With Notre Dame‘s playoff run and national championship appearance in the rearview, eight Irish players were invited to the NFL draft combine, and even more look to find their way onto a professional roster. As we await draft night, let’s take a look at the Notre Dame alumni currently active in the NFL.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
Notre Dame’s NFL footprint is among the biggest in college football. The Irish have 46 players across 11 draft classes and on 23 different teams. This article will cover the 2024, 2023, and 2022 draft classes, with part II covering the remaining players.
2024 Draft Class - 10 Players
Joe Alt - Los Angeles Chargers - OT - Round 01: Pick 005
Alt was the highest draft pick for the Irish in 2024, going 5th overall to the LA Chargers. The high draft spot secured Alt a comfortable 4-year - $33.2 million rookie contract. He started 16/17 games and finished the season ranked 4th in pass blocking with a 94% win rate. Alt held down the RT spot for most of the season and is projected to stay one of the anchors of LA’s front five next season. Alt has already lived up to his draft spot and has established himself as one of the best young linemen in the league.
Blake Fisher - Houston Texans - OT - Round 02: Pick 059
Fisher was the ninth offensive tackle off the board in the 2024 draft, going to the Houston Texans in the second round with the 59th overall pick. Fisher didn’t play until week four, and after an injury to Tytus Howard, earned the starting spot against the Buffalo Bills. He had a solid start and played again the following week, getting the majority of snaps through weeks nine and 10, and finished the season strong, playing the last four games straight. Fisher made a noticeable impact in his rookie year, and as of the 2024 off-season, he is slated to be the Texans starting right tackle for 2025 alongside former Notre Dame lineman Jarrett Patterson.
Marist Liufau - Dallas Cowboys - LB - Round 03: Pick 087
Liufau was drafted in the third round with the 87th overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys. He quickly lived up to his high draft stock with a stellar rookie season that cemented him as a mainstay in the Cowboys linebacker room. He appeared in all 17 of the Cowboys' regular season games and racked up an impressive 50 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Liufau has made an instant impact and will likely become a full-time starter before his rookie contract is up.
Cam Hart - Los Angeles Chargers - CB - Round 05: Pick 140
Hart was drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Chargers with the 140th overall pick. He had a solid rookie season, appearing in 14 of LA’s 17 regular season games and an appearance in the AFC wildcard game against the Houston Texans. By season’s end, Hart had racked up 37 tackles, 0.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and 7 pass deflections. As of right now, Hart is second on the depth chart for the left CB slot.
JD Bertrand - Atlanta Falcons - ILB - 2024 - Round 05: Pick 143
Bertrand was drafted in the 5th round with the 143rd overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons. It was a homecoming for the ATL native, and he got to work quickly. Bertrand played the first eight games of the season before sustaining a concussion during the Falcons’ late October win over the Bucs, forcing him to miss the next four games. Thankfully, he was able to play the remaining five games to close out the regular season and finished with 23 tackles and 1 sack. He spent the majority of the season in a 2nd string backup role but maintained sizable rotation minutes before and after his injury. It looks like Bertrand will be a regular rotation piece in Atlanta’s linebacker core and should earn more playing time as 2025 goes on.
Audric Estime - Denver Broncos - RB - Round 05: Pick 147
Estime went to the Denver Broncos with the 147th overall pick in the 5th round of the 2024 NFL draft. He arrived at a loaded running backs room filled with Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Tyler Badie, all looking to earn reps in the backfield. Estime made his first NFL appearance in the season opener against the Seahawks after playing all the preseason games. Unfortunately, he sustained an ankle injury and was sidelined for the next four weeks. He made his next appearance against the Los Angeles Chargers and finished the season with 13 appearances. In those games, he collected 310 yards for 2 touchdowns and 5 receptions for 27 yards. Estime had a solid rookie season and solidified himself as the third-string running back behind Williams and McLaughlin. Despite having significantly fewer carries, Estime put up more impressive numbers when adjusted for snaps than the 1st or 2nd string backs, beginning discussions about who should be the starter. As of the 2024 off-season, Estime should be no lower than 3rd string on the depth chart and could very possibly vie for the 2nd string spot.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste - Washington Commanders - DE - Round 07: Pick 222
Baptiste was drafted by the Washington Commanders late in the seventh round with the 222nd overall pick. He was signed to a traditional four-year rookie contract and had a solid first year with the team. He appeared in 12 games, starting just one, and secured his first and only career sack in week three. Javontae suffered an ankle injury in October but was reactivated for play in late November. He appeared in all three of the Commanders' postseason games, their wins over Tampa Bay and Detroit, and their loss to Philly in the NFC championship. Baptiste may only have a year under his belt, but he’s already contributing to a playoff team. He could carve out a nice career for himself in Washington before the end of his rookie contract.
