Six Notre Dame stars are projected NFL draft picks, including a Heisman finalist running back and a dynamic receiver. See who lands where.
We're eight days away from the 2026 NFL Draft and there's hundreds of former collegiate standouts hoping to hear their name called within the seven rounds of the ensuing draft. Amongst those are several former Notre Dame players who have a good chance of being drafted, some higher than others. Dane Brugler from the Athletic recently released his seven-round NFL mock draft which featured six former Fighting Irish standouts who will be taken in the upcoming draft.
No. 7 - Running Back Jeremiyah Love, Washington Commanders
Love has remained a Top 10 NFL draft pick since the first mock drafts started to be released. He's the consensus No. 1 overall running back in the 2026 draft class and his performance at the NFL Combine down in Indianapolis and his career long production in South Bend back that up. He finished his collegiate career as one of the most prolific backs in Notre Dame history bringing home the first ever Doak Walker Award and finished as a Heisman Finalist.
The St. Louis native brings franchise-level talent to the running back room, something that's been lacking with Washington for quite some time. They'd be bringing in a running back that totaled 2,882 rushing yards, 594 receiving yards and 42 total touchdowns in three years with the Fighting Irish and that was with sharing a backfield in 2024 and 2025 with very, very productive players.
No. 54 - Wide Receiver Malachi Fields, Philadelphia Eagles
With the future of star wideout AJ Brown uncertain, bringing in a big-bodied receiver to compliment standout DeVonta Smith would be a solid move in the second round. Fields was a very productive player throughout his college career both with Virginia and with Notre Dame. The 6-4, 223-pound boundary receiver totaled 2,479 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns during his five-year collegiate career and looks to replicate that production at the next level.
Fields didn't have the season many, myself included, thought he would when he arrived in South Bend, but when you have two potential first-round draft picks at running back, it becomes understandable. Still, his playmaking ability was on full display as was his contested catch ability and reliability in big games against Miami on the road, Texas A&M at home and Pitt on the road.
No. 59 - Running Back Jadarian Price, Houston Texans
Price has consistently been considered the second best running back in the 2026 draft class behind Love. Brugler's seven-round mock draft reflects that and he has the Texas native returning to his home state in the second round to be a Texan. The 5-11, 203-pound running back brings a different element to the backfield that they've lacked consistently over the last five years. He's a dual threat back that can make plays in the pass game and between the tackles. Price is also an electric return man.
On top of his 1,692 career rushing yards and 21 career rushing touchdowns, Price also recorded 162 career receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns and three career kickoffs for touchdowns. Houston would be getting a certified homerun threat in the backfield. Price would be a great addition to an offense that features quarterback CJ Stroud and receiver Nico Collins.
In Brugler's seven-round mock draft, he doesn't have a Notre Dame alum getting picked in the third or fourth round. It's not until the No. 144 pick in the fifth round where he sees another Fighting Irish standout get taken. Left guard, and former captain, Billy Schrauth goes to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Schrauth projects to the inside at the next level, like he played in college, but he could potentially get kicked inside to center depending on how the two-deep shakes out down in Jacksonville.
Tight end Eli Raridon is also projected to go in the fifth round at No. 170 to the Denver Broncos. His vertical playmaking ability and skills after the catch could make him a dynamic, big-bodied weapon for quarterback Bo Nix and head coach Sean Payton. The Broncos have a plethora of size amongst their pass catchers and the 6-7, 250-pound Iowa native would add to that regime.
The final player Brugler has in his mock draft is right tackle, and former captain, Aamil Wagner who goes No. 240 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars reuniting with Schrauth. Wagner has limited ability at the next level, but they'd be getting a hard worker, a leader and player of great character with Wagner joining the Jaguars roster. We only have eight days to see where these former golden domers get taken. It's just a question of where, not if, at this point with some of these former Fighting Irish standouts.
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