Day 2-3 NFL Draft Recap: Where Did Every Notre Dame Player End Up?

Noah Wehby
8 minutes ago
3 min read

The 2026 NFL Draft has concluded, and with that, many former Fighting Irish veterans have moved on to the next stage of their careers. Let's take a look at where everyone ended up and what their role could potentially be.

Photo via Charlie Banks

Malachi Fields - New York Giants

Malachi Fields was one of the more intriguing day-two prospects of this draft, as he fluctuated from being a late first-rounder to a third-round pick. It turns out that Fields ended up in the third round to the New York Giants. While it's probably further than he would have liked to go, the Giants are a great spot for Fields. Fields presents as a solid to very good outside wide receiver who could be a real target in the red zone. With his great size and athleticism, he could be a matchup nightmare for a lot of cornerbacks in the NFL. The Giants have been looking for a weapon like Fields for years now. Paired alongside superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers, Fields will have a real opportunity to make his presence known from the jump in New York. The Giants needed to upgrade Jaxson Dart's options on the outside; they may have just done it with Fields in the third round.

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Eli Raridon - New England Patriots

Eli Raridon is a perfect fit for what the Patriots need now and in their long-term future. While it was earlier than expected for Raridon to be selected, he does provide the Patriots with a new passing target for their emerging superstar QB Drake Maye. Raridon does have his flaws as a blocker, but he possesses a lot of interesting traits and could be a game-changer in the passing game. Standing at 6'7", Raridon is a huge target with great hands and the awareness to get open down the field. Although making it all the way to the Super Bowl, the Patriots' offense often got bogged down last season. With Raridon, they are hoping he can become a reliable option in the passing game to keep the chains moving in tough third-down situations.

Billy Schrauth - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In the fifth round, Schrauth finally heard his name called, landing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Schrauth has his strengths, but as a fifth-round pick, he will have his work cut out for him to see the field in the 2026 season. The Buccaneers' offensive line was one of the strengths of their team last season, so it is unlikely to see much change in 2026. With that being said, this could be a good thing for Schrauth. With an offensive line room like the Buccaneers', Schrauth will have plenty of opportunities to continue to learn and develop as a player. He will be offering them depth and versatility for now, but it will be interesting to see if he could potentially develop into a player worthy of starting in the NFL.

Gabriel Rubio - Pittsburgh Steelers

In a little bit of a shock, Gabe Rubio heard his name called on day three, making it six total Notre Dame players selected in the 2026 draft. While Rubio was an underrated player for the Irish, that does not mean he didn't play a crucial role at Notre Dame. Rubio is an old-school type of defensive lineman. He is a gritty, tough, and hardworking interior player who shows real strength in the run game. While he does not have a lot of snaps rushing the passer, he is a mauler in the run game and has shown a real ability to muddy up the line of scrimmage. The defensive line has been a strength of the Steelers for what feels like an eternity, so Rubio has an excellent chance to learn a lot from players like Cameron Hayward. Rubio is not the flashiest pick, but he just feels like a Steeler already.

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