Notre Dame football has lost a lot of talent to the 2024 NFL Draft class and while that's not necessarily the best news for the Irish heading into the upcoming season, it's great for Marcus Freeman's recruiting efforts.
The more players you get drafted, the more high-profile prospects want to come play for you.
Freeman will soon find that out as he has a handful of players ready to hear their names called in the draft this weekend. But where could each of them land?
Rounds 1-2
- Joe Alt, OT (Prediction: Top-10 pick)
There are a number of teams that would love to have someone like Joe Alt at tackle for the forseeable future, but he'll likely be limited to the franchises selecting in the top 10. Some scouting services even have Alt as a top-five prospect heading into this weekend's draft, but I see him going in that 5-10 range. Where will he go? It's hard to say, but I'd go with No. 7 overall to the Titans. A left tackle is the team's biggest priority and Alt is an elite one.
- Blake Fisher, OT (Prediction: Late-second round)
On the other side of Alt this season was talented right tackle Blake Fisher who projects to play either side in the NFL. That versatility will likely have him getting his name called in the late-second round. He has good size at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds and he moves well, running a 5.2 40-yard dash at the Combine. An interesting spot for him would be the 49ers at No. 63 overall in the second round.
Rounds 3-5
These guys should be selected in the middle rounds in this weekend's draft in Detroit. The Irish have a few fringe guys who could rise up into the first three rounds, but will likely slide into the 3-5 range.
- Audric Estime, RB (Prediction: Fourth round)
I may be a little higher on Audric Estime than most and that's because his 40-time wasn't all that special (4.71) but he was the fifth-best running back in total score at the combine, per NFL.com. His collegiate production speaks for itself as well, pushing for the Doak Walker Award in 2023. He was one of the most bruising backs in the nation and I think he has the body and potential to really make a name for himself in the NFL. I'm going with a fourth-round pick to a team like the New York Giants.
- Cam Hart, CB (Prediction: Fourth round)
Cam Hart is another guy who has loads of potential but who will be selected in the middle rounds. He should be able to make a roster for the upcoming season and I wouldn't be shocked to see him as a starting cornerback in the NFL in a couple of years. He didn't have the best Combine performance which may have hurt his stock, but he's an early-round talent who will slip to round four. Plenty of teams could use a cornerback like the Giants, Patriots, Vikings, Rams, Chargers, Raiders, and Chiefs.
- Marist Liufau, LB (Prediction: Fifth round)
Another guy who didn't have the best Combine results, Marist Liufau will be looking to find the right fit at the NFL level and he'll be a fifth-rounder, in my opinion. He's slightly smaller than what teams might be looking for at 6-2 and 234 pounds, but he packs a punch. I could see him even slipping to the sixth round, but he has the look of a fifth-round guy.
- Sam Hartman, QB (Prediction: Fifth round)
Am I crazy for this prediction? Sam Hartman was the only quarterback who ran the 40-yard dash at the Combine and he put up an impressive 4.80 time. He's athletic and has a strong arm and I just don't think he gets enough respect when it comes to talking about draft prospects. Is he a day-one starter in the NFL? No, but he does have the talent to be a starter down the line. I think he's improved his stock enough to slide into that fifth-round range. Teams like the Broncos, Patriots, Commanders, Raiders, Saints, and Vikings could take serious looks.
Rounds 6-7
Not forgotten, here are the late-round prospects for Notre Dame football.
- Javontae Jean-Baptiste, EDGE (Prediction: Sixth round)
For someone who has all the tools to be a star, Javontae Jean-Baptiste will be a late-round steal for one lucky team in the sixth. Scouts will likely want to see him add some muscle as he tended to get bullied on occasion on the edge, but he has the athleticism to make up for it and he'll be worth the late-round risk for a team looking to add depth at the position.
- JD Bertrand, LB (Prediction: Seventh round)
There have been talks about JD Bertrand being an early Day 3 pick, but I think he'll slide down to the seventh round. He has the talent to be a solid linebacker at the next level, but he doesn't have the best range. He's just a solid linebacker who produces consistently, but comes up short in some athletic categories. He'll be a solid pick in round seven.