Notre Dame 2025 NFL Draft Recap

Liam Farrell
Apr 27
2 min read

Six Fighting Irish players were selected in the 2025 class, as Notre Dame continues to be the college that produces the most NFL Draft picks.

Photo by The Irish Tribune

While no Notre Dame players were selected on night one of the NFL Draft, two Fighting Irish defensive backs were taken during day two.

Benjamin Morrison was the first Notre Dame player taken off the board, as he was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 53rd overall pick.

Morrison, who fell to the second round due primarily to health concerns, held a Pro-Day style workout in his home state of Arizona last week. While the superstar cornerback was sidelined for most of the year with a hip injury, Morrison's potential still allowed him to be selected early on the second day of the draft.

Quickly following Morrison, another All-American in the Notre Dame secondary was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the 96th overall pick, Xavier Watts.

Watts, the ball-hawking safety, will now team up with Jessie Bates III in Atlanta to provide the safety net for the Falcons' defense.

On day three of the draft, Notre Dame captain Jack Kiser was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round. In the fifth round, two Fighting Irish players were chosen, with Rylie Mills going to the Seattle Seahawks, and Mitchell Evans, who will reunite with former Notre Dame tight end Tommy Tremble on the Carolina Panthers.

Notre Dame's final player selected during the 2025 NFL Draft was captain Riley Leonard, who was picked 189th overall by the Indianapolis Colts.

After the draft's conclusion, three Notre Dame players signed UDFA contracts. Howard Cross III will be reuniting with former defensive coordinator Al Golden in Cincinnati with the Bengals. Jordan Clark signed a deal with the New York Jets, and Beaux Collins signed a deal with their crosstown rival, the New York Giants.

Additionally, two more Fighting Irish players received Rookie Mini Camp invites, as Mitch Jeter received one from the Minnesota Vikings, and RJ Oben received one from the Kansas City Chiefs.

As the 2025 Draft process came to a close, 11 Notre Dame players will receive their shot at making it to an NFL roster.