Yet another first round mock draft without a Fighting Irish player selected. This time it was CBS Sports Chris Trapasso guessing what teams will do in Las Vegas between Friday, April 23rd and Saturday, April 25th. In previous mock drafts TE Cole Kmet and DE Julian Okwara have seen their names projected into the first round, although not in the upper portion of it. Both players will be selected at some point in the draft, but at this moment it is unknown at what point they will be.
Although their Notre Dame careers are over, where former Irish players are drafted is still very important. It is a huge recruiting tool when schools are able to help their players make it to the next level, as the majority of collegiate players are trying to get paid to play. Since Kelly has taken over the Irish program in 2010, he has produced first round talent in 6 of the 10 drafts prior to this year’s selections. The hope is that Kmet and/or Okwara are picked in within the first 32 and is able to tout those facts to perspective Irish players.
I am a firm believer that if a player, like Kmet, declares early for a draft, they need to be selected in the first two rounds to justify leaving before their eligibility runs out. Kmet may go in the first round, as all you need is one team to fall in love, see Tim Tebow and Denver, but he will most likely see his named called in the second. Where do you see Kmet and Okwara landing in the NFL Draft?