NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler has two Notre Dame players in his top 100, but the top rated isn’t who you might expect
When it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft class, most Notre Dame fans have expected junior cornerback Benjamin Morrison to be selected in the first round. After that, it’s figuring out where players like safety Xavier Watts, defensive tackles Rylie Mills and Howard Cross, tight end Mitchell Evans, and quarterback Riley Leonard fit in. As […]
When it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft class, most Notre Dame fans have expected junior cornerback Benjamin Morrison to be selected in the first round. After that, it’s figuring out where players like safety Xavier Watts, defensive tackles Rylie Mills and Howard Cross, tight end Mitchell Evans, and quarterback Riley Leonard fit in.
As I have reported in the past, the first round is anything but a certainty for Morrison right now. Even before the season, there were legitimate concerns surrounding his play strength and durability issues. The latter wasn’t answered following a shoulder and hip surgery over the last calendar year.
Dane Brugler, an NFL Draft analyst for The Athletic and one of the most respected voices in the space, released his updated Top 100 big board on Tuesday. Morrison, unsurprisingly, was on that list. He was just considerably lower than where most Irish fans thought he would be pegged, currently sitting at No. 55.
Here’s what Brugler had to say about Morrison:
Regardless of the coverage, Morrison has terrific foot quickness, body fluidity and technique to mirror early and regain phase late, which allows him make plays on the football without panic. He shows a natural feel in coverage and understands play indicators, although play-strength and durability concerns will follow him to the next level.
As he's back from his second hip surgery, Morrison's medicals will be critical for his final grade.
While that ranking may have been strange to some, it wasn’t for everyone. One thing that may have taken some others by surprise is that Morrison wasn’t even the top-ranked Notre Dame prospect listed. That honor went to All-American safety Xavier Watts, who came in at No. 46 overall.
Here’s what Brugler wrote about Watts:
After toiling on offense when he arrived in South Bend, Ind., Watts moved to rover linebacker before finding his home at free safety. There, he became one of the most decorated players in Irish history. He collected 13 interceptions (and allowed zero touchdown catches) over the last two seasons and became Notre Dame's first two-time consensus All-American since 1993.
The size-speed traits might be average, but Watts is consistently in the right place at the right time.
That is one of the highest rankings we have seen for Watts, who seems to have solidified himself to go on Day Two (Rounds 2-3) of the 2025 NFL Draft. This is also a great implication that Watts could go somewhere in the second round. It’s really nice to see that teams seem to be valuing the football player over the raw athlete.
It’s a long way until April, and things can certainly change. The key is to listen to the people who have good intel and league connections. That is what Brugler has.
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