2025 NFL Draft Prospects- Notre Dame

The 2024 college football season is right around the corner, so you know what that means? The 2025 NFL draft is coming soon, as well. Draft Nation is here to guide you through the prospects and how they can help NFL teams.

Here is a three pack of Notre Dame players who are looking to get selected in the 2025 NFL draft.

DT Rylie Mills, Notre Dame

• 6-foot-5  296 lbs
• 2023 stats: 13 games   47-tackles   2.5-sacks

What to like about Rylie Mills

Mills has a strong 6-foot-5 296 pound frame which is definitely NFL ready. He also has length to spare and is a reliable tackler, rarely allowing his tackles to be broken for extra yardage. He may not be the quickest at his position, but he shows good lateral movement and pursuit skills to chase down QBs and ball carriers in the backfield or near the line of scrimmage. While at Notre Dame, he has also shown that he is versatile and can play multiple positions on the defensive front including edge and tackle. 

Reason for concern

Some downsides to Mills’ game are his lack of physicality and rush moves. Mills tends to use the same rush moves and will need to add to them to fool pro linemen. He does have a good, tight spin which he uses often, and also possesses the ability to swim and move around some blocks, but as the game goes on, he becomes less effective due to the repetition. He also does not play as physically as expected for a player his size. If he can learn to use his frame to play with more force, he will have more success

Draft Projection

Fourth-round pick

DT Howard Cross III, Notre Dame

• 6-foot-1  288 lbs
• 2023 stats: 13 games   66-tackles   2-sacks

What to like about Howard Cross III

Cross plays low and is quick off the ball, making it hard for offensive linemen to engage and stick to him. He uses his hands well to swat away blocks and beat them inside. He plays with a strong base and is tough to knock off balance and uses his legs and lower body well to make him difficult to move. Cross disengages blocks quickly with his strong hands while using his pad level and leverage to roll off blocks in the direction of the ball carrier. In the run game, he is instinctive and keeps his eyes in the backfield while engaging with blockers.

Reason for concern

Cross needs to work on his pass rushing moves and footwork during stunts and spins. With his low base, he can easily be chop blocked, especially once a blocker realizes how hard it is to get into Cross’ chest. He has average strength, size and athleticism for the pro level, which isn’t a knock, but it does limit his upside in the eyes of scouts. His consistency is what wins him battles, but his reach limits him at times against larger centers who can hold him up, keeping him from getting into their chest.

Draft Projection

Third-round pick

LB Jack Kiser, Notre Dame

• 6-foot-1  232 lbs
• 2023 stats: 13 games  62 tackles  1.5-sacks  1-interception

What to like about Jack Kiser

Kiser is an athletic and fluid linebacker that gets from sideline to sideline with ease. He is tough as nails and physical enough to navigate through offensive lines to find the ball carrier. Kiser is quick enough to stunt and put pressure on the interior lineman at the college level. He plays with a non-stop motor and with a hard nosed demeanor, never really being out of a play. In zone coverage, Kiser does an excellent job of getting to the space he needs to in a timely fashion and reads the quarterback’s eyes well when in zone. 

Reason for concern

Kiser is an undersized linebacker on the second level who may struggle with the faster, larger linemen of the NFL. He can get over zealous in his pursuit of the ball and take himself out of the play. Kiser does not play the best angles in pursuit and needs to add some tools to his toolbox to be considered a 3 down player. At the next level, he projects as a weak side linebacker only due to his lack of size and strength.

Draft Projection

Sixth-round pick