ESPN NFL Draft analyst projects two Notre Dame players to get selected within first 20 picks
The hype for the 2025 NFL Draft class is already beginning to build, and the Notre Dame football program has two prospects worthy of the attention.
On Tuesday, ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller published a 2025 NFL Mock Draft, citing his growing knowledge of next year’s class as the reason behind his latest release.
According to Miller’s projections, Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison and quarterback Riley Leonard have the potential to come off the board within the first 20 picks next spring. Here is where MIller had them landing.
Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison, No. 13 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers
Miller used ESPN’s Football Power Index to predict next year’s draft order, which has the Steelers drafting at No. 13. With that choice, he likes Pittsburgh to pick Morrison, the third cornerback taken.
“Pittsburgh has Joey Porter Jr., Donte Jackson and Cameron Sutton there, but both Jackson and Sutton are short-term solutions; the Steelers really need a long-term, high-upside running mate for Porter,” Miller said. “Morrison has big-time talent with nine career interceptions over two seasons of starting, and his 13 pass breakups in 2023 tied for eighth in the league.”
Entering the 2024 season, NFL Draft insiders expect the cornerback class to be among the top position groups. Miller has Michigan’s Will Johnson going No. 3 to the Denver Broncos and the Arizona Cardinals choosing Colorado’s Travis Hunter, who could also play wide receiver, at No. 9 overall. Like Morrison, Johnson and Hunter are both underclassmen.
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The last time the Irish had a cornerback selected in the first round was when the Buffalo Bills took Jeff Burris with the No. 27 pick in the 1994 NFL Draft. Morrison’s father, Darryl Morrison, also played safety in the NFL for Washington in the mid-90s. The elder Morrison attended the University of Arizona.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard, No. 20 overall, New York Jets
Despite injuries in 2023 derailing Leonard’s bid for the 2024 NFL Draft, Miller has the new Notre Dame passer hearing his name called at No. 20 overall to the New York Jets this year.
“Aaron Rodgers is turning 41 years old this season and will be coming off a torn Achilles,” Miller said. “Sure, he might play several more seasons, but the Jets still have to think long-term about the roster. That means being prepared for his eventual exit.
“Leonard, a transfer from Duke, has been talked about by scouts for two seasons as a potential first-rounder. He played in seven games last season, missing time with ankle and toe injuries, and he struggled with just three touchdown passes and three interceptions. But the accuracy, mobility and decision-making he showed in 2022 have scouts believing he’s ready to break out in a new scheme.”
That would certainly be welcome news for the Notre Dame football program. It has not had a quarterback selected in the first round since the Cleveland Browns selected Brady Quinn with the No. 22 overall pick in 2007.
Miller projected Georgia’s Carson Beck (No. 1, Giants), Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders (No. 2, Raiders), Texas’ Quinn Ewers (No. 10, Saints) and Texas A&M’s Conner Weigman (No. 19, Rams) to all go ahead of Leonard.
