Where seven Notre Dame football players slotted in seven-round ESPN NFL mock draft

The 2024 NFL Draft is less than one month away, and 13 Notre Dame football players hope to hear their names called within the 257 picks. 

In ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller’s latest seven-round mock draft, he has seven former Fighting Irish players getting drafted. Here is a breakdown of each one. 

7. Tennessee Titans: OT Joe Alt (first round)

The Titans have become a frequent projected destination for the former Irish unanimous All-America left tackle. Miller likes Joe Alt’s fit in Tennessee because of his length and impressive mobility.

“After allowing 64 sacks last season (fourth most in the league), it is time for the Titans to figure out a new starting five on the offensive line,” Miller said. “Lloyd Cushenberry was added at center, but the left tackle spot is absent of starting-level talent and Andre Dillard is gone after one season. 

“Alt started 33 games in college and allowed just six sacks — including only two in the past two seasons. He was also penalized only five times in college. He’s pro-ready with great length and impressive mobility at 6-foot-9. His run blocking isn’t always full of pancake blocks, but Alt is a finisher with fantastic Day 1 ability and upside.”

Since becoming the Tennessee Titans in 1999, they have only drafted one former Notre Dame player: linebacker Rocky Boiman (2002). Miller has Alt as the first offensive tackle selected in this year’s draft.

97. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Blake Fisher (third round)

Many questioned Blake Fisher’s decision to depart from Notre Dame after only two full seasons starting at right tackle. However, he might have made the right call if he goes at the end of Day 2, as Miller projects.

“Even after signing Trent Brown, the Bengals have to think long-term about the offensive line,” Miller said. “Fisher’s footwork can get a little heavy, but his punch and power help him project as a potential starting right tackle.”

 In Miller’s mock draft, Fisher is the 14th offensive tackle to come off the board. The Bengals last selected defensive end Khalid Kareem out of Notre Dame at No. 147 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. 

112. Las Vegas Raiders: RB Audric Estitmé (fourth round)

Last year, former Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler stopped Michael Mayer’s draft day slide by picking him early in the second round. Miller has new Raiders GM Tom Telesco choosing Audric Estimè early on Day 3. 

When Telesco was with the Chargers, he drafted former Notre Dame players Alohi Gilman, Jerry Tillery, Drue Tranquill, Isaac Rochell and Chris Watt. 

Miller has Estimé as the seventh running back selected. The 5-11, 227-pounder is coming off a junior campaign in which he registered 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns on 210 carries (6.4 yards per carry). 

118. Seattle Seahawks: CB Cam Hart (fourth round) 

Miller likes the Seahawks to team former Irish cornerback Cam Hart with Julian Love, another former Notre Dame star defensive back. 

In Jon Schneider’s first draft as Seahawks GM in 2010, he picked former Irish wide receiver Golden Tate at No. 60 overall. Six years later, he snagged running back C.J. Prosise at No. 90. 

Miller has 17 cornerbacks going before Hart. According to Pro Football Focus, in 308 coverage snaps, Hart only surrendered 15 passes for 137 yards in 12 games last season. 

129. Minnesota Vikings: DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste (fourth round)

Former Vikings GM Rick Spielman loved Notre Dame football products, drafting Harrison Smith, Robert Blanton, Kyle Rudolph and John Sullivan. Miller has new Minnesota GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah going with Javontae Jean-Baptiste in the fourth round. 

Smith enters his 13th year with the Vikings, while the team also features former Irish defensive line standouts Tillery and Sheldon Day. Jean-Baptiste had a breakout year in his one season in South Bend. The former Ohio State D-lineman racked up 49 tackles and 5 sacks. 

Miller projects Jean-Baptiste as the 14th defensive end selected during this year’s draft. 

136. Denver Broncos: LB Marist Liufau (fifth round)

With the first pick in the fifth round, Miller has the Broncos taking Marsit Liufau. Broncos GM George Paton has only been in Denver for four years, but he was responsible for making former Irish OT tackle Mike McGlinchey one of the highest-paid OL in the NFL.  

Liufau logged 44 tackles and 3 sacks for the Irish in 2023. Miller only has seven linebackers going ahead of Liufau. 

239. New Orleans Saints: LB JD Bertrand (seventh round)

Despite being mostly a non-participant at the NFL Scouting Combine and Notre Dame’s pro day, Miller likes the Saints to take JD Bertrand with 19 picks remaining in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Last year, longtime Saints GM Mickey Loomis took Isaiah Foskey early on Day 2 and traded away Pro Bowl kicker Wil Lutz in favor of undrafted free agent Blake Grupe. Bertrand was the anchor of the Irish defense the last three seasons, collecting 259 total tackles.