After another solid year in South Bend, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is attempting to win his second straight bowl game and secure his first ever double-digit win season.
The Fighting Irish have been an NFL factory since the league was created and I sat down with Irish Wire contributor Mike Chen (@Mikefchen) to discuss which Notre Dame prospects the Rams should target in the draft next year.
Q: Would Joe Alt (LT) be a good fit for the Rams if available?
Chen: Joe Alt is going to be a fit for any team that needs a tackle. A three-year starter with NFL bloodlines, he’s going to have a long and successful career. The Rams should very much consider drafting the All-American.
Q: Considering the massive success of Notre Dame alumnus Kyren Williams, should the Rams consider acquiring Audric Estime (RB)?
Chen: Estime’s game is so much different than Williams, mainly due to style. Kyren is a three-down back, while Audric in the NFL isn’t much of a threat in the passing game. A 1-2 punch with these two would be great, but the issue is that Estime might not be around for the Rams to grab him. I expect a second-round grade and him to be one of the first few backs selected in April.
Q: Considering the Rams’ football philosophy, could you talk about Cam Hart (DB), Marist Liufao (LB), and Blake Fisher (RT) while pointing out if they would be good fits for the Rams?
Chen: Hart is solid but not spectacular. I wouldn’t really expect him to flourish at the next level, but could be an average starter. Liufau has so much talent, but his motor gets in his way. His upside is tremendous, especially in the right system. In my eyes, he would benefit from a position change. Making him a rush end would make him much more valuable. As for Fisher, he was a 5-star coming out of high school and a Day 1 starter, but injuries held him back. The talent is there, but he has to stay on the field. If he can, Fisher could end up as one of the better tackles to come out of this class.
Q: With Sean McVay filling his coaching staff with longtime college coaches, are there any Notre Dame coaches that you think the Rams should go after?
Chen: This one is easy. Secondary coach Mike Mickens has done one hell of a job in his time in South Bend. Watts has coached Kyle Hamilton to a first-round pick, has Ben Morrison as his next one, and Xavier Watts, an All-American and Nagurski Award winner. He’s the most underrated coach on the staff. NFL experience, as well – not on the coaching side – and he’s just 36 years old. He’s a rising star in the industry.
Q: Last question. Outside of the guys we already talked about, are there any other ND players that the Rams should consider acquiring?
Chen: Honestly, no. We touched on top draft prospect for the Irish this year. Next year, teams will be salivating over Morrison, but defensive tackle Howard Cross is going to have a long NFL career. He’s not going to test through the roof, so using a late pick on him would be a great selection.
Chen and his fellow Irish Wire contributors will have all eyes on El Paso when Notre Dame takes on Oregon State on December 29 in the Sun Bowl.
