Notre Dame football: Former Irish who could sneak into Day 2
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team was represented on Day 1 of the NFL Draft, and here are some guys who could sneak into Day 2.
On Thursday night, the 2022 NFL Draft kicked off from Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Notre Dame football program ended its first-round drought. Safety Kyle Hamilton heard his name called with the No. 14 overall pick, landing in Baltimore on a team that is destined to make some noise in a very winnable AFC North next season.
Now, the attention turns to Day 2 of the NFL Draft, and we have two rounds to go through tonight. While not many are projected the Irish to have anyone drafted tonight, here are three players who could sneak into either round two or three.
Notre Dame football: Former Irish who could sneak into Day 2
Kevin Austin Jr., Wide Receiver
If we saw anything on Thursday night, we saw that wide receiver is a priority in this year’s draft, as teams traded up to get some of the big-time prospects at the position group. During the NFL Draft season, we saw Notre Dame football star Kevin Austin Jr. impress in a big way, so he is someone to keep an eye on over the next two rounds.
Austin has the size and speed to be a playmaker at the next level, and last month, Matt Lombardo, an NFL Insider, spoke about what an impressive draft season he was having.
Kyren Williams, Running Back
For much of the early going, Notre Dame football star running back Kyren Williams was seen as one of the top running backs in this year’s draft class. However, he has had a rough draft season, and in some recent mock drafts, the experts have him falling to the sixth or seventh round.
Those are mock drafts, and as we saw Thursday night, they do not mean much of anything. The truth is, Williams can run, catch, and block, and on a playoff-ready team needing help at running back, he could be the answer this draft cycle.
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, Defensive Line
This is a player who I like to rise up draft boards when all is said and done over the next few days. Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa is a versatile defensive lineman who can get after the quarterback, something that is at a premium at the NFL level.
On Thursday night, we saw edge rushers go early and often, and Tagovailoa-Amosa is a player who I believe could have an instant impact at the next level.
Overall, the Notre Dame football team should see several players selected over the next few days, and if they are shut out tonight, a handful of players should go on Saturday.