Mel Kiper Jr. Reveals His Top-3 QB's, WR's in 2027 NFL Draft Amid Arch Manning, Jeremiah Smith Buzz

ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked his top-three 2027 draft prospects at five different positions (quarterback, wide receiver, edge-rusher, cornerbacks, offensive tackle) on the latest edition of First Draft.

A few big names (Texas quarterback Arch Manning and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith) made the lists, which you can see below. Of note, Kiper had two quarterback lists: his current top-three and his projected top-three.

ESPN's Field Yates also listed his top three at each position. Notes on his rankings are below.

Current Top-3 QB (Kiper)

1. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
2. CJ Carr, Notre Dame
3. Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State

Current Top-3 QB (Yates)

1. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
2. Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
3. Jayden Maiava, USC

Projected Top-3 QB (Kiper)

1. Dante Moore, Oregon
2. Arch Manning, Texas
3. Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State

Top-3 WR (Kiper and Yates)

1. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
2. Cam Coleman, Texas (Yates Had Becker No. 2, Coleman No. 3)
3. Charlie Becker, Indiana

Top-3 EDGE (Kiper)

1. Colin Simmons, Texas
2. Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
3. Yhonzae Pierre and Devon Thompkins, Alabama

Top-3 EDGE (Yates)

1. Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
2. Colin Simmons, Texas
3. Damon Wilson, II (Miami)

Top-3 CB (Kiper and Yates)

1. Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
2. Ellis Robinson IV, Georgia
3. Ashton Hampton, Clemson

Top-3 OT (Kiper and Yates)

1. Trevor Goosby, Texas
2. Jordan Seaton, LSU
3. Trevor Lauck, Iowa

Smith's No. 1 spot on the wideout list is no surprise. In 32 games over two-plus seasons, Smith has caught 184 passes for 2,958 yards and 30 touchdowns. In three games this season, the junior has caught 21 passes for 400 yards and three scores.

The B/R NFL Scouting Department lists Smith as the top overall prospect in the 2027 draft with an eye-popping grade of 9.8 out of 10.

It wouldn't be a surprise to see Smith go No. 1 overall at this point. The latest B/R NFL mock draft has Smith at the top to the Miami Dolphins.

There's an open race to be QB1 right now. Manning could be the pick, but it's anyone's guess who will be the first off the board in April. Manning's passing stats haven't popped off the screen (61.5 percent completion rate, 661 yards, 6.9 yards per attempt, seven touchdowns, two interceptions).

However, he currently leads the nation's No. 1 team and led the Longhorns to a dramatic 20-point comeback win over OSU, 24-23. Manning will get plenty of chances to impress scouts under bright lights this year.

The same goes for a host of other quarterbacks and top prospects heading into a highly anticipated draft that could threaten the record for most signal-callers taken in Round 1 (six in 1983 and 2024).