I watched every minute of the NFL Draft this year while covering the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Whether it was on the television or streamed to my phone — it was absorbed by my eyeballs and my brain (which is now mush). Quite frankly, I would never do that again if I didn’t have to love you all. Also, for the record, I really REALLY miss the old format. You can follow along with us as we track all of the UDFA signings from Notre Dame, and you can check out everything we have published about the draft HERE. My thoughts are as scrambled as the eggs you’re probably eating right now, so bear with me as I finish this cycle. SUPERCHARGE MY HEART I’m pretty sure I just fell in love with the Los Angeles Chargers, or as Nina put it... Notre Dame du LAC. I was a huge advocate for Jerry Tillery and went 1⁄ 2 nuts as I battled the ridiculous narrative about him and his perceived lack of love for football or character issues — or whatever other bullshit his way. It was all worth it as his name was called in the first round of the draft. Tillery was about to be reunited with Isaac Rochell, and that in itself was good enough for me. And then it got better. If LA was looking for more brownie points from Notre Dame fans, they hit the jackpot with Drue Tranquill: Captain and all-around awesome guy. He’s also a really good football player that kicked ass at the combine. Tranquill went from being a Charger in high school (Carroll HS) that was committed to the Purdue Boilermakers, to being a professional Charger via Notre Dame. But wait... there’s more. LA thought why not get ANOTHER Notre Dame captain, and they signed Tyler Newsome as an UDFA. That’s living life to its fullest right there. LA gets three fan favorites and probably quite a few more fans from the midwest. Well done. BIG LOVE Watching Julian Love’s fall in the draft was tough on the heart. We all know how special he is, and I was one of the most vocal writers in the country that called out the injustice of Love not winning the Thorpe Award (Translation: tweet tirades backed with facts only). Still, we have had many weeks to absorb the constant chatter that Love would be, at best, the 4th cornerback drafted. It actually took much longer than that, and Love dropped to the 3rd day. Finally, the New York Giants put his name on the pick card and the wait was over. Love will have a big chance to play in New York, and he will also have a chance to compete against the actual Thorpe winner and new teammate, DeAndre Baker from the Georgia Bulldogs. Seriously... the same team that everyone laughed at for picking Daniel Jones with the #6 overall pick, is the same team that has the Thorpe winner and fellow finalist. TAKING A LEAP Most fans knew that Dexter Williams wouldn’t be picked until the 3rd day, but we also knew that whoever picked Deuce would get one of the best backs in the draft. Two things held Dexter back and it wasn’t his suspension or pass-blocking — his slower than expected 40 yard dash and his overall lack of skill in the passing game. Put the rock in his hand though... and watch him run to daylight. On the phone : RB Dexter Williams : #NFLDraft | Today on ABC, ESPN & NFLN https://t.co/3032jL0jDz — Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 27, 2019 The Green Bay Packers selected one draft dropper from South Bend in the 6th round last year in Equanimeous St. Brown, and got another this year with Williams. In them, the Packers have two of the most athletic players the Irish have had on offense over the last decade, and will look to maximize all that they bring to the table. There will be another reunion similar to the one in Los Angeles with DeShone Kizer also on the team. All three will try, in one way or another, to help Aaron Rodgers and the offense compete in the competitive NFC North. RAIDING THE PANTRY Add Te’von Coney’s name to the list of frustrations on draft day three. While Irish fans didn’t have to wait long for Julian Love on Saturday, we gasped at every pick NOT named Coney. Fair or unfair, Coney is labeled as a 3 down ILB, and this league places very little value on those type of players in the draft — maybe less than any other position not named kicker or punter. West Virginia's David Long is the 20th linebacker off the board. Twenty teams thought they found a linebacker better than Te'von Coney. That *feels* insane to me. #NDFB — Jude (@andrewwinn) April 27, 2019 Still... it’s hard to have witnessed the carnage Coney caused on the field over the last couple of years and think that he isn’t valued by NFL teams — infinitely harder on Coney I’m sure. This isn’t the worst thing, however. Coney is actually better off not being drafted and being able to somewhat pick his best spot. That has already been done as the Oakland Raiders and Jon Gruden brought him on as a UDFA. Gruden got a close look at Coney at the Senior Bowl and must have liked what he saw. I’ll say this... I rather a player have a chip on his shoulder than live in a world of pressure. The Raiders also signed Nick Coleman as an UDFA, and with his athleticism — perhaps he will be able to create a spot on special teams. FLYING HIGH Many thought Miles Boykin may have been making a mistake by leaving Notre Dame with a year of eligibility on the table, but with an incredible combine, he may have been right all along. The Baltimore Ravens traded up to get Boykin in the 3rd round, so that has to feel pretty good. Combine S T A N D O U T.