Notre Dame Projected to Have Two First-Round NFL Draft Picks

Running back Jeremiyah Love and wide receiver Malachi Fields are both expected to be selected in the first round.

Feb. 18, 2026 at 4:31pm

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According to NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah, Notre Dame is projected to have two players selected in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft. Running back Jeremiyah Love is expected to be taken by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 9th overall pick, while wide receiver Malachi Fields is projected to be selected 26th overall by the Buffalo Bills.

Why it matters

This would be a significant accomplishment for Notre Dame, as it's rare for the school to have multiple players go in the first round of the NFL Draft. The success of these two players reflects well on the program and could help with future recruiting efforts.

The details

Love is considered an elite talent at running back and would bolster the Chiefs' already potent offense. Fields has seen his stock rise significantly after an impressive Senior Bowl week, with the Bills looking to add another threat to their passing game after none of their receivers topped 800 yards last season.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching.

The players

Jeremiyah Love

A running back from Notre Dame who is projected to be selected 9th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Malachi Fields

A wide receiver from Notre Dame who is projected to be selected 26th overall by the Buffalo Bills.

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What they’re saying

“We all expect that running back Jeremiyah Love will go on Day 1, but it's wide receiver Malachi Fields that has been rising up draft boards. Following a very impressive Senior Bowl week, the 6-foot, 4-inch and 223-pounder has seen his stock rise significantly.”

— Michael Chen, Author (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place in the coming months, where Jeremiyah Love and Malachi Fields will look to hear their names called in the first round.

The takeaway

Notre Dame's success in producing first-round NFL Draft picks reflects the strength of their football program and could help with future recruiting efforts. The projected selections of Love and Fields demonstrate the high-level talent the school is able to develop.