NFL Draft notebook: Where projected late-round Notre Dame players stand
With less than a month until the start of the 2022 NFL Draft, roster needs for various squads are becoming very clear.
Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton will have his named called on Thursday night of the 2022 draft; he’s a surefire first-round pick. After Hamilton, it’s difficult to predict when the next Irish player will be drafted.
Here is a look at a few of the latest draft predictions for various eligible Notre Dame players.
Austin to the Ravens (Round 4, No. 110)
Walter Cherepinsky of WalterFootball.com cited the Baltimore Ravens may need another receiver if current wideout Sammy Watkins departs. He signed a one-year deal on Saturday, but former Notre Dame receiver Miles Boykin could be on his way out of Baltimore. As such, the Ravens could use another boundary receiver like Kevin Austin. Cherepinsky thinks Baltimore uses one of their five fourth-round draft picks on Austin at 110th overall.
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Williams to the Titans (Round 5, No. 169)
Draft Countdown’s Shane Hallam has running back Kyren Williams headed to the Tennessee Titans in his latest mock draft. Tennessee does not need a Day 1 back. Star Derrick Henry holds that position, but they need a No. 2. The Titans signed Trenton Cannon a few weeks ago, but the four-year veteran has had an underwhelming NFL career to date, playing primarily on special teams.
Tennessee could use a shifty, willing-to-learn rookie to the mix to pair with the human bulldozer that is Henry.
Coan to the 49ers (Round 7, No. 227)
Pro Football Network ran a full, seven-round mock draft on Friday, attempting to figure out how a strange quarterback class might play out in the draft. In an article from Cam Mellor, Irish quarterback Jack Coan lands with the San Francisco 49ers.
“Jack Coan may not have a ton of elite tools, but he certainly knew how to win a game or two,” Mellor wrote. “He doesn’t factor into the starting plans here with the San Francisco 49ers. Nonetheless, he can be counted on to pick up the playbook and add value as an asset behind Trey Lance.”
Coan’s high football IQ is frequently cited by those who encounter him, making him a prime teaching candidate. If he landed out West in San Francisco, Coan could learn from new 49ers quarterbacks coach Brian Greise.
Tagovailoa-Amosa to the Vikings (Round 7, No. 229)
Bryan Perez believes defensive tackle Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa will sneak into the NFL Draft, as the Minnesota Vikings grab him in the seventh round with the No. 229 overall pick.
“He’s a bit of a tweener whose long-term projection will depend largely on whether his coaching staff can find the right NFL fit for him,” Perez said. “He won’t go down without a fight, though, and those are the guys you bet on late in the draft.”
The Vikings released veteran defensive tackle Michael Pierce on March 15 after he started six games for them in 2021, but they acquired Harrison Phillips at the same position. Tagovailoa-Amosa would benefit from taking a year or two to learn the position from veterans like Phillips while bringing a needed spark to the Vikings locker room.
