2020 Slap the Sign Notre Dame Brian Kelly Era Player Draft
Jack Leniart – Jack went back to the offensive line and took fellow 2018 first-round pick, 49ers offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey giving Jack a potent and nasty offensive line. He has been the starter on the right side both years – including starting the Super Bowl this past February.
Daniel Morrison – Daniel stayed on the offensive side of the ball and took the 2013 first-round pick of the Bengals Tyler Eifert. Ironically, Eifert is the first guy on this list to change teams as he will be suiting up for the Jaguars in 2020. When healthy, Eifert is a dangerous weapon with 24 career receiving touchdowns in only 59 career games.
Corbin Whitney – Corbin went outside the box a bit with his second selection, but I think it was a solid pick. He took running back Theo Riddick, who enjoyed a successful career with the Lions before being traded to the Broncos prior to the 2019 season. Unfortunately, he missed the entire 2019 season with injury and is currently a free agent.
Mason Plummer – Mason decided to beef up his defensive line after doing so on the offensive line in the first round and took another 2019 Super Bowl contestant in Colts defensive tackle Sheldon Day. Day was a fourth-round selection of the Jaguars, was picked up by the 49ers during the 2017 season, and signed with the Colts this off-season on a one-year deal. He started the first two games of his career late in the season for the 49ers.
Carlee North – Carlee elected to go back to the defensive side of the ball and took one of the most beloved players in Notre Dame football history in current free agent linebacker Manti Te’o. While he hasn’t enjoyed the same success in the NFL than he did while in South Bend, he has mostly been a starter while on an NFL roster with the Chargers and most recently the Saints.
Nathan Erbach – I took the Mason Plummer route in reverse order. After taking a defensive lineman in the first round, offensive line was on my want list and I swooped up Texans center Nick Martin with pick 14 in the draft, and honestly, I was surprised he was still available. Martin has played all but two games in his three-year career and started all of the games that he’s played, and viewed as one of the best centers in the league.
Sonny Martinez – With some proven NFL production on the board, Sonny elected to go against that and look toward the future of his franchise snagging the first of the Notre Dame 2020 prospects in defensive end Julian Okwara. It is hard to argue with, as Okwara has as much pass rush potential of any in the Kelly era and very well could end up with the steal of the draft.
Connor McJunkin – Connor is a Giants fan and picked one of the better rookies the Giants selected in the 2019 draft in defensive back Julian Love. While he was taken as a corner after an amazing college career, the Giants quickly moved Love to safety where he didn’t miss a beat. The 4th rounder started five games in 2019 and is penciled in as the starter at free safety in 2020.