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The 2025 NFL Draft took place Thursday, April 24, through Saturday, April 26 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. With six former Irish student-athletes selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, Notre Dame boasts 538 all-time NFL Draft selections, extending its lead as the program with the most NFL Draft picks in history.

Notre Dame extends to 89 NFL Drafts (of 90 total) with an Irish player selected. This remains tied for the most among any college football program. Notre Dame has the longest streak in college football of at least one player drafted at 87-straight years (including 1977 supplemental draft)

The 2025 NFL Draft saw cornerback Benjamin Morrison drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round (53rd overall), and safety Xavier Watts followed that night, drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round (96th overall).

Day Three of the draft started off with linebacker Jack Kiser selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round (107th overall). In the fifth round, defensive lineman Rylie Mills was selected by the Seattle Seahawks (142nd overall) and Mitchell Evans was drafted to the Carolina Panthers (163rd overall). Quarterback Riley Leonard followed, selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round (189th overall).

With six players drafted, Notre Dame marks its third draft in the last five years with six or more players selected. 

2025 Irish in the NFL

Benjamin Morrison

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Xavier Watts

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Jack Kiser

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Rylie Mills

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Mitchell Evans

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Riley Leonard

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Howard Cross III

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Jordan Clark

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Beaux Collins

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Mitch Jeter

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RJ Oben

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Devyn Ford

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Max Hurleman

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Kris Mitchell

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Second Round

Benjamin Morrison was selected in the second round with the 53rd overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday. The first Notre Dame player selected in the 2025 Draft, Morrison becomes the highest Irish defensive back selected in the NFL Draft since Kyle Hamilton (2022). He is the eighth Notre Dame player drafted by Tampa Bay all-time (most recent was T Robert Hainsey, 2021)

A 2024 team captain, Morrison led the Irish with six interceptions in 2022, earning consensus Freshman All-America honors. Morrison added three more interceptions to his career total in the 2023 season and owns the second-most for a Notre Dame player since 1996, behind teammate Xavier Watts. 

While his 2024 season was cut short due to injury, Morrison amassed four pass breakups and 20 tackles in just six games. He continued to serve as a leader on defense for the Irish as they made their run to the CFP National Title game, as Notre Dame’s defense finished the season first in pass efficiency defense (104.4), first in turnovers gained (33), first in defensive touchdowns (6), first in blocked kicks (6), second in fumbles recovered (14), second in blocked punts (3), fourth in passing yards allowed (169.4), fourth in scoring defense (15.5), fifth in passes intercepted (19) and 11th in total defense (307.4).

His six interceptions in 2022 were the most for an Irish player since Manti Te’o picked off seven passes on his way to finishing second in the 2021 Heisman Trophy balloting. It also is the most for an Irish cornerback since Cole Luke intercepted four passes in 2014. 

The six interceptions were the third-most for any FBS defensive player in 2022 and tied for the most of any Power 5 defensive back. 

Third Round

Xavier Watts was selected in the third round with the 96th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. The 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner joins former Irish players JD Bertrand and Khalid Kareem in Atlanta, and he is the second player drafted in two years by the Falcons (Bertrand). Watts is the 13th Notre Dame player all-time to be drafted by Atlanta. 

With Watts’ selection and teammate Benjamin Morrison’s selection in the second round, Notre Dame is one of just two programs to have two defensive backs selected in the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft (joining Texas). The two team captains are Notre Dame’s first pair of defensive backs selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft since 1994 (Jeff Burris and Willie Clark). 

One of the most decorated Notre Dame football players in program history, Watts won the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy recognizing the best defensive player in college football, and is a two-time consensus All-American. 

Watts became one of just 17 Irish players all-time to be a two-time consensus honoree, and the first to do so since 1993. He was one of two repeat consensus All-Americans across FBS in 2024, joining Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

A 2024 Team Captain, Watts was named a 2024 First-Team All-American for the second-consecutive season by the Associated Press, Walter Camp, The Sporting News and the AFCA, earning second-team honors from the FWAA in 2024. 

