As new NFL Mock Drafts hit the internet, analysts clearly like the Notre Dame football team. ESPN’s mock, released earlier this week, pegged quarterback CJ Carr as the No. 3 overall pick, even if the New York Jets would be far from the perfect landing spot for the young gunslinger. Jordan Reid also named a couple of other Irish players he believes will go in the first round, and Brauntae Johnson would be one heck of a consolation prize for a team looking for a quarterback of its own in the first round.
In addition to Carr going No. 3, Reid predicts Leonard Moore will be the No. 7 selection and land with the Carolina Panthers. Seven picks later, the ESPN analyst believes safety Brauntae Johnson will be the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round pick, even though they would have ideally followed in the footsteps of the Jets and taken a quarterback if a great one was available.
“The Steelers are another team that could be in the quarterback mix with Aaron Rodgers set to retire after the season,” Reid wrote on ESPN.com. “But with the top three QBs off the board (he had Dante Moore going No. 1 and Arch Manning at No. 2), the Steelers could instead look to get a youth infusion at safety, especially considering that Jaquan Brisker is on a one-year deal.”
The Notre Dame safety then got plenty of love from Reid, who likes what Johnson has shown even though he’s still just starting his college football career.
ESPN sends Notre Dame football safety Brauntae Johnson to Steelers at No. 14
“Johnson is my highest-ranked safety entering the season despite being relatively inexperienced. His combination of instincts, ball skills, and enthusiasm crashing downhill in run support makes him a high-upside prospect.”
Notre Dame loves to consider itself a contender, if not the leader in the clubhouse for the title of Tight End U because of how many tight ends it’s sent to the NFL. However, the Irish could soon be recognized as Safety U as well if Reid is right about his first-round predictions for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Former Notre Dame star Kyle Hamilton arguably started the march to a new title for his old school, as he’s been one of the league's best defenders since joining the Baltimore Ravens. Last year, Xavier Watts, the best safety in the game last season, was selected by the Atlanta Falcons and put together a fantastic rookie season.
Brauntae Johnson looks like he’s picked up the mantle Watts left behind and is ready to become one of the highest-drafted safeties out of South Bend in decades. Reid is far from the only analyst who believes Johnson could be a first-round pick.
Johnson is coming off a breakout 2025 for Notre Dame, where he recorded 48 tackles (up from 3 the season before), 3 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 73 INT return yards, and his first career touchdown. Most experts expect Johnson to take another big leap in 2026 and make the case for an underclassman entry into the NFL.
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