New ESPN full NFL mock draft includes five Notre Dame players

The 2022 NFL Draft begins in just more than 24 hours. A few final predictions “are in,” to borrow the famous “the pick is in” phrase used each year by the event.

Matt Miller, an ESPN NFL Draft analyst, released a full seven-round mock draft on Tuesday, which includes five former Notre Dame players — three on offense and two on defense. Here are their landing spots.

S Kyle Hamilton — Washington Commanders (Round 1, No. 11)

Washington is becoming a more common prediction for Hamilton by the day. Miller believes the standout safety will not be a top-10 selection and will make his way back to the East Coast.

The fit: It’s pretty perfect. The Commanders definitely need help in the secondary. They added former first-rounder William Jackson last season, but additional bodies would be helpful especially after moving Landon Collins into more of a hybrid linebacker/safety capacity at the end of last season. They could also go for a cornerback here, but it would be hard to pass on Hamilton if he falls this far.

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QB Jack Coan — Tennessee Titans (Round 5, No. 169)

You probably didn’t have Coan as the second Notre Dame prospect to come off the board on your NFL Draft bingo card, but Miller thinks it’s possible.

The fit: Coan will mesh with whatever locker room he finds himself in. Tennessee currently has three other quarterbacks on the roster: starter Ryan Tannehill (10-year veteran), Kevin Hogan (four-year veteran) and Logan Woodside (two-year veteran). The Titans have remained committed to Tannehill as their starter for 2022, but the clock is ticking. The need likely isn’t great enough to take a quarterback early, but Coan could be a valuable add on Saturday.

DT Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa — Houston Texans (via New England/Tampa Bay) (Round 5, No. 170)

Coming in just after Coan is the 6-2, 268-pound defensive lineman out of Hawaii. Tagovailoa-Amosa earned a reputation as a tweener — not a clear defensive tackle or defensive end — last fall, but quelled some of those fears with his NFL Combine and pro day performances.

The fit: Houston needs help everywhere. That’s why they hold the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. But they could use multiple new defensive linemen, especially guys with pass rushing capabilities. The Texans are likely to spend one of their three picks over the first 37 selections overall on an edge rusher. Odds are they come back for more in a later round, and who wouldn’t want the energy Tagovailoa-Amosa brings to a locker room?

WR Kevin Austin Jr. — Indianapolis Colts (Round 5, No. 179)

Miller believes the end of the fifth round could be huge for Notre Dame, with Austin coming off the board as the final selection before the start of the sixth.

The fit: Austin’s landing spot will be a team looking for a coachable second or third option on the boundary. The Colts could use that. Michael Pittman Jr. is entering his third year in the NFL after catching 88 balls for 1,082 yards last year.

Behind the 6-4, 223-pound former second-round pick out of USC? Dezmon Patmon caught just two balls last year after being injured for the majority of the season. Parris Campbell hasn’t really worked out in the slot, and it’s an otherwise rather desolate room. While he’s best outside, Austin played a bit in the slot last season if he needs to fill in (21.8 percent of his snaps). Day 2 or Day 3 would be the perfect time to grab someone like the 6-3, 198-pound wideout.

RB Kyren Williams — Los Angeles Chargers (Round 6, No. 195)

Interestingly, Miller has Williams as the last Notre Dame prospect to come off the board in Las Vegas, believing he will go to the Chargers in the sixth round with the No. 195 pick.

The fit: The Chargers were a very pass-heavy team last season, with Justin Herbert one of just two quarterbacks in the NFL to throw for more than 5,000 yards. The other was Tom Brady.

Los Angeles isn’t looking for a Day 1 starter at running back. They have that in Austin Ekeler, who ranked 12th in the NFL last year in rushing and spends a lot of time in the slot as well. Backups Josh Kelley and Larry Rountree III haven’t produced much since their arrivals in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

What they could use, however, is a shifty young back able to come in and learn or step into a reserve role. Williams’ pass-catching abilities are valuable for any team, and Ekeler is one of the best in the league to serve as a teacher for the soon-to-be rookie.