One of the nice things about the 2025 NFL Draft almost being here is that the endless parade of Mock Drafts can finally come to an end. Of course, just when we start looking at where Notre Dame footbal players will go this year, it’s time to start looking at where they might go next year.
One of the reasons why the mock drafts are tiresome for the Fighting Irish is that for the most part, all of the mocks have offered up the same information. However, a new PFF list has some information that stands out, especially with a new surprise entry that would have ND sending a whopping seven players to the NFL through the draft.
Guys like Xavier Watts and Benjamin Morrison are expected to go early in the draft, according to PFF, as has been the case for a while now. But it’s the addition of RJ Oben that stands out from the pack, even if he has been included in some Mock Drafts.
Surprise projection boosts Notre Dame football’s 2025 NFL Draft outlook
PFF’s predictions have the Washington Commanders taking Oben in the sixth round with the No. 205 overall pick. That’s certainly lower than the expectations for the former Duke Blue Devil who came to South Bend with Riley Leonard.
Oben finished with just 19 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. His one sack, however, was huge as it forced a fumble by Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton in their playoff game this winter. That turnover was immediately followed by an Irish touchdown on the next play and the Irish went on to seize the momentum.
Oben finished his career with 86 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks.
According to Pro Football Focus, he won’t be the last Notre Dame player to get picked but will instead be the sixth. Quarterback Riley Leonard will be taken in the seventh round with the No. 229 overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to these projections.
Other Irish stars going this weekend according to PFF are:
- Xavier Watts to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 36 overall pick
- Benjamin Morrison to Las Vegas Raiders taking him with the No. 37 overall pick
- Jack Kiser to the Philadelphia Eagles with the No. 134 overall pick
- Rylie Mills to the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round with the No. No. 141 overall pick
- Mitchell Evans to the Miami Dolphins with the No. 155 overall pick
Should these predictions come to pass it would mean that the Notre Dame football would end up with 539 players taken in the history of the 2025 NFL Draft.