Notre Dame Potential Draft Picks: Where Do They Fit?

Now that the NFL Draft Combine has wrapped up, and teams are starting to narrow in on their targets, let's look at where former Irish athletes will be best suited in the NFL.

Photo by The Irish Tribune

Benjamin Morrison (CB)

Morrison was once considered one of, if not the best cornerbacks coming into the draft this year. Unfortunately for Morrison, a mid-season hip surgery has dampened that hype, but it should not impact the value he can bring to a team. Before the injury, Morrison was slotted to be a mid-first round pick but things have changed since then. It appears that Morrison could be picked somewhere in the late first or early second, which would bring excellent value.

On the earlier side of things, the Philadelphia Eagles, with the last pick in the first round, would be a potential landing spot for Morrison. The Eagles recently let their starting cornerback, Darius Slay Jr., walk, so Morrison could serve as a solid addition to a revamped CB room. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio loves to blitz and leaves his corners on islands, similar to Morrison's experience with Al Golden.

Coincidentally, the New York Giants, another NFC East team, could definitely use Morrison's talent. They own the second pick in the second round, right around where Morrison is projected to go. The Giants have had troubles at CB for years now, and still don't have a clear lockdown CB. They did draft a CB a couple of years ago when they selected Deonte Banks out of Maryland. He has shown promise, but this is still a weak position for the Giants. Morrison would be a huge get for the Giants, pairing two young corners together to start building for the future.

Xavier Watts (Safety)

Watts became a fan favorite throughout his career, known for his incredible ability to cause turnovers and be a playmaker all over the field. His ball-hawking ability sets him apart from most players. He reads the play using a combination of IQ and instincts, and his solid athleticism compliments those abilities. Instinct is something coaches can't always teach, making him a valuable prospect for any team. This is what makes projecting his landing spot tricky - lots of teams could use a player like Watts.

Watts is most likely a second round pick, but it doesn't seem like he will last long in the second round. One team that could potentially be in play for Watts is the Chicago Bears. The Bears own two picks early in the second round, the perfect time to take a player that can immediately help your team win. One downside for Watts in the draft process is his age, but this also gives him a better chance to make an instant impact. The Bears are in a position to start winning now, and the Watts pick would make a lot of sense. He also offers the ability to replace aging veteran, Kevin Byard. Byard is in the late stages of his career, but Watts could give the Bears an answer to his replacement.

Riley Leonard (QB)

Leonard had a bit of a rollercoaster senior year at Notre Dame. It started with the high of beating Texas A&M, but was immediately met with criticism due to poor play in a loss to NIU. Leonard displayed his tough mindset and bounced back to lead Notre Dame to the National Championship. While his impressive athleticism makes him an attractive prospect, his limited arm talent points to a late round pick or UDFA who will most likely be aiming for a backup position.

A team that will be in the market for a backup QB is the Jacksonville Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence is the starter in Jacksonville, but they are losing both their backups in free agency. This makes them a prime candidate to use one of their late round draft picks to help fill their QB room.

Another team that Leonard could find himself on is the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are also losing their backup QB, Jimmy Garoppolo, to free agency. Leonard's athleticism might make him an intriguing prospect for Head Coach, Sean McVay. McVay is well known for his creative play-calling and Leonard might be a QB he believes can operate his offense well due to his mobility.

Mitchell Evans (TE)

Evans is another player that could be a great value pick late in the 2025 draft. Evans made a name for himself during his junior year when he became the number one target for Sam Hartman. It appeared he was making a breakthrough as one of the top tight ends in the country before he tore his ACL. This injury set him back quite a bit, and seemed to limit his production in the 2024 season. It did appear that he started to get back into form late in the season, where he made a larger impact.

Although Evans has shown some impressive capabilities as a TE, he will likely end up being another late round pick. One team that could be interested in Evans as a backup TE is the Washington Commanders with their fifth round pick at 146. The Commanders currently have veteran TE, Zach Ertz, locked up for the future but that future may not be long. Ertz is in the final years of his career, but that hasn't stopped him from being impactful. This past season he became Jayden Daniels' favorite target. With Ertz's retirement in the near future, Evans may be a candidate for his eventual replacement, or at the very least, a player that can help supplement his production.

Jack Kiser (LB)

Kiser was the heart and soul of the Notre Dame defense for the last couple of years. He is a tremendous leader and plays incredibly hard. Kiser has also played a ton of football at the college level, which has helped him build a high football IQ. He is a sure tackler, but his age might be a concern for many teams. Kiser will soon be a 25-year-old, making him amongst the oldest in the class.

Kiser projects to a special teams player/depth linebacker. The Green Bay Packers are a team that could use some more depth at LB. The Packers are losing two veteran LBs this offseason, so they'll be in the market for more LBs. The question will be how much they want to invest in the position. They may look to free agency, but that will cost more than a late round pick. If they decide to use one of their late round picks, Kiser could be a potential prospect to fill that role for a team that is looking to compete now.

Rylie Mills (DT)

Mills became a consistent force for the Notre Dame defense during his time in South Bend. At Notre Dame, Mills showed off his talent as both a pass rusher and run stopper, making him one of the most productive players Notre Dame had. Mills was contemplating entering the draft before last season but turned that opportunity to return to Notre Dame. Sadly for Mills, his season was ended abruptly in the first round of the playoffs due to a significant knee injury.

Due to his injury, Mills will likely fall into the later rounds of this draft. One team that may be interested in his services is the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are well known for their tough, physical, and rugged defensive fronts that a player like Mills will fit right in with. Along with that, Steelers All-Pro veteran Cameron Heyward is likely to retire soon, so Mills may be able to offer depth to a position that they will soon have to replace. There are a lot of teams that may be looking into Mills, however. The defensive tackle position is usually a spot that teams like to save money on, likely with a late round pick.

Howard Cross III (DT)

Along with Mills, Cross was the other half of a dominant Notre Dame interior line that wreaked havoc on opposing teams for years. Cross used his athleticism and wrestling background to become a force in the interior, even though he is undersized for the position. His size is a concern for many NFL teams, and will likely be reflected in his draft position.

With Cross' lack of size, his role will likely change in the NFL. Instead of being a three-down lineman, Cross will most likely be used as a third-down pass rusher or an edge rusher in a 4-3 defense. Because of this, Cross will be limited to the number of teams that will look to draft him. One team that could be interested is the New York Giants. Not only may the Giants be a good fit for Cross, it will also make for a great story as the Giants are the team Cross' dad won a Super Bowl with. Cross will be able to add some variety to a defensive line that is already well established. The Giants have two talented edge rushers along with one of the best tackles in the league, Dexter Lawrence. Lawrence is a huge body in the middle for teams to deal with, and their lightning quick edge rushers cause teams a lot of problems. Cross could act as a sort of in-between lineman that is bigger than the Giants' current edge rushers, but smaller than Lawrence, giving them some options at the position.

Beaux Collins (WR)

Collins' time at Notre Dame was marked with highs and lows all season. The highs featured him catching big-time touchdown catches like the one in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia. The lows saw him consistently dropping balls and disappearing at times. All of this has caused him to be a bit of an unknown as a prospect, but there are still things to like with him.

Collins is a long, rangy wide receiver that can be a solid target on the outside. As mentioned before, his hands are a concern, which NFL teams are surely aware of. With this, and a lack of elite athleticism, it would not be a surprise to see him go as an undrafted free agent. The Las Vegas Raiders are a team that could be in the market to see what Collins has to offer at camp. Although he is unlikely to fill the starting role that the Raiders need, he is a prospect that could get a look at supplying depth to a room that needs talent.

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