University of Kwazulu-Natal

Notre Dame Prospect Drawing Early Commanders Buzz In 2026 Mock Draft

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
notre dame prospect drawing early commanders buzz in 2026 mock draft

Stocks have already risen or fallen around 2026 NFL Draft prospects just one week into the college football season. The Washington Commanders are a long way off from making their choices just yet, but that doesn't mean those behind the scenes or scouting on the road aren't keeping a close eye on developments. Needs will be determined by Washington's efforts throughout the campaign. Nothing has been decided one way or another as yet, but one draft analyst believes general manager Adam Peters could set his sights on a legitimate three-down running back to put alongside quarterback sensation... The Commanders traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers this offseason.

This leaves them with Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. It's an interesting dynamic, but only Kliff Kingsbury knows how the wealth is going to be shared. Anthony Licciardi from Sporting News doesn't believe Croskey-Merritt's surging summer hype will be enough for the Commanders to ignore reinforcements in 2026. He had Washington picking Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love at No. 24 overall in his latest mock draft, which would provide Kingsbury's offense a home-run threat they might not have right now. Love is a phenomenal talent.

He burst onto the scene in 2024 with the Fighting Irish, gaining 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. He was restricted to just 33 yards on 10 carries in Notre Dame's first game of the season, but it was a poor afternoon at the office for everybody. Notre Dame has had more players selected in the NFL Draft than any other college football program and early returns for 2026 show the Fighting Irish growing that number. Will Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame see a player taken in the first round after no Fighting Irish stars went in round one this year? We're just over a week removed from the 2025 NFL Draft, but already Pro Football Focus has released its 2026 NFL Draft Big Board. In it, four Notre Dame players are listed in the rankings that look over the top 200 NFL prospects entering the 2026 college football season.

Notre Dame's best chance at a first round selection in 2026 comes from star running back Jeremiyah Love according to the piece. It ranks the star runner as the seventh overall player in the draft class, that includes any player that will be draft eligible next year. Two more Notre Dame players cracked the top-100 as offensive tackle Aamil Wagner is ranked 68th and linebacker Drayk Bowen checks in 89th. Wagner started all 16 games for Notre Dame last season at right tackle and seems to be a shoo-in to start at the same position this coming fall. Bowen made big strides as a sophomore last season and figures to be one of Notre Dame's top defensive players this year. The final player Pro Football Focus put in its top-200 from Notre Dame was wide receiver Jaden Greathouse who checked in at No.

131 overall. Greathouse is coming off a huge postseason where he took a big step and will hopefully use that as momentum heading into his junior year. The Monday after the NFL draft might as well be a national holiday: Way-Too-Early Mock Draft Day. This year, Notre Dame junior running back Jeremiyah Love is a staple in nearly every 2026 edition. Where do the experts have Love going, and will any Notre Dame players join him? Here’s a roundup of every prominent way-too-early 2026 mock draft (and a big board) on the internet.

This story will be updated as more 2026 mock drafts publish online (ESPN and the Associated Press had yet to publish theirs as of Tuesday morning). CBS Sports I: No. 14 (Dallas Cowboys)The Athletic: No. 14 (Dallas Cowboys)Bleacher Report: No. 14 (Seattle Seahawks)33rd Team: No. 26 (Cincinnati Bengals)Fox Sports: No.

16 (Chicago Bears)USA TODAY Sports: No. 18 (Houston Texans)The Draft Network: No. 28 (Baltimore Ravens)Windy City Gridiron: No. 16 (Chicago Bears)Pro Football Focus: No. 16 (Chicago Bears)Athlon Sports: No. 18 (Houston Texans)SB Nation: No.