Watts was also named a First-Team All-American by The Athletic, USA TODAY, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Focus and Bleacher Report. Watts was named a First-Team Midseason All-American by Associated Press, The Sporting News, PFF, Athlon Sports, The Athletic and CBS Sports. 

Watts earned Notre Dame’s program Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024, and he was named a semifinalist for the 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Bednarik Award, the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. 

Over his career, Watts totaled 13 interceptions, the most by a Notre Dame player since 1996. His 13 interceptions over the last two seasons were the most by any FBS player during that span; the next closest players had nine. 

Watts started his 33rd consecutive game at the CFP National Championship, the second-most for an Irish safety in program history (Jalen Elliott, 39 from 2017-19) and the 11th-most for any defensive player in Notre Dame history.He ranked ninth among active FBS players in consecutive starts in the secondary with 33. 

In 2024, Watts ranked second in the nation in total interceptions (6). Notre Dame gained 33 turnovers this past season (first in the nation). Watts was responsible for seven of them (six interceptions, one fumble recovery). 

In 2023, Watts was named a Unanimous All-American and led the nation with seven interceptions, averaging an interception every other game. 

Fourth Round

Linebacker Jack Kiser was selected in the fourth round with the 107th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday. Kiser is the sixth Notre Dame player all-time to be drafted to Jacksonville and the first since 2016 (Sheldon Day). He joins former Irish OL Robert Hainsey on the Jaguars roster. 

Kiser, a team captain, was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy and the Freddie Solomon Community Spirit Award, and was named to the 2024 AFCA Allstate Good Works Team. He was a 2025 CSC Academic All-American and earned Notre Dame’s team award for the program Man of the Year. 

One of the most tenured players on Notre Dame’s roster, Kiser completed his sixth season playing for the Irish in 2024 and led the team to wins in the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl, as well as a National Championship appearance. He holds the record for most games ever played at Notre Dame (70). 

Kiser notched 275 career tackles, 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, four interceptions (two pick-sixes), 11 passes defended, six forced fumbles and a blocked kick over his career. 

He led the Irish in 2024 in tackles with 90 as a mainstay on defense and 16-game starter for Notre Dame. Notre Dame’s defense finished the season first in pass efficiency defense (104.4), first in turnovers gained (33), first in defensive touchdowns (6), first in blocked kicks (6), second in fumbles recovered (14), second in blocked punts (3), fourth in passing yards allowed (169.4), fourth in scoring defense (15.5), fifth in passes intercepted (19) and 11th in total defense (307.4).

His 65 tackles in 2023 placed him third among Irish defenders and his 58 tackles in 2022 ranked him second on the team. 

Owning two Notre Dame degrees, Kiser was a force in the classroom. A 2025 CSC Academic All-American, he was named to the 2024 and 2025 National Football Foundation Honor Society. He earned the top GPA in the Master’s of Accountancy program among all students in the program. 

Kiser led and participated in several community-facing initiatives during his time at Notre Dame. He twice served as the player committee chairman for the program’s Cleats For a Cause initiative, and he served as the Fighting Irish Fight for Life football team lead for the past three years. Additionally, Kiser worked with local low-income families to perform tax returns this past spring on a weekly basis leading up to Tax Day. He has also made an impact in his home community, as he visited his former youth football team to surprise local kids from his area, spend time with the team, and give them tickets to a Notre Dame Football game.

Fifth Round

Defensive lineman Rylie Mills was selected in the fifth round with the 142nd overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday. Mills is the 11th Notre Dame player all-time to be drafted to Seattle and the first since 2016 (C.J. Prosise). He joins former Irish S Julian Love on the Seahawks roster. 

Mills was a 2024 team captain and helped lead Notre Dame throughout a season that saw wins in the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl, as well as a National Championship appearance. He was named a second-team All-American in 2024 by The Sporting News and ESPN.

