Newsstand: Four Notre Dame players make PFF’s way-too-early 2025 NFL Draft top-50 big board

IMG_7504by:Jack Soble•05/01/24•

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As soon as the 2024 NFL Draft cycle ends, the 2025 NFL Draft cycle begins. And the first round of rankings indicates that several Notre Dame players could come off the board early.

Here are the Fighting Irish who made Pro Football Focus’ way-too-early 2025 top-50 big board, according to PFF college football analyst Max Chadwick.

RankingPlayerPosition
No. 8Benjamin MorrisonCB
No. 33Mitchell EvansTE
No. 37Howard Cross IIIDT
No. 41Xavier WattsS

Morrison is a consensus projected first-round pick after intercepting nine passes in the past two seasons. He’s PFF’s second-ranked cornerback behind only Michigan’s Will Johnson, who ranks fourth overall.

“Morrison’s posted an 86.8 single-coverage grade since 2022, which paces all returning Power Five corners,” Chadwick wrote. On seven targets against [Ohio State wide receiver] Marvin Harrison Jr. over the last two years, he had more forced incompletions (three) than allowed catches (two). While there’s work to do as a tackler, Morrison has elite ball skills for the position.

“He and Johnson could be top-10 picks in 2025 and [would] likely be the first corners off the board this year if eligible.”

Evans is the second-ranked tight end on the board, behind only Michigan’s Colston Loveland. Cross is the fourth-ranked defensive tackle, and Watts is the fourth-ranked safety.

For PFF’s full top-50 big board, click here.

Notre Dame tweets of the day

Add one more to a long list of accolades for Pat Kavanagh.

Liam Entenmenn had a terrific regular season for Notre Dame men’s lacrosse as well.

Decision mode for Mark Zackery, who is considered a Fighting Irish lean.

Quote of the day

“They have a winning culture. It means more than football there with the degree, the coaches, the players, small campus and the prestige that they have there.”

— Zackery on Notre Dame

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