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...
Buccaneers Suddenly Face A Bigger Baker Mayfield Problem Than Expected
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The immediate answer is rookie Jalon Daniels, who has been named the backup and will start while Mayfield is out. It puts an abrupt spotlight on Tampa Bays quarterback depth and raises the stakes around how the offense functions without the player the Buccaneers signed to a multi-year deal. The bigger question now is not just who starts next, but how long the team has to live without Mayfield and what kind of shape he is in when he finally returns. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fan Goes Viral For A Gameday Moment Bucs Fans Pounced On
A gameday photo from the Packers-Buccaneers matchup quickly took on a life of its own, with a Green Bay fan in a cheese-themed outfit drawing plenty of attention on social media. Buccaneers fans, already tuned into a rough start for their own team, jumped on the image and helped turn a random moment from the stands into one of the evenings louder online talking points.
It fit the mood around Tampa Bay, where the Bucs came in at 0-3 and were turning to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback because of Baker Mayfields injury. Green Bay arrived at 1-2, but the game was about more than the records for Tampa Bay supporters, who had little patience to spare and plenty of time to notice, and react to, anything that stood out. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Just Became The Center Of Tampa Bay's Biggest Debate
The Buccaneers slow start has pushed Todd Bowles into the middle of a conversation nobody in Tampa Bay wanted to have this early. At 0-4, with a 3-12 record stretching back to last season, the losses are piling up fast enough to turn every miscue into a referendum on direction, execution and leadership. Bowles stepped to the podium after the latest setback and owned the mess, taking responsibility while insisting he still believes he can guide the team out of it.
Bowles has handled the public side of the slump the way a veteran coach usually does, but the frustration around the team is only growing because so many of the defeats have stayed within reach. Close games tend to sharpen the focus on the head coach, and if the Buccaneers keep coming up short in those spots, the accountability debate will only get louder. For now, Bowles is asking for patience, even as the results make that a harder sell by the week. [Read more 🡒]