Mock drafts are still highly speculative at such an early point in the process. However, with the college season nearing its conclusion and NFL teams now clearly in pre-playoff mode, things are coming into slightly better focus regarding the 2026 draft.
Nicholas Rome, of Saturdayblitz.com, has done a detailed first-round-only mock after Week 13 of the NFL season, and it has several intriguing selections. He has the Seattle Seahawks choosing Olaivavega Ioane, an offensive guard from Penn State, with the 28th overall pick.
If Rome proves psychic, it would mean that Seahawks general manager John Schneider will have spent consecutive first-round picks on interior offensive linemen. On the surface, that seems highly unlikely.
Who will the Seahawks choose in the first round of the 2026 draft?
That is not intended to single out Schneider, though he has suggested in the past that he prefers to wait on interior linemen, taking them in later rounds, while devoting his first round picks to skill positions. It is true of most NFL GMs.
However, that broad philosophy did not stop Schneider from taking Grey Zabel in the middle of round one last year, and the rookie has paid off by starting every game at left guard. Is it possible that Schneider would double-dip at the guard position, potentially solidifying the middle of his offensive line for the next decade?
It would be an idiosyncratic choice. Though guards are occasionally taken in Round one, the top ones often wait until Day two. Schneider spent a first-round pick on a tackle – Charles Cross – in 2022, but excepting Zabel, he has generally waited a few rounds before looking for help at guard. Damien Lewis (Round three, 2020), Anthony Bradford (Round four, 2023), and Christian Haynes (Round three, 2024) have been more typical.
Germain Ifedi was designated as a guard when Seattle chose him in the first round of the 2015 draft. But it was obvious that the preference was for Ifedi to play tackle. Therefore, it is reasonable to say that until he chose Zabel, Schneider had never invested a first-round pick in an interior offensive lineman.
Bradford has been steadier this season, but he still struggles in pass protection. It is likely that Schneider wants to upgrade the position, and Ioane would do just that. He has a prototypical body – 6’4”, 330 pounds – and moves well enough to pull on running plays.
He didn’t begin playing football until his sophomore year in high school. He has developed nicely at Penn State, but he may still have a lot of untapped upside. He has played both sides, so he could slot in at right guard.
Bradford is signed for another year, and Seattle has several promising developmental prospects. Ioane would not necessarily have to start immediately, which is a great advantage for a young player.
The thought of pairing two talented prospects like Zabel and Ioane on either side of a young center like Jalen Sundell does indeed sound appealing. But it ignores other needs which may be more immediately pressing. 2026 projects to be a pretty good class for interior linemen, so I suspect Schneider will be looking for more of a game-changer in the first round, while waiting on a guard for an extra round or two.
Kenneth Walker and Rashid Shaheed are both pending free agents this offseason. I don’t currently see a running back going late in the first round who might tempt Schneider. But there will be receivers who can add more speed to the Hawks’ offensive attack.
If Shaheed is not re-signed, there will be a lot of options. Opinions are currently divided on a player like Chris Brazzell of Tennessee. If the tall, rangy deep threat slips to the bottom of the first round, it would be hard to resist pairing him with Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Two cornerbacks – Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen – and two safeties – Coby Bryant and Ty Okada – are also scheduled to hit free agency. I doubt Schneider would take a safety, but I could very easily see him going for a perimeter corner to pair with Devon Witherspoon.
Perhaps a different Penn State Nittany Lion – A.J. Harris – would be too enticing to pass up late in the first round. He is a similar player to Witherspoon, and putting them on opposite sides would go a long way toward establishing a new Legion of Boom.
If Schneider does indeed decide that Ioane is his target, it would not be surprising to see him trade back into the second round and pick up more assets later in the draft. Of course, this will all change a hundred times between now and draft day, but it is still fun to ponder the many possibilities.