Early Top Five Wide Receivers In The 2027 NFL Draft
Early Top Five Wide Receivers In The 2027 NFL Draft
Early Top Five Wide Receivers in the 2027 NFL Draft
The 2026 college football season is right around the corner, and there are plenty of premier wide receivers. Who stands out from the pack, and who are the early top five wide receivers for the 2027 NFL Draft? This upcoming class should be one of the strongest ones in recent memory, in particular at wide receiver. The 2024 recruiting class was loaded at the position, and those top prospects are eligible to turn pro after the season. While there’s a clear-cut top prospect at wide receiver, this class has plenty of depth beyond the obvious WR1.
1. Jeremiah Smith- Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes have produced more elite talent at the position than any other program. Even with all the Pro Bowl receivers coming out of Columbus, Jeremiah Smith is on a different level than all of them. Smith is the best overall prospect in 2027, not to mention the best wide receiver.
He’s hauled in 163 catches for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns through his first two seasons, already showing elite production. Smith had the ideal frame for an X-receiver at the next level, measuring at 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds. He has incredibly reliable hands, having just three drops in two seasons. His speed is just as impressive as his size, and he regularly takes the top off of defenses.
Smith is exceptional when it comes to contested catches, as his combination of frame, hands, and ball-tracking ability makes it borderline unfair for opposing cornerbacks. He is a twitchy athlete who is great at creating separation against man coverage. Smith stems his routes well to trick defensive backs, and he’s elite after the catch. The only real weakness in his game is that he isn’t a great blocker. The term generational prospect gets thrown around too much, but it’s accurate when describing Smith. He is the best prospect at the position since Atlanta Falcons legend Julio Jones. Smith projects as a top-five pick and easily headlines the early top five wide receivers for the 2027 NFL Draft.
2. Cam Coleman- Texas Longhorns
One of the biggest moves in this past transfer portal cycle was the Texas Longhorns bringing in Cam Coleman. Like Smith, Coleman was a five-star recruit from that incredible 2024 class. Unlike Smith, he hasn’t been in a position to maximize his potential after spending his first two seasons on subpar offenses at Auburn. Coleman has great size for the position at 6-foot-3 and 204 pounds, and he plays with elite physicality. He has steady hands and is incredible in contested-catch situations. His frame allows him to box out defenders and come down with receptions up the middle of the field. Coleman also has impressive speed to threaten defenses vertically.
He utilizes double moves in his routes to fake out corners, and the threat he poses as a deep threat opens up opportunities underneath in the passing game. Although his straight-line speed is good, he isn’t a player who consistently makes people miss after the catch. He can also improve at creating separation against man coverage, and his route tree was fairly limited with the Tigers. Coleman should translate well as an X-receiver in the NFL, and he projects as a top-ten pick. He is finally in an ideal situation to break out and is firmly a runner-up among the early top five wide receivers.
Aug 29, 2025; Waco, Texas, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Cam Coleman (8) makes a catch against the Baylor Bears during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
3. Charlie Becker- Indiana Hoosiers
Charlie Becker became a key contributor for the Indiana Hoosiers in their national championship run. He is a dominant contested-catch receiver who didn’t have a single drop in 2025. Becker is excellent at making back-shoulder catches, and he does a great job of adjusting himself to the ball. His frame is good, and he consistently finds the soft spots in zone coverage. Becker is a player who can stretch the field, as he has the speed needed to be a legitimate deep threat. He is also a skilled route runner who is reliable against man coverage.
The biggest question with Becker is his overall lack of sample size. He only has one collegiate season under his belt at wide receiver, and he was the third option behind Jets’ first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr. and Ravens’ fourth-round pick Elijah Sarratt. Becker still needs to prove he can be the top option in a wide receiver room. While he has potential after the catch, his production in that department has been limited to this point. Becker’s traits land him in the early top five wide receivers of this class, and his production should see a dramatic increase as he takes on a larger role in the offense.
Indiana’s Charlie Becker (80) heads toward the endzone as Miami’s Jakobe Thomas (8) pursues and Romanas O.J. Frederique Jr. (29) looks to tackle during the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
4. Ryan Coleman-Williams- Alabama Crimson Tide
Ryan Coleman-Williams is the most volatile wide receiver in this class. He’s had flashes of elite play, but has been incredibly inconsistent. Coleman-Williams possesses elite top-end speed, and he can break off a chunk play at any given moment. He is remarkable after the catch, and very few players match his ability to change directions quickly. Coleman-Williams is better at evading defenders immediately after the catch than any wide receiver in recent memory. He is a smooth route runner who creates separation, and he is a dangerous receiving threat on all three levels. Coleman-Williams is also alignment-versatile, as he can play on the boundary and in the slot.
As good as the highs are with Coleman-Williams, the lows are just as concerning. He struggled immensely with drops in 2025 and needs to have more consistent hands. His frame is very much on the smaller end for a wide receiver, weighing just 182 pounds. This can lead to durability concerns and questions about facing press coverage at the next level. The biggest thing for Coleman-Williams is being more consistent. He has stretches of dominance, followed by stretches where he disappears. He is currently projected as a mid-to-late first -round pick, and his stock can change drastically one way or the other. The combination of highs and lows has him fourth among the early top five wide receivers.
April 11, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams (1) makes a catch as he is defended by Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Keon Sabb (3) and Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Ivan Taylor (13) at Bryant-Denny Stadium during the Alabama A Day scrimmage.
5. Ryan Wingo- Texas Longhorns
Texas arguably has the best wide-receiver duo in the country, with the addition of Coleman and returning Ryan Wingo. Wingo has an exceptional combination of size and speed, and he’s electric after the catch. He has elite burst and contact balance to turn a screen pass into a huge gain. His speed also makes him a dangerous deep threat, along with being good in the short and intermediate passing game. Wingo can line up pretty much anywhere, as he’s already played as an X-receiver and in the slot and will be a Z-receiver in 2026. He is a capable route runner and uses his frame to make catches in tight windows.
Wingo’s biggest weakness has been drops, having seven in 2025. While his route running is solid, he can improve at creating separation at the top of his routes. He has also been underwhelming in contested-catch situations. Wingo is a player who wins mostly after the catch and uses his elite physical traits to beat defenses with explosive plays. He rounds out the early top five wide receivers and is projected as a day-two pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Dec 31, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver Ryan Wingo (1) runs with the ball after a catch while Michigan Wolverines defensive back TJ Metcalf (7) tackles during the first half at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
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