Irish Mock Draft: Day 1-2
- Noah Wehby
- 40 minutes ago
- 4 min read
With just a few more days until the NFL Draft, it is time to look into where the most likely landing spots are for some former Irish stars.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
While there are more than six Notre Dame players in this year's draft, it is likely that only the top-six will hear their name called. The bulk of that group will have to wait until day-two and some even day-three, but it is a group that could provide decent value down some team's draft boards. With that being said, Notre Dame is also providing the draft's most electrifying prospect, maybe even the best
player.
Jeremiyah Love: Tennessee Titans (R1, P4)
Love has been the talk of this draft for a long time. His projection started as a mid-first round pick with the highest projections landing him right around pick 10. After the NFL Combine, that was no longer a reality. After his 4.36 performance in the 40 yard dash, it became clear that Love was a surefire top-10 pick, with some projections even as high as the third overall pick. Now, Love will almost certainly be selected somewhere between picks 4-7, with little chance he makes it past the Commanders at seven.
For the Titans, this is a home-run pick at four. Ever since the departure of Derrick Henry, the Titans have been desperate to find an elite playmaker on offense. Love can be just that. With little blue-chip or elite prospects in this draft, the Titans could be getting the best player at pick 4, providing excellent value and satisfying a need on the current roster. Last season, rookie quarterback Cam Ward showed flashes of a bright future in Nashville, but the offense lacked any real big-play threat, especially in the running game. Not only did their rushing attack not provide big plays, it did not provide much of anything for the Titans in 2025, ranking second to last in the NFL when it came to rushing yards. Love could be a quick fix to these problems. If Love is able to improve the running game, it would also give Ward much needed relief. He was asked to do a lot for the Titans as just a rookie, and with Love, he would have a running game to rely on and an excellent passing threat out of the backfield.
Jadarian Price: Seattle Seahawks (R1, P32)
Whether it ends up being Seattle that picks Price, he will certainly be the second running back taken in the draft. Considered by many to be the only other running back in the draft with day-one starting capabilities, Price has a real chance to crack into the end of the first round. Given his talent and value as a starting running back, its becoming increasingly more likely that he does not make it far into the second round.
As of right now, the Seahawks do not have a starting running back. Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker left in free agency and Zach Charbonnet is recovering from a torn ACL late in the year. The Seahawks can't afford to wait on taking a running back. They need a starter and Price is their only option for that. With aspirations of going back to back, the Seahawks need to keep the holes in their roster filled. Last season, the run game led by Walker was a key part of the offense, so Price would be asked to do a lot as a rookie. With the skillset he presented in South Bend, Price would be providing Seattle with the same big-play threat that Walker did, while also giving them a solid down-to-down back.
Malachi Fields: Cleveland Browns (R3,P70)
Fields' draft stock has been all over the place for the entirety of the draft process. At the end of the season, he was not not getting much draft buzz, but that all changed after the Senior Bowl. There, he showed off his impressive ability to win down the field and track deep throws. Combine that with his great size, it was obvious why teams were beginning to fall in love with him. At the combine, his stock may have dipped some due to his lack of speed and overall explosiveness. While the third round may not be exactly where he envisioned going, Fields is exactly what the Browns need.
The Browns have been lost at the wide receiver position for some time now. They are in great need of playmakers on the outside, so do not be surprised if they use multiple early picks on wide receivers. Specifically, they need a player with exactly Fields' skillset. They already have some speed with Jerry Jeudy and Isaiah Bond, but lack a true "X" that can win on the outside. While it is still unclear if Fields' game will translate smoothly, he does have all the necessary tools to become a difference maker for the Browns. He is a tall, athletic weapon that uses his size to win on the sideline or in jump-ball scenarios, a perfect weapon to give a young QB like Sheduer Sanders.
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