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Newsstand: Where ESPN ranks Notre Dame football's NFL Draft hopefuls

Kyle Kellyby:Kyle Kelly•04/21/25•

ByKyleKelly

Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watson
Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison (left) and graduate student safety Xavier Watts (right). (Mike Miller/Blue & Gold)

It’s officially NFL Draft week. On Thursday, the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off with all seven rounds running through Saturday. In total, 19 former Notre Dame football players hope to hear their names called with one of the 257 NFL Draft picks. 

Entering the draft, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller ranked the top 600 players. Here is where the former Fighting Irish standouts slotted:

Miller tapped Watts as the best former Notre Dame player in this year’s NFL Draft. Though the 6-foot, 204-pound Watts was one of college football’s best safeties the last two years, Miller gave him a second-round grade. 

“It’s hard to find a player more productive at his position in the 2025 class than Watts,” Miller said. “The 2023 Bronko Nagurski winner had 12 interceptions in his last two college seasons and only allowed nine receptions in his coverage in 2024 with no touchdowns against. Watts doesn’t have amazing size or speed, but his instincts and agility are ideal for a starting free safety in the NFL.”

Before Morrison injured his hip last season, pundits viewed him as a sure-fire first-round pick. But like Watts, Morrison received a second-round grade. 

“Morrison played six games in 2024 before a hip labrum injury ended his season,” Miller said. “He was highly productive in the previous two seasons (nine interceptions), and he has the prototypical size, length and speed to play corner in man or zone schemes. There are valid injury concerns, but Morrison’s tape is terrific. Don’t be surprised if he sneaks into the back end of Round 1.

Miller did not include the following former Notre Dame players in his rankings: running back Devyn Ford, wide receiver Jayden Harrison, defensive back Rod Heard II, running back Max Hurleman, kicker Mitch Jeter, wide receiver Kris Mitchell, tight end Davis Sherwood, safety Antonio Carter (Jacksonville State) and linebacker Osita Ekwonu (Charlotte). 

Notre Dame Posts of the Weekend

The Irish baseball team swept Stanford last weekend.

Taylor (Pa.) Riverside three-star Tavian Branch announced a scholarship offer from Notre Dame football on Sunday. The 6-foot-3½, 300-pound Branch is the No. 21 player in Pennsylvania, No. 68 interior offensive lineman nationally and No. 695 overall player in the 2026 class, per the On3 Industry Ranking. The Irish recruit him as a defensive lineman. 

Former Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard has been training for QB Country in preparation for the NFL Draft.

Notre Dame Quote of the Weekend 

“Thank you for an amazing 3 years in South Bend wearing the blue and gold. It has truly been an incredible journey as a student-athlete at Notre Dame and I am eternally grateful for the memories made along the way.”

— Former Irish quarterback Steve Angeli bid farewell to the program on Saturday with his transfer portal announcement.

Notre Dame Headlines of the Weekend

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