Best of IB: Is Notre Dame Ready To Go On An Epic Draft Run

In this episode of Irish Breakdown, hosts Brian and Trev dive into the promising future of Notre Dame's NFL draft prospects, analyzing the potential for a historic run in the next two NFL drafts. With the 2026 draft now concluded and several Notre Dame players already drafted or signed as undrafted free agents, the focus shifts to projecting the 2027 and 2028 classes. The hosts argue that Notre Dame is on the verge of becoming a top-tier NFL talent pipeline, akin to Ohio State’s recent dominance, due to a deep, high-impact roster loaded with first-round-caliber players across offense, defense, and special teams. They highlight 11 potential first-round picks in the current starting lineup—including CJ Carr, Leonard Moore, Bubakar Traore, and Drake Bowen—and project up to 28 draft-eligible players over the next two years, many of whom could be selected in the first two rounds. The conversation explores how Notre Dame’s recent success at the NFL level, including standout performances by Xavier Watts and Riley Mills in the Super Bowl, has elevated the program’s draft stock. The hosts emphasize that winning a national championship would be the catalyst to unlock full draft potential, as it validates talent and performance. They also examine the complex decisions players face—whether to return for another season or enter the draft—based on performance, health, NIL opportunities, and evolving draft rules like the proposed five-for-five eligibility extension. The episode concludes with optimism that Notre Dame could finally break long-standing draft droughts at key positions like wide receiver, cornerback, and defensive end, marking a transformative era for the program. Key takeaways include: 1) Notre Dame’s current roster features an unprecedented depth of first-round talent, especially on defense; 2) Winning a national title would dramatically boost draft stock and player confidence; 3) Player decisions to enter the draft will hinge on performance, health, and evolving NIL and eligibility rules; 4) The program is poised to break decades-long draft droughts at wide receiver, cornerback, and defensive end; 5) Coaching and film development—especially for players like Jordan Faison—will be critical in maximizing NFL potential. The overall sentiment is highly positive, reflecting growing confidence in Notre Dame’s trajectory as a dominant NFL talent producer.