<doc-sep>For the 12 former Notre Dame Fighting Irish players whose phones didn’t ring during the 2019 NFL Draft, the hours afterward are an opportunity to field inquiries from interested teams and pick the right fit. TYLER NEWSOME Tyler Newsome, a former punter and captain, was the first to sign. He picked the Los Angeles Chargers, who had already drafted his teammates, Jerry Tillery and Drue Tranquill. The Los Angeles #Chargers have signed #KohlsKicking punter Tyler Newsome of Notre Dame as an undrafted free agent. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/Z5YbnMO9tF — Kohl's Kicking Camps (@KohlsKicking) April 27, 2019 Tyler Newsome is going to be the third Irish this weekend to join Isaac Rochell with the @Chargers.#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/juJ9xXTc4O — Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 27, 2019 I want Tyler on my team every time. Good luck with the @Chargers, Tyler. You’re in good company!#ChargersDraft #GraduatingChampions pic.twitter.com/RaMXlXwf7O — Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) April 27, 2019 SAM MUSTIPHER & ALEX BARS Captains Sam Mustipher and Alex Bars have selected the Chicago Bears, which will reunite them with former offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. Mustipher was a center and Bars plays guard. Im a Chicago Bear!!! Bear down! ⬇️ — Alex Bars (@AlexBars_) April 28, 2019 Sam has been a leader on the field and in the locker room during his time at Notre Dame. Good luck with the @ChicagoBears, @smustipher53! #GraduatingChampions pic.twitter.com/GBKkavGD2t — Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) April 27, 2019 JALEN GUYTON The former North Texas Mean Green receiver has signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Jalen Guyton redshirted his freshman season at Notre Dame before transferring to a community college and later resurfacing in Denton. Denton ➡️ Dallas Congratulations to WR @_dreamjg (Jalen Guyton) on reportedly agreeing to terms as a free agent with the @dallascowboys! The Allen native stays close to home!#GMG #NFLMeanGreen #MeanGreenFamily pic.twitter.com/gSgw3VzihG — North Texas Football (@MeanGreenFB) April 27, 2019 TE’VON CONEY Te’von Coney, who was projected to be a Day 3 pick, signed with Oakland Raiders about an hour after the draft. Raiders here I come ☠️ — TC4️⃣ (@TevonConey) April 27, 2019 Coney, a 6-foot-1, 234 pound player from Palm Gardens, Fla. watched 25 other linebackers get picked Thursday, Friday and Saturday. He was considered by the Pro Football Focus to be the third best off-ball linebacker available, behind LSU Tigers’ Devin White and Michigan Wolverines’ Devin Bush. Both Devins went in the first round. PFF also had him as the 57th best player on their big board. Coney started all of the Irish’s 13 games in 2018, and registered 123 tackles, 9 1⁄ 2 tackles for loss, four sacks, four pass breakups and one interception. The linebacker was named to the Associated Press’ All-America third team following the regular season. JAY HAYES Jay Hayes, a former defensive end, played his final season with the Georgia Bulldogs. The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed him. Grateful for the opportunity @steelers ready to work! — Jay Hayes (@JayHayesNY) April 28, 2019 NICK COLEMAN The Raiders have invited Nick Coleman, a former Irish safety, to participate in the team’s rookie minicamp next weekend, a source told the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Michael Gehlken. . @NDotCole_24 stepped-up for us in critical moments this fall, and I could not be happier for him as he continues his career with the @Raiders. I have so much respect for you, Nick, and appreciate all your contributions to our program! pic.twitter.com/HSvekAYJXm — Clark Lea (@Coach_Lea) April 28, 2019 Still waiting are: Defensive tackle Jonathan Bonner Safety Justin Brent (who finished his career with the Nevada Wolf Pack) Wide receiver Corey Holmes (who played graduate seasons with the Purdue Boilermakers and the FCS Morgan State Bears) (who played graduate seasons with the Purdue Boilermakers and the FCS Morgan State Bears) Cornerback Nick Watkins (who played his graduate year with the Houston Cougars) Tight end Nic Weishar Kicker Justin Yoon TO ALL UDFAs: FUCK THAT DRAFT! THEY SLEPT ON YOU! LOOK ON THE BRIGHTSIDE.. YOU CAN GET TO THE REAL MONEY MUCH FASTER!!! — Jarron Jones™ (@Who_GotJones94) April 28, 2019 Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said up to 2,880 roster spots will be filled as camps open, but that number will drop to 1,696 by the Saturday before Labor Day — which means some of these connections will be short-lived. The Irish had six draft picks this year: defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (first round, Los Angeles Chargers); wide receiver Miles Boykin (third round, Baltimore Ravens); defensive back Julian Love (fourth round, New York Giants), linebacker Drue Tranquill (fourth round, Los Angeles Chargers), running back Dexter Williams (sixth round, Green Bay Packers), and tight end Alize Mack (seventh round, New Orleans Saints). Notre Dame has had 504 players selected since the NFL Draft started in 1936.