Mills ranked tied for ninth all-time in career sacks in Notre Dame records with 17.0 on his career. He was the 14th Notre Dame player to record 15 or more sacks in his career.

He was a force on an Irish defense that finished the season first in pass efficiency defense (104.4), first in turnovers gained (33), first in defensive touchdowns (6), first in blocked kicks (6), second in fumbles recovered (14), second in blocked punts (3), fourth in passing yards allowed (169.4), fourth in scoring defense (15.5), fifth in passes intercepted (19) and 11th in total defense (307.4).

In 2024, Mills played in 13 games and totaled 7.5 sacks and 8.5 TFL, with 37 tackles total. His season highlight came in the win vs. Florida State, when he posted three sacks, two coming on back-to-back plays. Mills was twice named to The Athletic’s “Freaks List,” in 2023 and 2024.

 

Continuing the streak of Irish tight ends selected in the NFL Draft, Mitchell Evans was selected in the fifth round with the 163rd overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers on Saturday. Evans is the fifth Notre Dame player all-time to be drafted to Carolina and the first since 2021 (Tommy Tremble). He joins former Irish Tremble and LS JJ Jansen on the Panthers roster. 

Evans becomes the fifth Notre Dame tight end selected in the draft over the past seven years. He continues the streak of each primary Irish tight end since 2004 being drafted, beginning with Anthony Fasano.

Evans was a semifinalist for the 2024 John Mackey Award, recognizing the top tight end in college football. Evans was Notre Dame’s premier tight end in 2024 and helped the Irish to victories in the Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl and an appearance in the CFP National Title game. In 2024, he posted 43 receptions for 421 yards and three touchdowns. 

Evans also played a significant role in run blocking. Notre Dame’s rushing offense ranked No. 4 among the Power 4 in yards per carry (5.66), ranking No. 7 among all FBS teams. The Irish ranked No. 6 among Power 4 teams in rushing offense (210.8).

Evans had a breakout season in 2023 before being sidelined with an injury. He played in eight games as a junior, starting seven, and ended the season as the team’s top receiving target, averaging 52.8 yards per game. Through those eight games, Evans totaled 29 receptions for 422 yards and a touchdown during the season, averaging 14.6 yards per catch.

Sixth Round

Quarterback Riley Leonard was selected in the sixth round with the 189th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. Leonard is the ninth Notre Dame player all-time to be drafted to Indianapolis and the first since 2018 (G Quenton Nelson). He joins former Irish Nelson and K Spencer Shrader on the Colts roster. 

Leonard adds to an illustrious list of Notre Dame quarterbacks to make the jump to the NFL. The team captain led the Irish to a CFP National Title game appearance, being named the Offensive MVP of the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl along the way. He was a semifinalist for the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year award. 

Leonard spent one season with the Irish and was named a team captain, starting all 16 games and completing 269 passes for 2,861 yards and 21 touchdowns, in addition to 184 rushing attempts for 906 yards and 17 touchdowns. Leonard finished responsible for 230 points in 2024, ranking second on the all-time Notre Dame single season list (behind Brady Quinn, 234 in 2006). The captain’s 230 points ranked seventh among all FBS players in 2024. 

At the end of the 2024 season, Leonard ranked second among all active FBS quarterbacks in career rushing touchdowns with 36. His 17 rushing touchdowns in 2024 broke the Notre Dame single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (14, Brandon Wimbush in 2017). Leonard’s 17 rushing touchdowns this season ranked 12th in the nation among all FBS players and tied for fifth among all quarterbacks. 

Leonard was one of two FBS quarterbacks (and two Power 4 quarterbacks) this season to pass for 2,600 yards and rush for 900 yards. Leonard posted 56.6 rushing yards per game this season, ranking fourth among all Power 4 quarterbacks. 

