Ohio State football’s 2027 NFL Draft prospect outlook: Jeremiah Smith, Julian Sayin and more

The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming off of a strong but ultimately disappointing season that saw them break a four-game losing streak to the arch-rival Michigan Wolverines but fall short in the College Football Playoff. Through it all, the Buckeyes cemented their standing as one of the most talented teams in college football and a national championship contender under coach Ryan Day for years to come.

Quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith were the Buckeyes’ two biggest standout players, but others joined as premium players including explosive freshman running back Bo Jackson, rising offensive line prospect Luke Montgomery, steady offensive tackle Austin Siereveld and others.

This season, the Buckeyes get the hated Wolverines in Columbus, giving each of their players a guaranteed showcase game for NFL scouts that could boost their 2027 NFL Draft stock.

Along the course of the season, the Buckeyes will also go up against a tough Big Ten schedule that scouts will almost certainly view as the cream of the crop as far as college football schedules go.

Expect lots of big performances, and high risers, for the 2027 NFL Draft as the Buckeyes prepare to launch several NFL careers, and compete for a national title, in 2026 into next year.

Top prospect: Jeremiah Smith 

Smith came to the Buckeyes by way of Hollywood, Florida and is the arguably the most surefire NFL receiver prospect in over a decade.

Smith led the Buckeyes to the 2024-25 national championship and did it in style, elevating his former quarterback Will Howard to NFL Draft pick status. He will enter 2026 alongside one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, Julian Sayin, and will do so with a better rapport after more than a year together in Columbus.

If Smith doesn’t get selected in the top three picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, it will be a major upset. He has the top end speed, physicality, route running, hands and everything in between to become an NFL Hall-of-Famer.

He is seen as a celebrity around the Buckeyes program and has a significant amount of sway based on recent comments. Smith’s influence is undeniable both on and off the field, making him a generational NFL prospect.

Top 10 candidate: Julian Sayin 

Sayin transferred to Ohio State from Alabama and was granted access to Day, a quarterback whisperer who knows how to get the most out of his passing game from a statistical standpoint.

Sayin closed out last season with two subpar games against Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game and Miami in the College Football Playoff during which he finally showed his relative youth and inexperience for the first time in college football settings.

Expect better performances in the biggest of games from the Carlsbad, California product this coming season. His offensive line has been improving throughout his time at Ohio State and his receivers are becoming more polished and versatile.

Sayin has garnered Heisman Trophy hype and plenty of talk about improvements he’s made throughout the offseason. His accuracy is his calling card, and it will be on full display this season as the Buckeyes chase their second national title in three years.

I expect him to be selected somewhere in the top 10-15 range of the 2027 NFL Draft in Washington, D.C. if he declares, but there is a strong chance he stays until his senior season in my personal opinion.

Sayin will benefit from playing under a former NFL coach this season, which will make staying in Columbus for 2027 all the more attractive.

First round likely: Austin Siereveld 

Siereveld didn’t come to Ohio State with the same high school pedigree as some other well known Buckeyes stars of the past decade but he stands out on film in many ways.

Siereveld is one of those guys who simply does the right thing on most plays and continues to stack strong play after strong play.

He’s a loyal, hard-working and talented offensive tackle with the versatility to play many different positions and the size (6-foot-5, 325 pounds) to hold up against just about any size defensive lineman.

The Buckeyes’ lynchpin offensive tackle is likely to sneak into the first round because of his consistently sound play. There will be questions about his athleticism and whether or not he can be a Pro Bowl caliber player at the next level after the NFL Combine but ultimately his film speaks for itself.

First or second round: Kenyatta Jackson 

Jackson has been slowly building his skills under defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and has a chance to take a major leap this season.

He had 11 tackles for loss in 2025 along with 6.5 sacks and has a chance to double those numbers in 2026. Jackson’s work ethic on and off the field is one of his biggest strengths. He doesn’t quite have the undeniable top 10 talent of former Buckeyes standouts like Chase Young and Joey Bosa but he makes up for it in a never-say-die attitude, technique and overwhelming physicality at times.

I predict Jackson will be in the mix for a first round selection in the 2027 NFL Draft, likely in the top 20 to 30 range. He could slide as far as the late second round or perhaps early third round.

How the Buckeyes’ defensive tackles push the pocket will ultimately determine his statistical output this season, and whether or not he has a chance to climb up the draft board even further.

Second or third round: Luke Montgomery 

Montgomery didn’t start playing guard until December 2024, transitioning from offensive tackle.

His position shift was a smash hit as he became one of the Buckeyes’ most indispensable and effective players in leading them to the national championship. Montgomery is routinely cited as one of the Buckeyes’ most important players by coach Day and his performances back up his value to the team.

Expect Montgomery’s best season yet as a senior in 2026 and a ticket to the NFL Combine. If Montgomery’s measurables line up with what scouts are looking for in a guard prospect, he will almost certainly be selected on the first day of the 2027 draft and could skyrocket up draft boards by the time it’s all said and done.

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