NFL Draft recap: Unpacking where Notre Dame football players landed and what they bring

SOUTH BEND — The 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit was another impressive showing for Notre Dame football players. Seven former Irish stars were selected during the seven rounds of the much-much hyped three-day event that began Thursday and wrapped up early Saturday evening.

Offensive tackle Joe Alt became the highest Notre Dame player picked since 1993 when he went fifth overall (first round) to Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers.

Defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste was the final Irish player to go with the 222nd overall in the seventh round to the Washington Commanders.

Could big Joe Alt be an emergency QB for the Los Angeles Chargers? 'Let's be real.'

Notre Dame football remains the overall all-time leader in NFL draft picks with 532, three more than rival USC. Here's a recap of where Irish draftees ended up an what those NFL teams are getting:

1. OT Joe Alt: Los Angeles Chargers, 1st round, 5th overall pick

The son of former Kansas City Chiefs LT John Alt is a late bloomer who signed as a three-star TE out of high school. Alt moved into the starting lineup midway through his freshman year and quickly developed into a dominant force on the left side. A fundamentally sound technician, Alt admittedly needs to remind himself to play lower and strike with force off the snap. Some NFL teams talked with Alt about his willingness to play RT. Highly coachable and having learned from three position coaches in as many years, he only tu

2. OT Blake Fisher: Houston Texans, 2nd round, 59th pick

The first true freshman to start at left tackle in Notre Dame history, Fisher missed 11 games but worked back from torn meniscus in his knee to take over right tackle duties in the Fiesta Bowl. Just turned 21 on March 25, so he still has plenty of projectability along with the versatility of being able to play both tackle spots. Like teammate Joe Alt, who ultimately replaced him at left tackle, Fisher had to adapt to three different position coaches during his college career. Plays with leverage but speed rushers have been known to give him trouble.

3. LB Marist Liufau: Dallas Cowboys, 3rd round, 87th pick

After missing all of 2021 with a major injury to his lower right leg (broken fibula and dislocated ankle), Liufau returned to lead the Irish with 646 defensive snaps in 2022. He ranked third in defensive snaps with 595 in 2023, and his 24 consecutive starts was the longest active streak on the defense before he skipped the Sun Bowl. A physical presence with coverage skills and pass-rushing ability (40 career pressures), Liufau came through the same high school program as Irish LB great Manti Te’o. Liufau contributed 335 career plays on special t

4. CB Cam Hart: Los Angeles Chargers, 5th round, 140th pick

A converted WR who overcame three shoulder surgeries during his five-year college career. The first pure cornerback in 20 years to be voted a Notre Dame team captain and just the fourth in modern team history. Graded out at 84.2% in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus, in 2023. That placed Hart 23rd nationally among all cornerbacks with at least 200 defensive snaps. A

5. LB JD Bertrand: Atlanta Falcons, 8th round, 143rd pick

A finalist for the Campbell Trophy (aka the academic Heisman), Bertrand led Notre Dame in tackles the past three seasons. The last player to do that for the Irish was Manti Te’o from 2010-12. What Bertrand lacks in raw athleticism he offsets with preparation, instinctive play and rugged determination. A two-time team captain who moved inside for his final two seasons, Bertrand is an effective blitzer (61 career pressures, per Pro Football Focus) but struggled at times with missed tackles (42 over his final three years

6. RB Audric Estimé: Denver Broncos, 5th round, 147th pick

Renounced his final year of eligibility after breaking the program record for single-season rushing touchdowns. The previous mark had been shared by Allen Pinkett (1984) and Vagas Ferguson (1979). Powerful workhorse who also showed off his surprising agility with leaping runs against Clemson (2023) and BYU (2022). Shows excellent vision and instincts with more burst than defenders might expect. Forced 105 missed tackles (4.2 average) over his final 25 games. Struggled with a midseas

7. DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste: Washington Commanders, 7th round, 222nd

Pegged as a situational pass rusher upon his arrival from Ohio State, Jean-Baptiste expanded his game and his impact in his one-and-done experience with the Irish. Blessed with enviable measurables, including a 33 ¾-inch reach and 10-inch hands, Jean-Baptiste remained a force off the edge and graded out well against the run (85.4 grade). According to Pro Football Focus, that trailed only LB Jack Kiser among all Irish defenders. Jean-Baptiste led the team with five sacks and made 36 tackles, not missing a t

Undrafted free agent signings

☘ QB Sam Hartman: Washington Commanders

Hartman played one season for the Irish after leaving Wake Forest as a graduate transfer, going 36-21 as a starter, but just 5-10 against ranked teams. He overcame a broken leg (2018) and a blood clot (2022) to finish tied for third in FBS history in touchdown passes and fifth in passing yards. His arm strength and speed are only average, but his leadership, production and durability could have earned him a late-round draft slot. He struggled in the Senior Bowl (7-for-25 passing, 69 yards, one interception) but his lone season in a pro-style offense at Notre Dame yielded career-bests in completion percentage (63.5%), yards per attempt (8.9) and passer rating (159.5).

☘ DB Thomas Harper: Los Angeles Chargers

Harper missed just three tackles all season and none after Game 3 at N.C. State. Making 10 starts as a slot-coverage specialist, Harper finished with 41 tackles and the nation's sixth-best tackling grade (88.9) among cornerbacks, per Pro Football Focus. A torn labrum ended his 2022 season at Oklahoma State, but his shoulder held up for the Irish. He missed the Oct. 7 loss at Louisville due to concussion protocol and missed the Sun Bowl to undergo minor hand surgery. Older brother Devin, a sixth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2022, has appeared in 12 NFL games as a LB.

☘ K Spencer Shrader: Indianapolis Colts

Blessed with one of the strongest right legs at the college level, the former international soccer hopeful struggled at times with consistency in his only year at Notre Dame. Shrader missed four of 12 attempts from inside the 50 as the Irish changed holders at his request after four games. He dropped from fourth (80.65%) to 26^th (65.52%) in touchback rate at the FBS level, in part because of Notre Dame’s directional kickoff coverage approach. A true Renaissance kicker, Shrader dabbles in Austrian economics, real estate investment and nonprofit initiatives.

It took the grad transfer just three games to break the 47-year-old program record for longest field goal with a 54-yarder at N.C. State on Sept. 9

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football NFL Draft picks and free agent signing tracker