NFL 1st-round mock draft: Early surprise, standout drops--and Seahawks same ol’

3. Giants (in projected trade up with Cardinals)

Jeremiyah Love, running back, Notre Dame

A surprise: A running back in the top three. In a weak year for the position in the draft.

New coach John Harbaugh wants to bring his run-first style of offense from Baltimore to keep prized 2025 rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart from getting battered more. Harbaugh trades two third-day choices to get the best running back in this weak class of them, by far, and jumps Tennessee wanting Love.

Arizona moves down two spots and gains a fourth-round (105th overall) plus a fifth-round (145th) pick to move down a couple spots — and still get their guy.

Jeremiyah Love (4) of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rushes for a touchdown in the first half during the NCAA college football game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

(Justin Berl/Getty Images)

4. Titans

David Bailey, edge rusher, Texas Tech

New Titans head coach (and former Seahawks assistant) Robert Saleh needs waves of pass rushers for how he wants to play. In four years as the Jets head coach, his team selected a pass rusher in the first round twice. Saleh will gladly take what many scouts see as the best pass rusher in this draft.

5. Cardinals (in projected trade down with Giants)

Francis Mauigoa, right tackle, Miami

Arizona needs a young, long-term quarterback after releasing Kyler Murray last month. But they need a stud tackle to block edge rushers off Gardner Minshew or whoever is the Cardinals QB more. Arizona didn’t address right tackle in free agency, hinting they’ll take this draft’s best one with the team’s first pick here.

6. Buccaneers (in projected trade up with Browns)

Rueben Bain Jr., edge rusher, Miami

Cleveland is shopping its sixth pick almost as much as Seattle general manager John Schneider is shopping the Seahawks’ 32nd-overall selection. Tampa Bay jumps nine spots from 15 to get Bain, one of the elite edge rushers in this draft class.

The Browns get the Bucs’ first-round spot at 14, Tampa Bay’s second-round pick at 46th overall, plus its seventh-round choice (229)

7. Commanders

Sonny Styles, linebacker, Ohio State

Coach Dan Quinn REALLY needs to rebuild his defense that allowed 6 yards per snap during Washington’s fall in 2025. The Commanders let Bobby Wagner’s contract end. Though they haven’t closed the door to re-signing the still-free agent, the future Hall of Famer and Seahawks legend turns 36 in June. Styles is a plug-and-play replacement in the middle of the defense and as Washington’s new defensive play caller.

8. Saints

Carnell Tate, wide receiver, Ohio State

High time in New Orleans to get quarterback Tyler Shough a game-breaking receiver. The Saints are happy the best one on their board is still available here.

9. Chiefs

Makai Lemon, wide receiver, USC

Coach Andy Reid gets recovering-from-injury Patrick Mahomes another target, whom most rate with Tate as the top wide receivers in this class.

Kansas City takes wide receivers in the top rounds of drafts as not just a trend but a habit.

10. Giants (from Bengals)

Caleb Downs, safety, Ohio State

New York uses the pick it got trading Lawrence to Cincinnati to get what many believe is the best defensive player in this draft. Downs, who first starred at Alabama, is athletic. He’s smart. He’s a John Harbaugh player. This will be the fourth safety a John Harbaugh team has drafted in the first round in 19 years.

Caleb Downs (2) of the Ohio State Buckeyes takes the field prior to a game against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 90th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

11. Dolphins

Spencer Fano, right tackle, Utah

New coach. New GM. New era in Miami. The Dolphins have seven picks in the first three rounds. They get a coveted, athletic brick wall who can play tackle, guard and has even worked out at center for NFL scouts.

12. Cowboys

Keldric Faulk, edge rusher, Auburn

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the former Seahawks offensive coordinator, needs to remake his porous Dallas defense in a big way. Many see the dynamic Faulk as a “boom-or-bust” prospect and something of a risk to draft here. The Cowboys see the athlete, at one of the sport’s most important positions, to help replace some of what they lost trading Micah Parsons last year.

13. Rams (from Falcons)

Jordyn Tyson, wide receiver, Arizona State

I could see the Rams trading back here, then getting a quarterback to eventually succeed 38-year-old Matthew Stafford. Coach Sean McVay sees wide receiver Davante Adams turning 34 during the 2026 season, the last one of his contract. Tyson’s caution: Injuries in each of his final three college seasons.

14. Ravens

Kenyon Sadiq, tight end, Oregon

The Ravens post-John Harbaugh re-stock tight end with Mark Andrews turning 31 in September. Sadiq is the consensus best at his position in this draft, a new target for quarterback Lamar Jackson.

15. Browns (in projected trade down with Buccaneers)

Monroe Freeling, left tackle, Georgia

Cleveland trades down knowing it can still get Freeling nine spots lower. The Browns used four left tackles last season. They get one they can count on for four (or more) years. Tacoma-based NFL draft guru Rob Rang of FoxSports.com says: “There isn’t a blocker in this class who looks the part of an NFL left tackle more than the loose and long 6-foot-7, 315-pound Freeling.”

16. Jets

Mansoor Delane, cornerback, LSU

Delane is the consensus top player in a deep cornerback draft class. Did I mention coach Aaron Glenn, a former NFL defensive back, wants to advance his New York defense with multiplicity and young talent?

Cornerback Mansoor Delane (4) of the Louisiana State Tigers celebrates a pass defense during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Tiger Stadium on October 11, 2025, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Michael DeMocker/Getty Images)

17. Lions

Olaivavega Ioane, guard, Penn State

The best interior offensive linemen in this draft is also known to be, well, mean. That sounds like a Dan Campbell player fit for Detroit. The Lions had their O-line anchor Frank Ragnow retire last year after seven seasons at age 29 because of constant injuries.

