The 2025 NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin and will be televised on ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network. The first round will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, followed by the second and third rounds on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, then rounds four through seven on Saturday starting at noon ET.

Sixteen former Irish players from the 2024-25 team are hoping to hear their names called during the draft, including Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts. Notre Dame is expected to have multiple players selected for the 12th time in the last 13 seasons.

Benjamin Morrison was selected in the second round with the 53rd overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday. The first Notre Dame player selected in the 2025 Draft, Morrison becomes the highest Irish defensive back selected in the NFL Draft since Kyle Hamilton (2022). He is the eighth Notre Dame player drafted by Tampa Bay all-time (most recent was T Robert Hainsey, 2021)

Developed in South Bend, drafted to Tampa Bay#NFLDraft | #GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/1Shome8x2c

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 26, 2025

A 2024 team captain, Morrison led the Irish with six interceptions in 2022, earning consensus Freshman All-America honors. Morrison added three more interceptions to his career total in the 2023 season and owns the second-most for a Notre Dame player since 1996, behind teammate Xavier Watts. 

While his 2024 season was cut short due to injury, Morrison amassed four pass breakups and 20 tackles in just six games. He continued to serve as a leader on defense for the Irish as they made their run to the CFP National Title game, as Notre Dame’s defense finished the season first in pass efficiency defense (104.4), first in turnovers gained (33), first in defensive touchdowns (6), first in blocked kicks (6), second in fumbles recovered (14), second in blocked punts (3), fourth in passing yards allowed (169.4), fourth in scoring defense (15.5), fifth in passes intercepted (19) and 11th in total defense (307.4).

His six interceptions in 2022 were the most for an Irish player since Manti Te’o picked off seven passes on his way to finishing second in the 2021 Heisman Trophy balloting. It also is the most for an Irish cornerback since Cole Luke intercepted four passes in 2014. 

The six interceptions were the third-most for any FBS defensive player in 2022 and tied for the most of any Power 5 defensive back. 

Xavier Watts was selected in the third round with the 96th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. The 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner joins former Irish players JD Bertrand and Khalid Kareem in Atlanta, and he is the second player drafted in two years by the Falcons (Bertrand). Watts is the 13th Notre Dame player all-time to be drafted by Atlanta. 

Developed in South Bend, drafted to Atlanta#NFLDraft | #GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/xqIWvMm80o

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 26, 2025

With Watts’ selection and teammate Benjamin Morrison’s selection in the second round, Notre Dame is one of just two programs to have two defensive backs selected in the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft (joining Texas). The two team captains are Notre Dame’s first pair of defensive backs selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft since 1994 (Jeff Burris and Willie Clark). 

One of the most decorated Notre Dame football players in program history, Watts won the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy recognizing the best defensive player in college football, and is a two-time consensus All-American. 

Watts became one of just 17 Irish players all-time to be a two-time consensus honoree, and the first to do so since 1993. He was one of two repeat consensus All-Americans across FBS in 2024, joining Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

A 2024 Team Captain, Watts was named a 2024 First-Team All-American for the second-consecutive season by the Associated Press, Walter Camp, The Sporting News and the AFCA, earning second-team honors from the FWAA in 2024. 

Watts was also named a First-Team All-American by The Athletic, USA TODAY, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Focus and Bleacher Report. Watts was named a First-Team Midseason All-American by Associated Press, The Sporting News, PFF, Athlon Sports, The Athletic and CBS Sports. 

Watts earned Notre Dame’s program Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024, and he was named a semifinalist for the 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Bednarik Award, the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. 

Over his career, Watts totaled 13 interceptions, the most by a Notre Dame player since 1996. His 13 interceptions over the last two seasons were the most by any FBS player during that span; the next closest players had nine. 

Watts started his 33rd consecutive game at the CFP National Championship, the second-most for an Irish safety in program history (Jalen Elliott, 39 from 2017-19) and the 11th-most for any defensive player in Notre Dame history.He ranked ninth among active FBS players in consecutive starts in the secondary with 33. 

In 2024, Watts ranked second in the nation in total interceptions (6). Notre Dame gained 33 turnovers this past season (first in the nation). Watts was responsible for seven of them (six interceptions, one fumble recovery). 

In 2023, Watts was named a Unanimous All-American and led the nation with seven interceptions, averaging an interception every other game.