With five prospects gracing an early Top 50, Notre Dame ignites the 2027 NFL Draft conversation, showcasing elite talent ready for the league.
Notre Dame didn't dominate the 2026 NFL Draft like some other top programs, but there's a reason why, and that will show in the 2027 NFL Draft. Notre Dame returns a lot of firepower on both sides of the ball, which should set up a very busy draft period for Irish players a year from now.
Notre Dame is still the all-time leader in most players drafted, and it expanded that lead on USC as six Irish players were picked to just three Trojans. But it was Ohio State (11), Alabama (10), Texas A&M (10), Miami (9), Texas Tech (9) and Clemson (9) that had the most success in the 2026 NFL Draft.
ESPN recently ranked Notre Dame as No. 1 in college football in returning production for 2026, which explains why Notre Dame's numbers were so low. That is expected to change in 2027. Sporting News college football writer Bill Bender released his Top 50 prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft, and Notre Dame was mentioned quite often.
All-American cornerback Leonard Moore was the highest ranked Notre Dame player on his list, checking in at No. 5 overall. Moore is also the top ranked cornerback on Bender's board.
"Moore (6-2, 195) put up seven interceptions and 18 pass breakups the last two seasons as an elite cover cornerback for the Irish. He makes game-changing plays – Moore also forced three fumbles in his first two seasons. He is a complete cornerback; part of a Notre Dame defensive backs pipeline that has sent Kyle Hamilton (2022), Benjamin Morrison (2025) and Xavier Watts (2025) to the next level." - Bill Bender.
Next on the list for Bender was quarterback CJ Carr, who checked in as the No. 16 overall player.
"Carr (6-2, 210) is yet another quarterback prospect in the first round. He's ranked among the Heisman Trophy favorites in 2026 – and he had eight TDs and no interceptions on passes of 20 yards or more in his first season as a starter. Carr also is a candidate to return for another season with the Irish. Notre Dame has not had a QB selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since Brady Quinn in 2007. We are tempering our projection for now." - Bender
Notre Dame had a pair of linebackers on the list, with captain and three-year starter Drayk Bowen ranking No. 27 overall and standout rising junior Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa ranking No. 45 on the list. Bowen is ranked as the No. 2 linebacker on Bender's board. This duo will fuel a loaded linebacker room that also has potential 2027 NFL Draft picks Jaylen Sneed and Jaiden Ausberry returning. Notre Dame is the only team with two linebackers in Bender's Top 50 rankings.
Rounding out the list for the Fighting Irish is safety Tae Johnson, who is ranked No. 47 on Bender's Top 50 board. Johnson is ranked as the No. 4 safety on the board.
Moore, Carr, Viliamu-Asa and Johnson are all eligible to return for the 2027 season, but if the 2026 season goes the way Irish fans hope a good chunk of this group will have legitimate NFL decisions to make.
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