Notre Dame stands to have three players selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, a shift that elevates the program’s draft reputation after the NFL combine. The projection comes from Nate Davis of USA TODAY and was highlighted by Fighting Irish Wire’s Michael Chen on March 2, 2026. Combine performances forced a re-evaluation of several prospects and produced significant movement in mock drafts.
Running back Jeremiyah Love is the clearest beneficiary, Davis projecting him to the Tennessee Titans at No. 4. That represents a jump from earlier mocks that had Love going at No. 8 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Wide receiver Malachi Fields, who entered the combine with considerable hype and met expectations, is slotted to the Buffalo Bills at No. 26, with Davis noting the Bills could trade up to address other needs. The transfer would join Josh Allen in a strong offensive environment if Buffalo stays put.
The third Notre Dame name in Davis’s first-round forecast is running back Jadarian Price, listed as the final pick of the round to the Seattle Seahawks.
Davis points to Seattle’s uncertainty around re-signing Kenneth Walker as a rationale for turning to Price to handle the running back load. All three projections lean directly on how each player performed during combine drills and team interviews.
Before the combine, it looked likely only Love would be a first-day selection. The new projections raise the floor to at least two Notre Dame picks on day one, with a viable path to three.
Mock drafts will continue to shift as teams process combine takeaways and execute pre-draft moves, and these projections will be tested when the draft begins.
