Notre Dame football expert projections for 2025 NFL Draft: When will Riley Leonard, Xavier Watt, Benjamin Morrison and co. headline the big board?

Notre Dame went the transfer route last season and hoped quarterback Sam Hartman would help them win a national title. It didn’t work out for Notre Dame or Hartman. And while the quarterback went undrafted, the Irish did have the fifth pick of the draft in Joe Alt. They could end up with another top-10 pick next April.

Notre Dame football preview for 2025 NFL Draft

Benjamin Morrison

NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Duke - Source: Imagn

Benjamin Morrison has all the makings of a shutdown corner and an early first-round pick. The junior, already being graded as a top-10 pick by some NFL scouts, measures six feet tall and just a hair under 190 pounds and possesses excellent ball skills. He’s fluid, sticks to receivers all over the field, and does a terrific job making plays with his back to the ball. Morrison is instinctive, tough, and has an upside. Based on his film, it’s understandable why he’s considered a top-10 prospect.

Mitchell Evans

Syndication: South Bend Tribune - Source: Imagn

Upside is something I’m not sure Mitchell Evans has, rather the tight end is near a complete player at his position. He has legitimate next-level size at 6-foot-5.5 and 260 pounds, does a terrific job blocking, and also catches the ball very well. Evans is not a downfield threat and won’t beat linebackers in a footrace, but he has the potential to be a No. 2 tight end on Sundays.

Riley Leonard

Syndication: South Bend Tribune - Source: Imagn

For the second consecutive season, Notre Dame brings in a high-profile quarterback, luring former Duke signal caller Riley Leonard to South Bend. Leonard is a super-athletic quarterback with excellent size and arm strength. He did a good job at Duke despite mostly inferior talent around him. Riley is as good running with the ball as he is passing it, and that’s not meant as a compliment. He has a huge upside, but he needs a lot of polish and development throwing the ball if he’s going to be a top-75 pick.

Notre Dame 2025 NFL Draft projections by Tony Pauline

Notre Dame Pro Prospects
Grade	Rnd	Pos	Full Name	Yr	#
4.21	1st	CB	Benjamin Morrison	3Jr	20
3.58	4th	TE	Mitchell Evans	4Sr	88
3.53	4th	QB	Riley Leonard	4Sr	13
3.42	5th	S	Xavier Watt	5Sr	0
3.41	5th	G	Pat Coogan	4Jr	78
3.36	6th	DT	Howard Cross III	5Sr	56
3.35	6th	WR	Beaux Collins	4Sr	80
3.34	6th	DT	Rylie Mills	5Sr	99
3.29	7th	DE	RJ Oben	6Sr	5
3.28	7-FA	ILB	Jack Kiser	6Sr	24
3.04	FA	WR	Jayden Thomas	4Jr	83
3.02	FA	WR	Kris Mitchell	5Sr	10
3.00	FA	CB	Rod Heard	5Sr	24
2.98	FA	DE	Jordan Botelho	5Sr	12
2.93	FA	CB	Jordan Clark	5Sr	1