Irish Mock Draft: Day 3
- Noah Wehby
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
As time winds down before the NFL draft, it is time to look at which Notre Dame players could land in the later rounds of the draft, as teams try to find value and underrated talent.
Notre Dame will make their mark in this draft by delivering the first two running backs off the board. With that, Malachi Fields will be in the mix on day two of the draft as one of the better wide receivers available in that range. After that, Notre Dame and its fans could see up to three more players taken on day three of the draft. While many of these players are seen as depth pieces or even players that will have to fight over the summer for a roster spot, they could also turn out to be potential steals.
Billy Schrauth: Buffalo Bills (R4, P126)
At this point in the draft, it is almost impossible to accurately predict the outcome of these later round picks, but Schrauth could be an excellent candidate to be selected as a late third or fourth round pick. While there are a lot of teams that need extra help along the offensive line, Schrauth could be exactly what the Bills are looking for.
The Buffalo Bills would be the perfect fit for Schrauth in the fourth round. Not only are the Bills picking right in the range where Schrauth is projected to go, but they are also a great scheme fit for his strengths. While Schrauth is a physical blocker, he shines brightest in pass-protection. In 2025, he allowed no sacks, an attractive stat for a team that has struggled to keep their MVP-caliber QB upright. The Bills are one of the most pass-heavy teams in the NFL, so Schrauth would fit in perfectly with that offense, adding strength to a team that needs depth on its interior offensive line. The Bills would most likely not be asking Schrauth to start, but he does project to have some high-floor qualities that could see him in a rotational role much sooner than expected.
Eli Raridon: New England Patriots (R4, P131)
With the Patriots picking twice in the fourth round, it could be the perfect time for them to shore up some depth spots while also taking a chance on a player like Raridon. Yes, this is probably on the optimistic side of things when it comes to Raridon's draft projection, but there are reasons why it works.
Raridon is a big, athletic tight end who excels in the passing game. While being 6'7", he moves well for his size and rarely drops the ball, giving defenses a unique weapon to account for. The Patriots already have two solid tight ends under contract with Hunter Henry and newly signed Julian Hill. Henry is an expensive tight end on the wrong side of 30, prompting many to believe the Patriots will be looking for replacements in the future. If the Patriots do draft Raridon, they would have to thrust him into a playing role right away. Raridon would be given the time he needs to adjust to the NFL game while developing his blocking skills, which need serious work. The Patriots run a lot of 12-personnel lineups, meaning there are two tight ends on the field at the same time. With Raridon's limitations blocking, these lineups would suit him well if he were paired with a tight end that excelled at blocking, like Julian Hill.
Aamil Wagner: New York Giants (R6, P192)
Aamil Wagner still has a long way to go in terms of becoming an NFL-level starter on the offensive line. While true, he does possess some important qualities that could play a huge role in his development over the coming years. With a sixth-round pick, the Giants could use that pick to see if they can tap into his potential.
The Giants have been searching for answers along the offensive line for years now. Last year, they finally showed that they may have begun to find some of those answers, especially with right tackle Jermiane Eluemunor, who recently signed a three-year deal to keep him in New York. While that means he will be the starter for the foreseeable future, the Giants are still looking for more depth along the entire offensive line. Wagner could be a good option for the Giants to take late in the draft as a purely experimental player. With a sixth-round pick, there are no real consequences if it does not work out for the Giants. If Wagner does tap into the potential he has and uses his great athleticism to become a quality player at the pro level, it would be one of the best value picks of the whole draft.
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