ESPN predicts two Notre Dame players selected in NFL draft’s 1st round

One not a surprise and one definitely is

The college football season is still a few months away, the NFL season almost the same, but ESPN is already looking ahead to who could be selected in the first round of the NFL draft.

Matt Miller, who compiled the list, unsurprisingly has Notre Dame cornerback [autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] getting selected with the No. 13 pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He believes that pairing the Irish star with Joey Porter Jr. will solidify their secondary.

The surprise was seven picks later, as Miller projects that quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] will be the No. 20 pick by the New York Jets. Not many view the Duke transfer as a potential first round pick, but the talent is there.

Miller believes he makes a big jump this fall, saying that Leonard’s “accuracy, mobility and decision-making he showed in 2022 have scouts believing he’s ready to break out in a new scheme.” We would love to see that, both for Notre Dame and Leonard.

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