In 11-straight games this season (beginning with Purdue and through Indiana), Leonard rushed for at least 25 yards while also accounting for multiple TDs (passing or scoring). Only two FBS quarterbacks have compiled longer such streaks this century: Louisville’s (and current Baltimore Raven) Lamar Jackson (13 straight in 2017) and Oklahoma’s (and current Philadelphia Eagle) Jalen Hurts (12 straight in 2019). 

Leonard’s 906 rushing yards this season surpassed Tony Rice’s school-record for a single-season quarterback rushing yards of 884 from 1989. 

Signees and Camp Invitees

Defensive lineman Howard Cross III has signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals. Cross, a 2024 FWAA Second Team All-American and 2023 Bednarik Award Semifinalist, notched 4.0 sacks in 2024. He served as a mainstay for an Irish defense that finished the season first in pass efficiency defense (104.4), first in turnovers gained (33), first in defensive touchdowns (6), first in blocked kicks (6), second in fumbles recovered (14), second in blocked punts (3), fourth in passing yards allowed (169.4), fourth in scoring defense (15.5), fifth in passes intercepted (19) and 11th in total defense (307.4).

In 2024, he played in 13 games for the Irish, amassing 28 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks and a pass breakup en route to wins in the Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl, and an appearance in the CFP National Title game.

On his career, Cross played in 66-career games with 169 tackles, 19.5 TFL, 11.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and four pass breakups.

 

Safety Jordan Clark has signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets. Clark, a graduate transfer to Notre Dame, played in all 16 games for the Irish in 2024, totaling 37 tackles, 2.0 TFL, five PBUs, one interecption and six passes defended. He played a significant role on an Irish defense that finished the season first in pass efficiency defense (104.4), first in turnovers gained (33), first in defensive touchdowns (6), first in blocked kicks (6), second in fumbles recovered (14), second in blocked punts (3), fourth in passing yards allowed (169.4), fourth in scoring defense (15.5), fifth in passes intercepted (19) and 11th in total defense (307.4).

Clark, who began his career at Arizona State, played in 56-career games, notching 176 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 22 pass breakups and four interceptions.

 

Wide receiver Beaux Collins has signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants. Collins, also a graduate transfer, joined the Irish after three seasons at Clemson. In 2024, he started all 16 games for Notre Dame, posting 41 receptions for 490 yards and three touchdowns. On his career, he played in 48-career games with 132 receptions for 1,780 yards and 14 touchdowns.

 

Kicker Mitch Jeter has earned an invitation to minicamp with the Minnesota Vikings. The graduate transfer to Notre Dame saw action in 60-career games over his five seasons in college football, earning a 78.3 field goal percentage and going 131-134 on PATs. He was responsible for some of Notre Dame’s most pivotal moments of the season, kicking game-winning field goals against Texas A&M and to secure the Orange Bowl vs. Penn State

 

Defensive lineman RJ Oben has earned a minicamp invitation from the Kansas City Chiefs. The graduate transfer played in 16 games in 2024, starting 14. He totaled 1.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, 19 tackles and a forced fumble in his season with the Irish. One of his best plays of the season came in the Sugar Bowl vs. Georgia, when he registered a 12-yard solo sack while forcing a fumble late in the second quarter to set up a touchdown for the Irish.

 

Running back Devyn Ford was invited to minicamp by the Las Vegas Raiders. Ford spent two seasons at Notre Dame and was a key contributor on special teams. He played in 55 games over his college career, posting 161 attempts for 765 yards and six touchdowns. He added 26 receptions for 143 yards and a touchdown, with 23-career kick returns for an average of 18.8 yards per return.

 

Cornerback Max Hurleman earned a minicamp invitation from the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his one season from the Irish, he served as Notre Dame’s primary punt returner, posting 23 punt returns for 138 yards. He also totaled 13 tackles and a fumble recovery in 2024.

 

Wide receiver Kris Mitchell was invited to rookie minicamp with the Las Vegas Raiders, joining fellow Notre Dame player Devyn Ford. Over his college career, Mitchell totaled 122 receptions for 1,887 yards and 13 touchdowns.