Why Arizona CB Treydan Stukes could be Seahawks first draft pick

Arizona cornerback Treydan Stukes has been the biggest riser of any prospect in the week leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Seattle Seahawks are one of his top possible suitors.

Stokes has been regarded as a mid- to high-round pick for most if not all of this draft cycle, but is peaking at the perfect time. He’s getting first-round buzz for the first time just days before the actual event takes place. A look at NFL Mock Draft Database’s log shows his rise. A projected third- to fourth-rounder in January and February, he became a more of a second- to third-rounder through March and early April, and then went in the first-round in the last five recorded for him- despite never having been projected as a Day 1 pick before that.

The media seems to have caught on to league circles late on Stukes. Adam Schefter published his draft intel and notes on Monday, and Stukes topped his “Other prospects to watch” section with one of the most head-turning insider quotes of the entire draft cycle leading up to this point. An unnamed NFL general manager called Stukes “one of the best safeties I’ve seen” in his time as a GM, and even said he would draft him over Caleb Downs, the Ohio State safety who’s been a consensus top-five talent for years among media members.

This could just be draft week buzz, or targeted messaging with a smokescreen loaded to influence outside perception- but Stukes has brought enough to the table the entire time. For starters, his athletic testing is unquestionably first-round caliber. With speed, explosiveness and size all 85th percentile or higher, he meets the prerequisites.

He’s also a difference maker on tape. His instincts were also top-tier in college, and he was secure in coverage while having a nose for big plays.