18. Vikings

Dillon Thieneman, safety, Oregon

The Vikings aren’t sure if 37-year-old safety Harrison Smith will return for a 15th season; he’s a free agent. Thieneman fits what Brian Flores loves to do with his switching, blitzing, multiple defense in Minnesota. He’s fast.

19. Panthers

Kayden Proctor, left tackle, Alabama

He’s massive, at 365 pounds. And he’s athletic, long and a moving brick wall. Panthers general manager (and former Seahawks executive) Dan Morgan has the option to move Proctor to guard — and to be a Carolina bedrock.

20. Cowboys

Colton Hood, cornerback, Tennessee

Did we mention Dallas needs defense? Jermod McCoy would be the pick here, but there’s word he may need a second knee surgery. That has McCoy falling in some people’s minds down or out of the first round. The Cowboys and Schottenheimer will love Hood’s coverage plus toughness against the run.

21. Steelers

KC Concepcion, wide receiver, Texas A&M

He scored 28 receiving and rushing touchdowns in 38 college games at A&M and North Carolina State. The Steelers are still trying to get wide receiver right after trading away George Pickens, trading with the Seahawks to get DK Metcalf. Quarterback here? The Steelers think Aaron Rodgers is coming back. And they haven’t seen what they have in Will Howard, the QB they drafted last year from Ohio State. He missed almost all last season with a preseason injury.

Wide receiver KC Concepcion #7 of the Texas A&M Aggies is defended by cornerback Mansoor Delane #4 of the LSU Tigers during the first half of a game at Tiger Stadium on October 25, 2025, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

22. Chargers

Blake Miller, offensive tackle, Clemson

Los Angeles and new coach Jim Harbaugh had an epidemic of injuries across the offensive line. It ruined the Chargers’ 2025 season. L.A. allowed 60 sacks, second-most in the NFL, and quarterback Justin Herbert got battered.

Miller started every game, 54 starts in a row, in four years for Clemson. Rang notes how quick and smart Miller is.

23. Eagles

Denzel Boston, wide receiver, Washington

They wanted Proctor. They also have all kinds of smoke that they are trading wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Patriots. Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman is college buddies with UW coach Jedd Fisch, from the University of Florida in the mid-1990s. Think they haven’t talked — and talked up — Boston more than most in the league view the Huskies’ dynamic wide out?

Denzel Boston (12) of the Washington Huskies catches a touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on November 08, 2025, in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

24. Browns (from Jaguars)

Akheem Mesidor, edge rusher, Miami

This isn’t a need pick. Not with reigning NFL defensive player of the year Myles Garrett in Cleveland.

This is a pick for the value of pass rushers in a pass-happy league. You can never have enough. Mesidor is one of the best in this class, though he is older (25).

25. Bears

Kayden McDonald, defensive tackle, Ohio State

Chicago with coach Ben Johnson fixing quarterback Caleb Williams seem ascending on offense. The Bears need to add to the defense for it to keep pace and get back to winning the NFC North again.

Chicago was 27th in the league in rushing defense last season. McDonald, 6 feet 3 and 326 pounds, is a run-stuffer supeme.

26. Bills

T.J. Parker, edge rusher, Clemson

Buffalo’s M.O. under general manager Brandon Beane has been big, powerful pass rushers. That’s what Parker is. He can also stay on the field in the Bills’ defense on run downs.

27. 49ers

Max Iheanachor, left tackle, Arizona State

The Niners just re-signed Trent Williams again. But he’s turning 38. He’s the left tackle of San Francisco’s present. The 6-5, 325-pound Iheanachor, a Nigerian basketball and soccer player, gets a year to develop into the 49ers’ left tackle of the future.

28. Texans

Vega Ioane, left guard, Penn State

Many draft analysts have Houston and San Francisco back to back each taking a tackle to pass block.

But the Texans are stunned what many see as the best pure guard is still here at 28. Ioane is plug and play.

29. Chiefs

Jermod McCoy, cornerback, Tennessee

Kansas City traded All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams with the idea of replenishing. The Chiefs use their second pick of round one on the riskiest top pick in the league.

It’s not a matter of skill. McCoy is elite for that. McCoy is going to need to convince a team’s medical staff his once-repaired knee can hold up to warrant picking him this high.

30. Dolphins

Cashius Howell, edge rusher, Texas A&M

The Dolphins need a lot, especially on defense. Howell was productive in college then had underwhelming testing and results at the combine. That’s why he’s here for Miami to take.

Cashius Howell (9) of the Texas A&M Aggies defends Quincy Crittendon (2) of the Samford Bulldogs in the first quarter of their NCAA football game at Kyle Field on November 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

31. Patriots

Caleb Lomu, offensive tackle, Utah

The Seahawks exposed New England’s O-line with pressure and confusion in the Super Bowl. So the Patriots reload on the offensive line with yet another standout tackle, who can also play guard.

32. SEAHAWKS

A trade. Shocker.

Seattle trades this pick to Cleveland, for the 39th-overall choice seven spots into round two Friday. The Seahawks also get a fourth-round choice from the Browns they didn’t have, at 107 seven selections into that round on Saturday. That gives Seattle five total picks: two in round two, one to end the third round, one in the fourth round and one in the sixth round. Quarterback Ty Simpson of Alabama still being available here at 32 sure would help the Seahawks’ quest to trade back for the 11th time in Schneider’s 15 deals involving first-round picks (the other four included veteran players; Seattle’s GM has never traded up in round one).

General manager John Schneider on Monday openly advertised his want for this draft: Trade back from the last pick of the first round. He succeeds, dealing his first-round pick for the 15th time in 17 drafts, and again trading down.

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider (left) and coach Mike Macdonald speak at the team’s Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton Monday, April 20, 2026, three days before the NFL draft begins.