College Football Expert Advises NFL Teams to Pass on 2027 QB Class, Target Wide Receiver Jeremiah Smith

College football analyst Brooks Austin, known as "The Film Guy," advises NFL teams to "punt" on the upcoming 2027 quarterback draft class, suggesting they instead prioritize Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith with the No. 1 overall pick. Austin, who has gained a significant following on his YouTube channel and partnered with On3, believes the current quarterback prospects lack the elite, "can't miss" potential seen in previous draft years.

Austin pointed to several quarterbacks who have generated buzz but expressed reservations. Oregon's Dante Moore, once considered a top prospect, is noted for getting stuck on reads and making pre-snap decisions, along with inconsistent fundamentals. Ole Miss's Trinidad Chambliss, despite strong statistical performance, faces physical questions regarding his build for the professional level. Other prospects like Texas' Arch Manning and LSU's Sam Leavitt are also mentioned with concerns about decision-making and turnovers.

Instead of a quarterback, Austin champions Jeremiah Smith as a generational talent. He compares Smith's potential impact to that of Andrew Luck, a highly touted prospect from the 2012 draft. Austin stated that if a team held the No. 1 overall pick and was in need of a significant talent infusion, he would draft Smith and then seek a quarterback in a subsequent year. Smith, an Ohio State wide receiver, is described by Austin as a "guarantee" and one of the few truly generational prospects to emerge from college football in recent memory.

The 2027 NFL Draft quarterback class is generating discussion, but Austin's assessment suggests a shift in focus for teams holding top selections. While mock drafts often highlight quarterbacks early, Austin's perspective offers a contrarian view, prioritizing a non-quarterback talent at the top of the draft for the first time in years.