While the ink is still drying from the 2026 NFL draft, it’s never too early to look to see how many Notre Dame star could go early in the 2027 draft.
USA TODAY’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz released a way-too-early 2027 mock draft, and he has three Irish players getting taken in the first round. It would be a great showing for Notre Dame as they’ve had multiple first-round picks in the past, most recently in 2018 with offensive lineman Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey, but haven’t had three since 1994 with defensive tackle Bryant Young, tackle Aaron Taylor and defensive back Jeff Burris.
If Middlehurst-Schwartz is correct, it would break a 30-year-plus streak for the Irish. Find out below who he believes will hear their names getting called early next April in the NFL draft.
(Reminder: Teams are just a guess at the moment, as this is just a projection of which ones could take these players.)
Cornerback Leonard Moore
Makai Lemon vs Leonard Moore. Probably the only game where you can see weaknesses in Lemon’s game, but Moore does that to a lot of WRs pic.twitter.com/jNIWdwW9V0
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) February 16, 2026
Pick: No. 4
Team: Atlanta Falcons
As the only consensus All-American who will return next fall, Moore should be the first defensive back off the board. The Falcons are going through a transitional period in their front office, and adding Moore could ease some of those pains.
Quarterback CJ Carr
CJ Carr is a cerebral and accurate QB prospect who is ahead of the development curve, much like Julian Sayin and CJ Bailey
2027 QB class will be very fun! pic.twitter.com/H612dFYiVm
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) November 7, 2025
Pick: No. 7
Team: Cleveland Browns
To me this doesn’t make sense with the team, as the Browns seem like they’re committed to Shadeur Sanders, and got him some help drafting a first-round tackle and wide receiver, and a second-round receiver as well. They also took another quarterback in Taylen Green, so maybe they aren’t as sold on Sanders. However, getting a talent like Carr could be too hard for them to pass up. It would make his the second quarterback taken behind Oregon’s Dante Moore.
Linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa
Play with VIOLENCE!!!🚨🚨🚨
Notre Dame LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa playing with VIOLENCE, laying out the blocker and the ball carrier!😤👀🔥@AsaViliamupic.twitter.com/ZBtLx3pOHZ
— Linebackers University™ (@Linebackers_U) November 9, 2025
Pick: No. 20
Team: Houston Texans
KVA still hasn’t officially become a starter, but he’s expected to take over that role this fall. There is some injury risk here as well, as he suffered his second ACL injury this past season, but should be full-go when the season starts in the fall. There is no doubting the talent, as he’s flashed multiple times when he’s been on the field for the Irish.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Draft expert predicts 3 Notre Dame players drafted in ‘27 first-round