Spencer Shrader - Kansas City Chiefs - PK - CFA
Shrader has had an interesting start to his NFL career and has covered quite a bit of ground. He went undrafted in 2024 but signed as a free agent to the Indianapolis Colts. He was waived in the off-season but signed to their practice squad before the season started. He made his first NFL appearance in week one against the Houston Texans, where he went 3/3 on extra point attempts. He was ultimately released in October before signing with the New York Jets practice squad. Shrader was called up once again, and this time, he made his Jets debut against the Arizona Cardinals, where he went 2/2 on field goals.
The Kansas City Chiefs lost starting kicker Harrison Butker and signed Shrader in November 2024. He made his Chiefs debut against the Buffalo Bills, where he went 3/3 on extra points before making his mark with a stellar performance in November against the Carolina Panthers. Shrader nailed 3/3 extra points and 3/3 field goals, including a game-winner as time expired. The following week, he was placed on injury reserve and did not make an appearance in the Super Bowl.
Thomas Harper - Las Vegas Raiders - S - 2024 - CFA
Harper wasn’t selected in the 2024 draft, but was picked up in free agency by the Los Angeles Chargers. He hung in on the Rams practice squad until his release in August but was picked up off waivers the following day by the Las Vegas Raiders. It was a stroke of luck for Harper, as the change of scenery earned him a spot in the rotation. He’d go on to play 15/17 games for the Raiders in 2024 and recorded 26 tackles, 0.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, two pass deflections, and 1 interception. It remains to be seen how Harper will fit into the 2025 Raiders, but it's a good sign that he was able to carve out a place for himself in just one season.
Sam Hartman - Washington Commanders - QB - FA
Hartman went undrafted in 2024 but signed with the Washington Commanders as a free agent before the season began. Washington eventually waived Hartman, and he joined their practice squad but was promoted to the active roster after an injury to Marcus Mariota in September. The Commanders waived Hartman again, and he rejoined the practice squad before formally signing a future/reserve contract with Washington in July 2025. Hartman hasn’t seen the field yet, but depending on how the QB situation works out, he may or may not have a spot in 2025.
2023 Draft Class - 6 Players
Michael Mayer - Las Vegas Raiders - TE - Round 02: Pick 035
Mayer was high across all the draft boards and was the 3rd overall TE picked, going to the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2nd round with the 35th overall pick. Mayer split reps with Austin Hooper and put up a quiet 27 catches for 304 yards and 2 touchdowns in just 14 games amidst a strange QB situation. 2024 was Mayer’s shot at the starting spot, but the Raiders drafted 2X Mackey award-winning, All-American TE from UGA, Brock Bowers. Bowers stole the job out from under him, and Mayer was forced to hold down the #2 spot for another season. Mayer missed four weeks between October and November for non-football-related reasons but still appeared in 11 games by the end of the year. He finished with 21 catches for 156 yards and zero touchdowns. It was a disappointing sophomore outing, but Mayer will have essentially the same situation next year. He’ll have to either beat out Bowers for the starting role, which seems unlikely, or excel at the backup position and draw interest from other teams looking for a starter.
Isaiah Foskey - New Orleans Saints - DE - Round 02: Pick 040
Foskey was drafted in 2023 by the New Orleans Saints in the 2nd round with the 40th overall pick. He earned rotational minutes at DE and played in eight of the first nine games of the season before leaving the Saints vs. Bears game with a quadricep injury. It kept him sidelined for several weeks and threw a wrench into the flow he’d reached up to that point. Foskey could only suit up for two more games in 2023 and finished the season with 10 games played, 10 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and 1 pass deflection.
