For the fourth consecutive year, eighth time in nine years and 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 check out the 2027 NFL Draft No. 1 Pick odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of Oct. 22.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.
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 to know about the oddsboard:
Jeremiah Smith is now the all-time leading receiver in Ohio State history (Alex Slitz/Getty Images).
A Wideout At No. 1? Could Jeremiah Smith be the first pick in the draft? He is now the favorite at +210.
Against Indiana, Smith delivered one of his best moments of the season, leaping over two Hoosier defenders to haul in a jump ball on a critical fourth down. His highlight-reel catch flipped the momentum of the game and helped lead the Buckeyes to a huge road win.
Against Iowa, two weeks prior, Smith caught 11 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, completing the Ohio State 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 set 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 touchdown 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’s also the only player this season with at least 200 receiving yards in back-to-back games and just the second in Big Ten history, joining Ty Fryfogle in 2020.
Smith is now one touchdown away from Braylon Edwards for the most receiving touchdowns in Big Ten history.
Arch Manning has dropped from the +165 favorite to the +1100 sixth choice to be the 2027 No. 1 overall pick (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 charge at Texas. 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 win over Texas in the Red River Rivalry a few weeks back. Texas followed that up with a home loss as double-digit favorites to Florida, with Manning throwing for just 173 yards and taking five sacks.
He has also shown he can deliver in big moments, leading Texas to two marquee wins: a dramatic comeback over Ohio State in Week 2 and a huge road victory over Tennessee in Week 4. But those wins haven’t been enough to offset the struggles, as he has fallen from the favorite to the sixth choice at +1100.
Texas and Manning have a huge opportunity to flip the narrative this week at home against No. 7 Ole Miss.
Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
