Irish in the NFL: Top 10 returning former Notre Dame players

At the moment, there are 48 former Notre Dame players on active rosters across 24 NFL teams. Eight of them are rookies, after safety Kyle Hamilton was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens and running back Kyren Williams was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in this year’s draft. Six others signed as undrafted free agents.

There is excitement with that group, but what about the former Irish players who have been around a bit longer? Here is a look at the top 10 returning NFL players who spent their college time at Notre Dame.

10. Cole Kmet — Chicago Bears TE

Kmet grabbed the starting spot in the Bears lineup last season and nearly tripled his receiving yardage from his rookie year in 2020. He had 612 receiving years last season, which was 12th in the NFL at his position despite missing a few games. The 6-6, 260-pound tight end is the only member of the 2020 tight end draft class to have already eclipsed 500 receiving yards. He has 855.

The Bears have an underwhelming group of receivers this year (sorry, former Irish star Equanimeous St. Brown), so look for Chicago to utilize Kmet even more this season.

9. Mike McGlinchey — San Francisco 49ers OT

McGlinchey will return in 2022 after suffering a torn quadriceps last November. Prior to the injury, the 6-8, 310-pound lineman was uncharacteristically poor in the run-blocking game last season, a facet of his play that is typically above average. McGlinchey hasn’t been quite the same since 2020; his first two years in the NFL were elite. If he can right the ship, the Pennsylvania native will slide back up this list.

8. Chase Claypool — Pittsburgh Steelers WR

At 6-4 and 238 pounds, Claypool is the prototypical boundary receiver. He has become just that in two years for the Steelers. Claypool caught 59 balls for 860 yards over 15 games in 2021. He led the Steelers in yards per catch by a wide margin, coming in at 14.6.

7. Drue Tranquill — Los Angeles Chargers LB

With Kyzir White gone to the Philadelphia Eagles, Tranquill is Los Angeles’ third-leading returning tackler and top tackler outside of the secondary; he made 76 stops in 2021 and made double-digit tackles multiple times, but he also had a few one-tackle games.

Tranquill will be 27 at the start of the NFL season, and the veteran will be called upon to lead the Chargers young linebacker room. If he can play more consistent football, he will make a huge mark on the program this year.

6. Jerry Tillery — Los Angeles Chargers DT

The Chargers did not exercise Tillery‘s fifth-year option, but he can still make a huge impact next season with the team, per general manager Tom Telesco. Tillery recorded 4.5 sacks last season, second on the team behind star linebacker Joey Bosa. He also had 51 tackles, his best number to date. Clearly, Tillery is trending up. If he can build on 2021, he could hit the free agency market after next season and test his value. Los Angeles might even want to keep him.

5. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah — Cleveland Browns LB

When Owusu-Koramoah fell to the second round in the 2021 NFL Draft, the “steal of the draft” talk started. By and large, the sentiment seems to have been correct.

The 6-2, 220-pound lengthy linebacker, who doubles as a “rover” as needed, made 76 stops with 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles over 14 games during his inaugural season. He made a total of 10 starts and spent part of the season on the reserve/COVID-19 list. In other words, the damage could have been worse. The performance landed him on PFF’s All-Rookie Team.

4. Ronnie Stanley — Baltimore Ravens OT

The fact that Stanley is this high on the list despite a career plagued by injuries is a huge testament to his talent. The former first-round selection played in just six games in 2020 and one game in 2021 after electing to have season-ending ankle surgery.

The Ravens believe he will be back to full strength this fall, and if he is, he is one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL. He’s certainly one of the highest paid; Stanley currently makes $19.8 million per season, which is fourth in the league among offensive linemen.

3. Harrison Smith — Minnesota Vikings SAF

Ten years after being chosen in the first round by the Vikings, Smith continues to make a huge impact in the NFL. The 6-2, 211-pound safety recorded 114 tackles in 2021, a career high. He had not broken 100 since his rookie season in 2012. In total, Smith had 89 solo tackles, which was fourth in the NFL.

And he’s not going anywhere any time soon. In August 2021, Smith signed a four-year, $64 million contract extension, making him the second-highest paid safety in the NFL behind Jamal Adams of the Seattle Seahawks.

2. Zack Martin — Dallas Cowboys G

Martin had the second-best PFF grade among guards in the NFL (93.4) and was tied for first in the run blocking-grade category (92.5).

On the whole, the 6-4, 315-pound lineman has played 7,869 snaps in his career and given up just nine sacks. He’s a seven-time Pro-Bowler, and the only time he hasn’t earned the honor was due to a calf injury. Martin made the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s. To say he’s a staple in the league would be an understatement.

1. Quenton Nelson — Indianapolis Colts G

Nelson is the poster child for the “Notre Dame is Offensive Line U” argument. And with good reason. He’s a generational talent. Going into the 2021 season, Nelson was the best offensive guard in the NFL according to PFF’s Sam Monson. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the same position this year.

The former No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft continues to be one of the top pass protectors in the NFL. The guard played 767 snaps last season for the Colts and allowed just one sack. In total over his four-year career, Nelson has notched 4,029 snaps and allowed four sacks. That’s less than one sack every 1,000 snaps.