NFL Draft First Round Primer: Your Notre Dame Football Guide
By J.P. Scott
The first round of the 2018 NFL Draft takes place on Thursday night. Here’s what you need to know as a Notre Dame football fan.
The big night is almost here! Two former Notre Dame football players are expected to be taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Here is what you need to know.
What: First Round of the 2018 NFL Draft
When: Thursday, April 26, 8 pm ET
Channel: ESPN, NFL Network and Fox
Who will be drafted from Notre Dame?
Guard Quenton Nelson and tackle Mike McGlinchey are consensus locks to be drafted in the first round be every major publication and NFL Draft analyst. Some experts believe the duo will be the first two offensive linemen selcted overall.
Where should we expect Quenton Nelson to end up?
The majority of mock drafts and experts have Nelson being taken eith at No. 5 overall by the Denver Broncos or at No. 8 overall by the Chicago Bears. There is an outside shot that he ends up being selected by the Indianapolis Colts at pick No. 6. If he ends up anywhere but one of those three locations, it will be one of the bigger surprises to start the night. That said, look out for a contender to move up from later in the first round and grab him.
Where should we expect Mike McGlinchey to end up?
McGlinchey has been mocked to several teams in several slots. My safest bets in terms of his eventual destination are with the Green Bay Packers at pick No. 14, the Arizona Cardinals at pick No. 15 or the Los Angeles Chargers at pick No. 17.
There are two surprise scenarios that could realistically happen in my opinion. One would be the Oakland Raiders selecting him overall at pick No. 10. This is likely only possible if Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith is off the board by then. Another possibility would be the New England Patriots moving up into the teens from their 23rd spot and grabbing him. Offensive tackle is a serious position of need for the Patriots heading into the 2018 season.
Next: Top 5 Notre Dame NFL Draft Classes Since 2000
Are there any other former Notre Dame players who could be selected in the first round?
It’s highly unlikely, but the only one who might have a chance is Equanimeous St. Brown — and that’s only if there is a big run on wide receivers. Most experts have St. Brown ranked anywhere from the fourth to sixth-best receiver available. Depending on the needs and wants of the individual franchises, there is a slight chance St. Brown hears his name called on Thursday night.