23 (big board) After what happened to Benjamin Morrison, we need to add a “barring injury” qualifier whenever we talk about Love in this context. So, with that being said: Barring injury, Love is a slam-dunk first-round pick. Now that conferences are beginning to hold their media days, we're starting to get more insight on 2026 NFL Draft prospects. This past week, the Big 12 held its media day and named two highly regarded pro prospects as their preseason players of the year. In this week’s NFL Draft Notebook, we highlight those two standouts, spotlight a tackle who has shown All-Pro potential in limited playing time, examine a local draft target who fits the Carolina Panthers, and...

Despite playing just 182 snaps over the past two seasons, Notre Dame offensive lineman Charles Jagusah has shown enough to earn a first-round grade on my board and the potential to develop into an... His elite athleticism stands out on film, allowing him to slide smoothly in pass protection and execute tough reach blocks in the run game. He also brings ideal size at 6-foot-7 and 333 pounds, along with valuable versatility after seeing time at both guard and tackle. These traits have drawn high praise from Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, who even compared Jagusah to Will Campbell, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. A local prospect the Carolina Panthers will likely have interest in is Duke cornerback Chandler Rivers.

Corner will likely be a need, as the team must add depth behind Jaycee Horn and Michael Jackson. Rivers enters the season with a third-round grade on my board. He was a second-team All-American last season after breaking up 11 passes and earning a 90.7 PFF grade, the second-highest among cornerbacks nationally. As a pro prospect, he shows strong ball skills, the versatility to play nickel or outside, and the fluid hips to stay with even the quickest slot receivers. Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt was named the Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and it’s easy to see why. He’s one of the conference’s top NFL prospects and earned a spot on the Big 12 All-NFL Draft preseason team.

Last season, Leavitt was the only Power Four QB to earn 80.0-plus PFF grades as both a passer and a runner. He plays with great poise and shows advanced touch, especially when throwing on the move. His pocket mobility and instincts bring to mind a young Joe Montana. I currently have a high second-round grade on him heading into the 2025 season. Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt reminds me of Joe Montana—both have elite pocket presence, can slide and reset under pressure, and keep their eyes downfield to create plays. While it’s nearly impossible to live up to Montana’s legacy, their playing styles are strikingly similar.

People Also Search

Stocks Have Already Risen Or Fallen Around 2026 NFL Draft

Stocks have already risen or fallen around 2026 NFL Draft prospects just one week into the college football season. The Washington Commanders are a long way off from making their choices just yet, but that doesn't mean those behind the scenes or scouting on the road aren't keeping a close eye on developments. Needs will be determined by Washington's efforts throughout the campaign. Nothing has bee...

This Leaves Them With Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez

This leaves them with Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. It's an interesting dynamic, but only Kliff Kingsbury knows how the wealth is going to be shared. Anthony Licciardi from Sporting News doesn't believe Croskey-Merritt's surging summer hype will be enough for the Commanders to ignore reinforcements in 2026. He had Washington ...

He Burst Onto The Scene In 2024 With The Fighting

He burst onto the scene in 2024 with the Fighting Irish, gaining 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. He was restricted to just 33 yards on 10 carries in Notre Dame's first game of the season, but it was a poor afternoon at the office for everybody. Notre Dame has had more players selected in the NFL Draft than any other college football program and early returns for 2026 show the Fighting Irish...

Notre Dame's Best Chance At A First Round Selection In

Notre Dame's best chance at a first round selection in 2026 comes from star running back Jeremiyah Love according to the piece. It ranks the star runner as the seventh overall player in the draft class, that includes any player that will be draft eligible next year. Two more Notre Dame players cracked the top-100 as offensive tackle Aamil Wagner is ranked 68th and linebacker Drayk Bowen checks in ...

131 Overall. Greathouse Is Coming Off A Huge Postseason Where

131 overall. Greathouse is coming off a huge postseason where he took a big step and will hopefully use that as momentum heading into his junior year. The Monday after the NFL draft might as well be a national holiday: Way-Too-Early Mock Draft Day. This year, Notre Dame junior running back Jeremiyah Love is a staple in nearly every 2026 edition. Where do the experts have Love going, and will any N...