Tag: notre dame in nfl

ESPN’s McShay projects one Notre Dame star selected in 1st Round

There was one rising Irish star that is projected by ESPN’s Todd McShay to be selected early in next year’s NFL Draft.

We know that there is considerable hype for Irish defender Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah coming into the 2020 season. You can add ESPN’s Todd McShay as a fan of JOK’s work last year and what his future could be at the next level.

McShay mocked JOK to the Atlanta Falcons with the 13th overall pick (insider article) and if McShay is correct, Owusu-Koramoah would be the highest Irish defender drafted since Bryant Young was selected 7th overall all the way back in 1994. McShay believes that the Falcon’s need more linebacker depth and JOK would help them immensely.

The review of Owusu-Koramoah is very favorable as he “is instinctive and fast, with strong recognition skills. He’s all over the field and has the chance to be an every-down impact player,” said McShay. This is all on the heels of JOK’s breakout junior campaign where he tied for the team lead in tackles and had 5.5 sacks. As long as JOK continues his upward trajectory, he should be selected very early in next year’s NFL Draft.

NFL Draft: Five Notre Dame Players Taken in Latest DraftWire Mock

43rd – Chicago Bears – Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
The Bears did just sign Jimmy Graham to a deal which means the Bears do in fact still have plenty of questions at tight end.

Good news:  we’ve made it to NFL Draft month with the event now less than three weeks from getting underway.

Bad news:  until then we’ll all be told rumors and be given mock drafts and we’ll use those in trying to figure out where we think each players are going to end up.

Enter:  The latest 2020 NFL Mock Draft to look at in regards to Notre Dame prospects.  This one courtesy of USA TODAY’s Draft Wire.

No former Notre Dame players are selected in the first round of this mock draft that actually goes four rounds deep.  We see a couple names pop up in round two however:

43rd – Chicago Bears – Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
The Bears did just sign Jimmy Graham to a deal which means the Bears do in fact still have plenty of questions at tight end.

54th – Buffalo Bills – Julian Okwara, Edge, Notre Dame
I know the Bills have won nothing in Okwara’s lifetime but getting a spot as an edge rusher on that defensive line would be one of the best potential landing spots for him in terms of having a path to early success.

Round three sees another pair of Notre Dame players go in this particular mock draft.

82nd – Dallas Cowboys – Chase Claypool, WR/TE, Notre Dame
I don’t have a lot of belief that Claypool will last until 82 but everyone is entitled to their own opinions.  What I did find interesting in this pick was the author choosing to list Claypool at both wide receiver and tight end after a monster showing at the NFL Rookie Combine.

86th – Buffalo Bills – Troy Pride, Jr., CB, Notre Dame
There aren’t many better defenses to get to be a part of than Buffalo’s if you’re a young player.  For an undersized corner with great speed he’d have a chance to succeed here at a nickel spot.  I like it.

The final pick in this mock draft (it went through round four) happens in the fourth round.

132nd – Minnesota Vikings – Khalid Kareem, Edge, Notre Dame
A decade or so ago the Vikings were a hotbed for Notre Dame players to end up as they selected four former Fighting Irish from 2008-2012.  They have not taken one since selecting Harrison Smith in 2012, however (not that it means anything in regards to this specific draft).