2024 was a bounce-back season for Foskey. He managed to stay healthy and appeared in all 17 regular season games for the Saints. He improved with 16 total tackles but was unable to record any sacks. While it may not have been Foskey’s breakout season, he was able to improve over his rookie year and is currently projected as the 2nd string DE for 2025.
Jarrett Patterson - Houston Texans - OC/OG - Round 06: Pick 201
Patterson was drafted 201st overall in the 6th round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Houston Texans. He was named the starter for the 2023 season and played in his first eight games before going down with a fractured fibula. Thankfully, Patterson bounced back but lost his starting job at center to Juice Scruggs for 2024. Patterson only played in week 2 until Scruggs moved to LT and opened up the center role. Patterson held down the center spot and played eight games for the Texans to close out the regular season. Currently, Patterson is projected to maintain the starting center spot for 2025.
Blake Grupe - New Orleans Saints - PK - FA
Grupe signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent after going undrafted in 2023. He immediately became the starting kicker and had a stellar first season, going 40/40 on extra points and a respectable 30/37 on field goals after starting all 17 regular season games. Grupe Remained the starting kicker for the Saints in 2024, once again appearing in all 17 regular season games. While Grupe regressed slightly on extra points, going 31/33, he improved dramatically on field goals, hitting 27/31. That raised his field goal percentage from 81.1 in 2023 to 87.1 in 2024. All signs indicate Grupe holding onto his job with the Saints next season.
Brandon Aubrey - Dallas Cowboys - PK - FA
Brandon Aubrey was a Notre Dame student and accomplished men’s soccer player for four years from 2013 to 2016 and has arguably the most interesting path to the NFL on this list. Aubrey was selected 21st overall in the first round of the 2017 MLS draft by Toronto FC. He moved to the USL in 2018, signing with Bethlehem Steel FC before being released at the end of the 2018 season. He then switched from soccer to football and began to train as a kicker with hopes of making a professional team. Aubrey was eventually drafted in 2022 by the USFL Birmingham Stallions. He played 10 games, going 22/24 on extra point attempts (91.7) and 18/22 on field goals(81.8%). In his very first season, the stallions went all the way to the USFL Championship game and beat the Philadelphia Stars 33-30. Aubrey capped off an incredible regular season with a Championship performance of 2/3 on field goals and 3/4 on extra point attempts. He remained with the Stallions for the 2023 season, finishing 14/15 on field goals (93.3%) and 35/35 on extra-point attempts. The Stallions once again made it to the Championship game and won their second championship in as many years, 28-12. The success of the Birmingham Stallions and Aubrey‘s stellar two-season performance earned him a contract with the Dallas Cowboys in July 2023. He won the starting kicking job outright and played in all 17 regular season games. In that time, Aubrey went 36/38 on field goals (94.7%) and 49/52 on extra points (94.2) for a total of 157 points.
The 2024 season was similarly successful for Aubrey, playing in all 17 games once again and putting up similar numbers. His field goal rate dropped to 40/47 (85.1%) but improved to 30/30 on extra points. By the end of the regular season, Aubrey was tied for 1st place amongst all NFL kickers in extra point percentage, led the league with the longest field goal of the season with a 65-yarder, and was tied for second amongst kickers with 150 points. While Aubrey didn’t play football for the Fighting Irish, it’s incredibly unique to see a Notre Dame alumni and collegiate athlete go professional in his sport, change his mind, and go professional in a different sport he’d never played before. In a matter of three years, Brandon and Aubrey went from watching NFL games to winning back-to-back USFL championships and earning a starting spot on an NFL roster. If only the Irish coaching staff had been watching soccer practice between 2013 and 2016.
Chris Smith - Detroit Lions - DT - FA
Smith went undrafted in 2023 but was picked up by the Detroit Lions as a free agent. He was cut and signed to the practice squad in late August before going through a cycle of three more releases and re-signings. By the end of 2023, Smith had not appeared in any NFL games for the Lions and had gone through a similar cycle of leaving and rejoining before being signed to active duty in September 2024. He appeared in his first game in week one against the Los Angeles Rams, going on to play four more regular season games, including the Lions’ postseason match-up with the Washington Commanders. It was an up-and-down season for Smith, but he finished strong and may have carved out a place for himself with the Lions in 2025.
