Gilberto Manzano#55 of 87 NFL pundits · Nov 12, 2026
Manzano ranks their top 10 prospects for the 2027 NFL draft, with Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith at No. 1 and Texas edge Colin Simmons at No. 2, and makes several positional-order and draft-slot calls within the list.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Gilberto Manzano said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromHere are my top 10 draft prospects as we enter the final stretch of the college football regular season.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Top 10 Prospects for 2027 NFL Draft: CJ Carr Making a Case for QB2 Slot
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Xavier Williams to be 1st DT off the board“I was torn between Gilliam and Ole Miss's Will Echoles for this spot, but it's time for a new DT1 in this draft class.”
- 2Charlie Becker to be 2nd wide receiver off the board“He's the clear No. 2 wide receiver in this class as the total package with size (6'4", 209 pounds), athleticism and reliable hands.”
- 3C.J. Carr to be 2nd quarterback off the board“But Carr got the nod as the new QB2 because he's more willing to let it rip downfield.”
- 4Jeremiah Smith to be picked “top-three pick” (picks 1–3)“personally, he already has done enough to be a top-three pick in April”
- 5Leonard Moore to be picked “early on Day 1” (picks 1–17)“Notre Dame's shutdown corner validated all the rave reviews from scouts, and he'll likely hear his name called early on Day 1 of the draft.”
- 6Ashton Hampton to be picked “top 10” (picks 1–10)“Don't be surprised if he goes in the top 10 and makes a strong push for being CB1 in this class come April.”
- 7Drew Mestemaker to be 1st quarterback off the board“Mestemaker ... has become the clear No. 1 quarterback prospect thanks to his upside as a passer and enticing mobility.”
- 8Top Player Lists“Here are my top 10 draft prospects as we enter the final stretch of the college football regular season. 10. Xavier Gilliam, DT, Tennessee ... 1. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xavier Williams to be 1st DT off the board1 | Position Order Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Charlie Becker to be 2nd wide receiver off the board2 | Position Order Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| C.J. Carr to be 2nd quarterback off the board3 | Position Order Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Jeremiah Smith to be picked “top-three pick” (picks 1–3)4 | Mock Draft Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Leonard Moore to be picked “early on Day 1” (picks 1–17)5 | Mock Draft Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Ashton Hampton to be picked “top 10” (picks 1–10)6 | Mock Draft Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| Drew Mestemaker to be 1st quarterback off the board7 | Position Order Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| “Here are my top 10 draft prospects as we enter the final…”8 | Top Player Lists | — | — | — | — | |
| 8 calls · 8 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
8 checkable claims — 4 position order calls, 3 mock draft picks and 1 top player list — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Drew Mestemaker · 2026 season · positional finish7 calls from 5 pundits between 1 positional finish and 9 positional finish. Gilberto Manzano said 1 positional finish. the room's median is 1 positional finish. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
1Position Order CallsXavier WilliamsTennessee Titans
Xavier Williams to be 1st DT off the board
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Position Order CallsCharlie Becker
Charlie Becker to be 2nd wide receiver off the board
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Position Order CallsC.J. Carr
C.J. Carr to be 2nd quarterback off the board
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Mock Draft PicksJeremiah Smith
Jeremiah Smith to be picked “top-three pick” (picks 1–3)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Mock Draft PicksLeonard Moore
Leonard Moore to be picked “early on Day 1” (picks 1–17)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
6Mock Draft PicksAshton Hampton
Ashton Hampton to be picked “top 10” (picks 1–10)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
7Position Order CallsDrew Mestemaker
Drew Mestemaker to be 1st quarterback off the board
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“Here are my top 10 draft prospects as we enter the final stretch of the college football regular season. 10. Xavier Gilliam, DT, Tennessee ... 1. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Lane Mills · Game Outcome Picks · Tennessee Titans · Miss 0
Mills predicts the Titans finish 2026 at 6-11 (2-4 in the AFC South), missing the playoffs, with specific wins over the Jets, Giants, Browns, Jaguars, Raiders and Colts, and names Wan'Dale Robinson team MVP with another 1,000-yard, seven-touchdown season as Cam Ward's top receiver.Nathan Jahnke · Roster Spot Calls · K.J. Osborn · Hit 100
An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.Charlie Campbell · Mock Draft Picks · Xavier Williams · Miss 0
Campbell's draft stock report projects Indiana WR Charlie Becker as a top-10 pick in 2027, Mississippi State CB Kelley Jones as a first-rounder, Tennessee DT Xavier Gilliam as a top-15 pick, and Texas OT Trevor Goosby as a top-10 pick, while suggesting Arch Manning could still be a first-rounder if they declare.Gennaro Filice · Score Predictions · Tennessee Titans · Hit 88
The lone NFL.com pick for Tennessee, projecting a low-scoring 14-13 Titans upset built on their defensive front containing Jonathan Taylor.Dan Graziano · Game Outcome Picks · Tennessee Titans · Hit 100
The lone ESPN pick for Tennessee, taking the Titans to beat the Colts.
More position order calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Joe Marino · Position Order Calls · Arvell Reese · Hit 100
Marino stacks 14 inside linebackers in the 2026 NFL draft class and assigns each a round-value grade, with Sonny Styles first (top-10 grade) and Anthony Hill third; they say Hill would be their preferred pick if Buffalo takes a linebacker at No. 26.Ian Rapoport · Position Order Calls · Tetairoa McMillan · Close 71
Rapoport said Travis Hunter is likely the pick at No. 2 for the Browns, that Shedeur Sanders is in play at No. 3, and predicted Tetairoa McMillan would be the first receiver drafted. They also expected Brock Purdy's next deal to land around $50 million per year with Dak Prescott remaining the only quarterback above $60 million.Peter Schrager · Position Order Calls · Tetairoa McMillan · Close 71
Schrager laid out their top 10 prospects entering the 2025 combine, with Travis Hunter first, Abdul Carter second and Tyler Warren third, and attached draft-range calls to several of them — Will Johnson in the first round, Mason Graham a top-five pick, Ashton Jeanty a first-rounder, Tyler Warren not escaping the top ten, and Cam Ward a top-five to top-ten pick who will start as a rookie.Matty Lane · Position Order Calls · Spencer Fano · Hit 100
Maddie Lane said Spencer Fano is clearly the first tackle off the board, that the top four players in their mock will be four of the first five picks, that Malik Mohammed goes ahead of Igbunosin, and that Blake Miller would beat out Jalen Moore for the Chiefs' starting job.Daniel Jeremiah · Position Order Calls · Spencer Fano · Close 71
Jeremiah's Mock Draft 3.0, discussed pick by pick: Mendoza first overall, Arvell Reese to the Jets at 2, Francis Mauigoa to the Cardinals at 3, Jeremiyah Love to the Titans at 4, Sonny Styles to the Giants at 5, and on through the first round.