<doc-sep>The Green Bay Packers used the 194th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft on Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams. Last season, Williams rushed 158 times for 995 yards and 12 touchdowns in only nine games. He averaged 6.5 yards per rush and 110.6 rushing yards per game while also catching 16 passes for 133 yards and another score. He produced seven touchdowns over 30 yards, including a 97-yard score. At the combine, Williams (5-11, 212) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds, hit 36″ in the vertical jump and 10-10 in the broad jump and finished the three-cone drill in 7.0 seconds and the short shuttle in 4.16. He brings size and terrific lower-body power and quickness to the running back position. The Packers will team Williams with Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams in Matt LaFleur’s backfield. His one-cut-and-go ability could be an asset in the Packers’ new zone running scheme. However, Williams was suspended by Notre Dame for the first four games of the 2018 season after failing a drug test and was arrested in 2016 for drug possession, creating an off-the-field red flag as he enters the NFL. “Overall, Williams hasn’t been the model of reliability over his career, but his turnaround and productive senior season give evaluators optimism because he has the natural talent to upgrade a team’s running back depth chart if he stays committed,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote in his draft guide. The Packers have one pick left in the 2019 draft (No. 226 overall).<doc-sep>The Green Bay Packers are now up to three picks on day three of the 2019 NFL Draft. After selecting Texas A&M defensive tackle Kingsley Keke in round five and Toledo cornerback Ka’Dar Hollman with the first sixth-round pick, the Packers have gone back to the offense. Using the 194th overall pick, the Packers have selected running back Dexter Williams out of Notre Dame. Williams, a 5-foot-11, 211-pound back, recorded just under 1,000 rushing yards as a senior with 12 touchdowns on the ground plus 16 receptions for 133 yards and another score. He tested out fairly well in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine, with a 4.57-second 40-yard dash and a 7-second 3-cone drill. He also added excellent explosion numbers with a 36-inch vertical and a 10-foot-10 broad jump. This looks like a great value pick, as Williams was projected by many sources to come off the board much earlier on day three of the draft. He will join a Packers running back room that currently features Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams as the top options. However, with new head coach Matt LaFleur expecting to feature the running game more in 2019, the Packers now have another player to rotate in with those more established backs. Green Bay is scheduled to make its final pick of the 2019 NFL Draft in round seven at #226 overall.<doc-sep>
Julian Love, who forwent his senior season to pursue a professional career, was selected Saturday by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The 5-foot-11, 195 pound cornerback was the 12th from his position picked in the draft, 108th overall. Love was a consensus All-American in his final year for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, during which he recorded 63 tackles, 16 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and one interception. Love’s four-year rookie year contract will be worth $3,290,848, with a signing bonus of $770,848, according to Over The Cap. There’s a common reaction when a player with a year of eligibility left goes much lower than mock draft analysts believe he will go. I’m urging you to resist the criticism that Love should have returned. Love will be paid more than a million dollars to play football next year, as opposed to free. If he returns for his senior season, there’s no guarantee he repeats his junior season and there’s also a chance of injury. Stanford Cardinal running back Bryce Love, for example, was once considered a first-round talent. He returned for his senior season, tore his ACL and just got picked after Love. The Giants have one former Irish football player on their team. The NFC East team signed WR Golden Tate to a four year, $37 million contract in the offseason. The Giants previous picked Duke Blue Devils quarterback Daniel Jones sixth overall, Clemson Tigers defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence 17th overall, Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Deandre Baker 30th overall, Old Dominion Monarchs edge player Oshane Ximines in the third round (95th overall) and now Love. The team also picked up Sam Beal, a cornerback for the Western Michigan Broncos, in the third round of last year’s supplemental draft. Beal suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the entire season. Read more at Big Blue View, SB Nation’s Giants site. Feeling the love with this one. ❤️ Welcome to Big Blue, Julian Love! pic.twitter.com/5OVaDbJ8ak — New York Giants (@Giants) April 27, 2019 Julian Love becomes the 16th Notre Dame player ever drafted by the New York Giants and first since Bennett Jackson in the sixth round of the 2014 draft.#GoIrish — Michael Scholl ☘️ (@Scholl) April 27, 2019 It’s hard not to be excited for the @Giants ...in Julian Love they are getting a smart, fast, competitive football player who will represent their organization with class on and off the field. He is the epitome of a Notre Dame Man. Congrats, @julianlove27!! pic.twitter.com/50cEuIC0U9 — Clark Lea (@Coach_Lea) April 27, 2019 Congratulations Julian! The newest member of the NY Giants! pic.twitter.com/leNHJkaQmJ — Todd Lyght (@ToddLyght) April 27, 2019 Since his position coach, @ToddLyght was the No. 5 overall pick in 1991, only a handful of #NotreDame CBs were drafted sooner than @julianlove27 (108th): T Carter (17), W Clark (82), B Taylor (50), A Rossum (85), Brock Williams (86) and K Russell (74). — Eric Hansen (@EHansenNDI) April 27, 2019 Love joins a #Giants defense that ranked 10th in passer rating allowed in 2018 and tied for seventh with 16 interceptions but was 21st with 7.6 yards per attempt allowed. — Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) April 27, 2019