2022 Draft Class - 4 Players
Kyle Hamilton - Baltimore Ravens - S - Round 01: Pick 014
Kyle Hamilton is arguably one of the biggest NFL stars from Notre Dame. He was drafted 14th overall in round one of the 2022 draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Hamilton appeared in 16 games in his rookie season and put up impressive stats. He ended with 62 tackles, two sacks, one force fumble, and 5 pass deflections. The following year, he only appeared in 15 games but dramatically improved his numbers, racking up 81 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 13 pass deflections, and a whopping four interceptions. He once again improved across the board in 2024, playing in all 17 regular season games and both playoff matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills. As Hamilton enters his final year on his rookie contract, many believe he will reset the salary standard at the safety position. It’s obvious that Hamilton is a foundational mainstay in the Raven’s defense and will likely get a hefty contract that keeps him there for the foreseeable future.
Kyren Williams - Los Angeles Rams - RB - Round 05: Pick 164
Williams was drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft with the 164th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams. Unfortunately, Williams suffered a broken foot during June practice and was forced to undergo surgery, causing him to miss his first preseason slate. He made the starting roster for the season opener but suffered a high ankle sprain on his first kick return and was forced back onto injury reserves. Despite the injuries, Williams appeared in 10 games during the 2022 season, racking up 139 yards with a respectable 4-yard average and 9 pass receptions for 76 yards. It was an encouraging yet ultimately disappointing rookie season for Williams, but that feeling wouldn’t stick around for long.
The following year, Williams blew up. He started the season strong and only sustained a single injury during week six that kept him out for an extended period. By season's end, Williams appeared in 12 games, starting 11 of them and putting up a ridiculous 1,144 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Not only that, but he caught 32 passes for 206 yards and 3 receiving touchdowns. Needless to say, Williams shocked not only his team but the whole NFL with his performance and made him a steal as a pick from the fifth round.
2024 was an even better year for Williams. He began the season as the starting running back and appeared in 16 of the Rams' 17 regular season games and their playoff games against the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles. In the regular season alone, Williams racked up 1,299 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, along with 34 catches for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had four regular season games with 100+ rushing yards and a 5th in the playoffs against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Williams managed to put up career-bests in yards and touchdowns as well as receptions. He ended the regular season ranked 3rd in carries, 7th in rushing yards, and 5th in rushing touchdowns across the NFL. In three short seasons, Williams has managed to become one of the NFL’s best running backs.
Kevin Austin Jr. - New Orleans Saints - WR - FA
Austin went undrafted in 2022 but was picked up as a free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was waived and signed to the practice squad before securing a formal future/reserve contract in January 2023. He remained on the team through the preseason but was waived before the regular season began. After a year with the Jags practice squad, Austin began 2024 by signing a contract with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL. Austin appeared in 12 games for the Stallions and finished his first year with 253 yards and 2 touchdowns. After drawing NFL interest, Austin ended his contract with the Stallions to join the New Orleans Saints on a one-year deal. He was cut yet again in August of 2024 and signed with the practice squad before earning a promotion to the Saints active roster in December. By the end of the 2024 season, Austin played in eight games for NOLA and finished with 151 receiving yards and 9 rushing yards.
Kurt Hinish - Houston Texans - DT - 2022 - FA
Hinish went undrafted in 2022 but was signed as a free agent by the Houston Texans. He began the 2022 preseason as a backup but quickly earned first-team reps before the season started. As a rookie, he appeared in 15 games and finished with 23 tackles and 1 sack. In 2024, Hinish played 17 games, recording 22 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and one pass deflection. 2024 was a bit of a step back, as Hinish was sidelined for the season's first six games but finished strong with 10 starts. Despite his short window of availability, he managed to record 12 tackles. Hinish has performed well with the Texans defensive front and should have a healthier and longer 2025 season.
Next Article
In the next piece, we’ll cover the remaining 26 Irish players currently playing in the NFL and explore the course each has taken since leaving South Bend.
Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun
Comments