one of them.
Smith has moved into the No. 1 spot in this latest first-round projection, while a few quarterbacks - including Arch Manning - have slipped a bit. The order can still change plenty between now and the end of the season, but the early picture is getting clearer for teams trying to map out their future.
- Miami Dolphins: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
The Dolphins may not be locked in at quarterback for the long haul, but Smith is the kind of prospect who can bend the usual draft rules. Quarterback usually comes first in team-building, yet this is one of those rare cases where a wide receiver can legitimately rise above that standard.
Smith is being talked about as a generational talent for a reason. That label isn’t just empty praise here. He brings a rare mix of size, athleticism and a remarkably high floor for a player who is only 20.
He should be the top name on every board, and with the gap he’s creating between himself and the top quarterback prospect, taking him first makes sense in this projection.
- Tennessee Titans: Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
This looks like a spot where the Titans could go in a couple of different defensive directions, though offensive tackle is at least worth watching. Even so, Tennessee’s offensive line has held up better than expected early in the year.
The bigger trend is the same one that showed up throughout the 2026 draft cycle: the Titans keep getting linked to a pass rusher. Early this season has only reinforced that idea. They need more burst and disruption off the edge, and Colin Simmons fits that need.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
The Buccaneers probably didn’t expect to be picking this high, but that’s the reality in this mock. When a team that thought it would contend ends up in the top five or top 10, premium positions become the priority.
Tampa Bay has spent heavily in recent years, so adding young talent on rookie deals at expensive spots makes sense. Leonard Moore has backed up the hype this season and has been one of the best defenders in the country.
- Atlanta Falcons: Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
Atlanta is in a strange place after so much investment on offense. The quarterback situation remains unsettled, and if the Falcons are sitting at No. 4, quarterback will be part of the conversation.
Michael Penix Jr. steadied things when he returned against Green Bay, but he was not drafted by the current regime. That leaves the position open to more debate.
The Falcons also have a real need up front. Kaleb McGary’s surprise retirement opened a hole at right tackle, and Jake Matthews will be 35 before next season.
In Other News...
Jake Matthews Is Suddenly A Falcons Concern At The Worst Time
Jake Matthews has long been one of the Falcons quiet constants, the kind of veteran left tackle Atlanta could usually trust to steady things no matter what else was happening around him. This season has brought a different picture. According to Pro Football Focus grades and what has shown up on game tape, Matthews has slipped well below the level the Falcons are used to getting, and his performance has become a real issue on both the passing and running fronts.
The timing could hardly be worse, with New Orleans coming up in Week 4 and bringing a pass rush that is built to stress any shaky edge protection. For a Falcons offense trying to settle in, Matthews struggles add another layer of concern, especially because his track record has always been about durability and dependability. Now Atlanta has to wonder whether one of its most trusted veterans can hold up in a matchup that is likely to put him under the microscope from the first snap. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Head To New Orleans With Penix Adding Real Juice To This Rivalry
A Monday night trip to New Orleans always carries some extra edge for Atlanta, and this one arrives with the Falcons coming off their first win under Kevin Stefanski. Michael Penix Jr.s return from the ACL injury has given the offense a noticeably different feel, and his presence adds another layer to a divisional game that already tends to come with plenty of noise and little patience.
The Saints, meanwhile, enter Week 4 with Tyler Shough at quarterback and plenty of passing production behind him, as he sits second in the league in that category. So the setup is simple enough: an improving Falcons team trying to build on some momentum, a high-volume Saints passing attack, and a rivalry that could get a lot more interesting if Penix keeps bringing the kind of spark Atlanta has been missing. [Read more 🡒]
Harold Perkins Jr. Is Pushing Falcons Toward A Bigger Defensive Decision
Harold Perkins Jr. has given the Falcons a useful early look at what he can become, and the first three games have only added to the intrigue. The sixth-round linebacker has earned strong marks from Pro Football Focus in both defense and coverage, while mostly working in passing situations and handling his assignments cleanly. He has not missed a tackle yet, which is exactly the kind of early reliability that can buy a young defender more trust.
Perkins next step is less about whether he belongs and more about how much Atlanta can ask of him. The run defense still needs work, but the Falcons are weighing whether his early play is enough to expand his role as the season goes on. For a defense always looking for more speed and flexibility, that is the kind of decision worth watching. [Read more 🡒]