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ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky unveiled a surprise NFL Draft prediction about an up-and-coming college football player.
The former NFL quarterback gave his thoughts on Ohio State freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who put together another standout performance this week.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith scores after a catch and run during the team’s Rose Bowl win over the Oregon Ducks on Wednesday[/caption]
Dan Orlovsky appeared on ESPN’s Get Up on Thursday and shared a jaw-dropping claim concerning the freshman Smith[/caption]
Smith recorded seven catches for an eye-popping 187 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ blowout win over the then-undefeated Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.
Orlovsky appeared on ESPN’s Get Up and made a bold claim about Smith, believing that teams will be taking for the wideout when he’s eligible to declare for the NFL Draft come 2027.
“He would easily be the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft,” Orlovsky said of Smith during Thursday’s episode of the program.
“You will have teams in two years, for that ’27 draft, tanking for him.”
Orlovsky double-down on his take and revealed why he thinks Smith is special.
“Absolutely. He’s that good. He’s that talented. He’s Julio Jones. His hips look like they’re in his armpits. He looks 6-5 just from his hips down,” he said.
“He reminds me of Julio Jones. His physical frame reminds me a little bit of Calvin Johnson’s.
“He would easily be the No. 1 pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Easily.”
While there were fans who agreed with Orlovsky’s opinion of Smith’s abilities, there were also social media users who didn’t think that NFL teams would select a wide receiver with the first overall pick in two years.
“Kid is special but nobody is tanking for a WR, no matter how good he is,” one commented.
“You won’t have teams ranking for a WR that’s a lil overblown but he is def a top 5 pick even this year,” a second wrote.
“No WR is worth a number one pick. Ever,” a third added.
It seems likely that Smith will be one of the first players taken in the 2027 NFL Draft.
He’ll be eligible to declare in that year under the league’s current rules.
However, it’s worth noting that a wideout hasn’t been selected No. 1 overall since Keyshaw Johnson in 1996.
Through the first 14 games of his collegiate career, Smith posted 70 receptions for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Smith and the Ohio State squad will take on the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl next Friday.
The winner will play in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
The current draft stars the wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter, who is projected to be a top-five pick.
But it doesn’t seem that Hunter will be the first player coming off the board unless he makes the full-time transition to the defensive position.
The 19-year-old Smith recorded two touchdowns during the CFP game[/caption]
