The Notre Dame football program won ten games for the fourth straight season in 2020, a feat that has never happened in the history of the school. Led by quarterback Ian Book, the Irish ran through their ACC schedule with a perfect record, only to fall in both the ACC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff.
Still, it was an incredible accomplishment by this group that is headed to the NFL Draft, many of which should hear their name called at some point during the three-day event. Led by All-Americans, breakout players, and veteran leaders, this is a group that is going to succeed at the next level, as they enter the pros with incredible success.
Most recently, a group of Notre Dame football players went down to Mobile, Alabama for Senior Bowl week, and all of them really put on a show. Some improved their draft stock significantly, while others proved they have what it takes to at least be a depth guy at the next level.
As we inch closer to the draft, let us take a look at an all Notre Dame football 2021 NFL Mock Draft, starting with an elite linebacker going in the first round.
2021 NFL Draft: All Notre Dame football 7-round mock draft, Round 1
We kick off this all Notre Dame football 2021 NFL Mock draft with everybody’s favorite selection as the first member of the program off the board this April. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has been mocked everywhere from being a top-10 pick to getting picked towards the bottom of the first round, so we like him here in the middle.
With the No. 18 overall selection, Owusu-Koramoah goes from playing in South Bend to playing in South Beach, as he is selected by the Miami Dolphins. This would really be a best-case scenario for JOK, as the Dolphins won ten games last season, and many feel they are just a few pieces away from being a legitimate playoff contender in 2021 and beyond.
This is the Dolphins’ second of two first-round picks in 2021, and by being selected by Miami, Owusu-Koramoah joins a franchise with a defensive genius as their head coach in Brian Flores. Flores could do so many things with a rover like JOK on the defense, and linebacker was one of the areas they really needed to upgrade this offseason.
2021 NFL Draft: All Notre Dame football 7-round mock draft, Round 2
The second member of the Notre Dame football program that comes off the board is Liam Eichenberg, an absolute anchor for this offensive line for years with the Irish. Eichenberg has been mocked everywhere from the bottom of the first round, to late in round two, so his landing in the middle of the second round makes a lot of sense.
His landing spot, the Dallas Cowboys, a franchise that has taken many members of the Notre Dame football program in the past, and one that needs help up along the offensive line. The Cowboys still have to figure out what they plan to do with Dak Prescott, but he will certainly be back in 2021, and they need to make sure they do everything they can to protect him.
Dallas has a legitimate left tackle in Tyron Smith, but they are lacking talent, and depth on the right side, a spot where Eichenberg can come in and start right away. Eventually, he can make the move to the left side in Dallas, replacing Smith, but for now, this selection would give him the chance to start right away as a rookie.
2021 NFL Draft: All Notre Dame football 7-round mock draft, Round 3
In our 7-round mock draft for the Notre Dame football program, the Irish see two players from the offensive side of the ball go in the third round. The first, Aaron Banks, who is coming off an All-America season in 2020, and someone who certainly looked the part during the Senior Bowl activities.
At pick No. 81, Banks lands with the Las Vegas Raiders, a team that could shuffle up their offensive line in a big way this offseason. Both Richie Incognito and Gabe Jackson, two starters from 2020, could be on their way out due to cap issues, so Banks would find a place he could come in and fight for a starting spot in a franchise on the rise.
One of the bigger surprises during the offseason was Tommy Tremble announcing that he would make himself eligible for the 2021 NFL Draft. Tremble was not a highly-rated prospect to start the draft cycle, but he is picking up steam, and some believe he could be a third-round pick before all is said and done.
Tremble possesses a lot of skills that NFL scouts like, as he has a skill set that is going to play well at the next level. He is athletic, has good hands, and more importantly, he is an elite block, and if Kyle Rudolph does end up being a cap casualty with the Minnesota Vikings, he would see a lot of playing time in Year 1.
2021 NFL Draft: All Notre Dame football 7-round mock draft, Round 4
One member of the Notre Dame football team that has been having a heck of a draft cycle has been Daelin Hayes, who was not as productive during his time in South Bend, but has come on strong over the past month or so. Hayes was a highly-recruited prospect coming out of high school, and down at the Senior Bowl, he showed NFL scouts why.
Scouts were blown away by his athleticism, and his ability to move some of the better offensive linemen in the entire country. At pick No. 108, he lands with the New York Giants, a team who was surprisingly good on defense this past season, but needs some edge rushers, especially if they cannot bring back Leonard Williams.
At pick No. 127, the second of two Notre Dame starting offensive guards comes off the board, with Tommy Kraemer landing in Kansas City. The Chiefs showed just how little depth they have upfront along the offensive line during the Super Bowl, so Kraemer makes a lot of sense for them in the fourth round.
Kraemer is a guy who could come in and start right away for the Chiefs, who will have to make a bunch of financial decisions when it comes to the roster this offseason. He is a guy who is one of the more NFL-ready offensive linemen in this draft class, and with the Chiefs, he would be expected to help protect the best quarterback in football in Patrick Mahomes.
2021 NFL Draft: All Notre Dame football 7-round mock draft, Round 5
Another member of the Notre Dame football program who improved his draft stock at the Senior Bowl was Ade Ogundeji, someone who has been mocked everywhere from the third round to the fifth. Here, he is one of the early selections in the fifth round, landing with the Denver Broncos, who could be replacing a legend in Von Miller this offseason.
There is a lot to like about Ogundeji’s game in terms of the NFL, and he had the scouts buzzing as soon as he landed in Mobile. The Broncos are a team that has a lot of question marks and could be in play for Deshaun Watson, so getting a talented player who does not affect the cap too much makes Ogundeji a great pick here in round five.
Robert Hainsey and Liam Eichenberg are both selected in this 2021 NFL Mock, as all four of the Notre Dame football offensive linemen are taken in the first five rounds. Hainsey showed incredible versatility during the Senior Bowl festivities, displaying the ability to play both tackle and guard against some of the best defensive linemen in the country.
Hainsey has the size and power to play on the inside, or at offensive tackle, and the Buffalo Bills need to continue to stack talent up front along the offensive line. Quarterback Josh Allen proved to be the real deal last season, leading his team to the AFC Championship Game, and a mauler like Hainsey could start immediately for this franchise.
2021 NFL Draft: All Notre Dame football 7-round mock draft, Round 6
The final pick of our All Notre Dame football 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft is quarterback Ian Book, the all-time winningest quarterback in program history. Book had a decorated career in South Bend, leading the Irish to some crucial wins, and he recently sat down to discuss his NFL prospects with Bleav in the Draft Analysts Podcast.
While he won’t land in Pittsburgh expected to start, this is a franchise with question marks at quarterback, as they have not really committed to Ben Roethlisberger for next season. Book has a lot of intangibles that NFL scouts like, as he can make plays with his arm and his legs, and getting picked this late, he will be given the time to develop in a very good organization in Pittsburgh.
In this mock, there is no seventh-round pick for the Irish, although players like Javon McKinley, Ben Skowronek, or even Shaun Crawford could land here. Those are guys who will likely get a look as undrafted free agents, as we see every year with the Notre Dame football program, but for now, our mock ends with Book to the Steelers at No. 192 overall.