The 2020 NFL draft is set for April 23-25. Here’s a look at where players from Illinois colleges plus Notre Dame, as well as alumni of Illinois high schools who played college football out of state, are projected to be picked in various mock drafts.
Players are listed in consensus order of full seven-round mock drafts (updated as of April 16) by Bleacher Report, CBSSports.com, DraftSite.com, Drafttek.com, Pro Football Network, Sporting News, USA Today Draftwire and WalterFootball.com, along with their grade (and grade explanation) on the NFL.com draft tracker.
Other players with an NFL.com grade or who appear among the Football Database’s draft prospects but aren’t predicted to be picked in any of the mock drafts are listed at the end.
A.J. Epenesa, Iowa DE (Edwardsville)
NFL.com grade: 6.38 (will be starter within first two seasons)
BR: 1st round (No. 25)
CBS: 1st round (No. 19)
DS: 1st round (No. 22)
DT: 1st round (No. 21)
PFN: 1st round (No. 23)
SN: 1st round (No. 17)
USAT: 1st round (No. 28)
WF: 1st round (No. 29)
Cole Kmet, Notre Dame TE (St. Viator)
NFL.com grade: 6.34 (will be starter within first two seasons)
BR: 2nd round (No. 50)
CBS: 1st round (No. 30)
DS: 2nd round (No. 49)
DT: 3rd round (No. 66)
PFN: 3rd round (No. 88)
SN: 2nd round (No. 44)
USAT: 2nd round (No. 43)
WF: 3rd round (No. 75)
Julian Okwara, Notre Dame edge rusher
NFL.com grade: 6.26 (good backup who could become starter)
BR: 2nd round (No. 54)
CBS: 2nd round (No. 48)
DS: 2nd round (No. 47)
DT: 2nd round (No. 55)
PFN: 2nd round (No. 54)
SN: 2nd round (No. 54)
USAT: 2nd round (No. 57)
WF: 3rd round (No. 99)
Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois safety
NFL.com grade: 6.15 (good backup who could become starter)
BR: 1st round (No. 27)
CBS: 3rd round (No. 98)
DS: 3rd round (No. 86)
DT: 3rd round (No. 89)
PFN: 2nd round (No. 53)
SN: 3rd round (No. 69)
USAT: 2nd round (No. 53)
WF: 1st round (No. 27)
Chase Claypool, Notre Dame WR
NFL.com grade: 6.35 (will be starter within first two seasons)
BR: 2nd round (No. 44)
CBS: 4th round (No. 107)
DS: 4th round (No. 107)
DT: 3rd round (No. 81)
PFN: 3rd round (No. 86)
SN: 3rd round (No. 65)
USAT: 3rd round (No. 98)
WF: 2nd round (No. 44)
Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri TE (Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin)
NFL.com grade: 6.00 (developmental traits-based prospect)
BR: 4th round (No. 131)
CBS: 3rd round (No. 100)
DS: 2nd round (No. 61)
DT: 5th round (No. 151)
PFN: 3rd round (No. 82)
SN: 4th round (No. 123)
USAT: 4th round (No. 116)
WF: 3rd round (No. 66)
Troy Pride Jr., Notre Dame CB
NFL.com grade: 5.96 (backup/special-teamer)
BR: 4th round (No. 144)
CBS: 3rd round (No. 86)
DS: 4th round (No. 145)
DT: 4th round (No. 140)
PFN: 3rd round (No. 94)
SN: 3rd round (No. 82)
USAT: 4th round (No. 122)
WF: 3rd round (No. 88)
Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame edge rusher
NFL.com grade: 5.97 (backup/special-teamer)
BR: 4th round (No. 115)
CBS: 3rd round (No. 99)
DS: 3rd round (No. 83)
DT: 5th round (No. 171)
PFN: 3rd round (No. 93)
SN: 3rd round (No. 93)
USAT: 4th round (No. 137)
WF: 4th round (No. 138)
Raequan Williams, Michigan State DT (DePaul Prep)
NFL.com grade: 5.86 (backup/special-teamer)
BR: 6th round (No. 197)
CBS: 6th round (No. 186)
DS: 7th round (No. 222)
DT: 5th round (No. 172)
PFN: 5th round (No. 164)
SN: 5th round (No. 170)
USAT: 5th round (No. 151)
WF: 7th round (No. 248)
Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame safety
NFL.com grade: 5.65 (chance to make end of roster or practice squad)
BR: 7th round (No. 220)
CBS: 7th round (No. 254)
DS: 5th round (No. 156)
DT: 7th round (No. 243)
PFN: 4th round (No. 141)
SN: 6th round (No. 204)
USAT: 5th round (No. 165)
WF: 6th round (No. 188)
James Robinson, Illinois State RB (Rockford Lutheran)
NFL.com grade: 5.65 (chance to make end of roster or practice squad)
BR: undrafted
CBS: 7th round (No. 244)
DS: 7th round (No. 224)
DT: 7th round (No. 225)
PFN: 7th round (No. 221)
SN: 6th round (No. 183)
USAT: 7th round (No. 250)
WF: undrafted
Jalen Elliott, Notre Dame safety
NFL.com grade: 5.40 (priority free agent)
BR: 7th round (No. 251)
CBS: 7th round (No. 234)
DS: undrafted
DT: undrafted
PFN: 7th round (No. 226)
SN: 7th round (No. 245)
USAT: 7th round (No. 229)
WF: 6th round (No. 198)
Oluwole Betiku Jr., Illinois edge rusher
NFL.com grade: 6.00 (developmental traits-based prospect)
BR: undrafted
CBS: undrafted
DS: 3rd round (No. 106)
DT: 6th round (No. 210)
PFN: 4th round (No. 127)
SN: undrafted
USAT: 7th round (No. 240)
WF: 6th round (No. 207)
Joe Gaziano, Northwestern DE
NFL.com grade: 5.47 (priority free agent)
BR: undrafted
CBS: undrafted
DS: 6th round (No. 196)
DT: undrafted
PFN: undrafted
SN: 7th round (No. 241)
USAT: undrafted
WF: 4th round (No. 129)
Jeff Thomas, Miami WR (East St. Louis)
NFL.com grade: 5.60 (chance to make end of roster or practice squad)
BR: undrafted
CBS: 5th round (No. 177)
DS: 6th round (No. 205)
DT: undrafted
PFN: undrafted
SN: undrafted
USAT: undrafted
WF: 6th round (No. 185)
Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms, Missouri guard (East St. Louis)
NFL.com grade: 5.40 (priority free agent)
BR: undrafted
CBS: undrafted
DS: 7th round (No. 225)
DT: undrafted
PFN: undrafted
SN: undrafted
USAT: undrafted
WF: 6th round (No. 210)
Steve Wirtel, Iowa State long snapper (Mount Carmel)
NFL.com grade: 5.80 (backup/special-teamer)
BR: undrafted
CBS: undrafted
DS: undrafted
DT: undrafted
PFN: undrafted
SN: 6th round (No. 185)
USAT: undrafted
WF: undrafted
Dele Harding, Illinois LB
BR: undrafted
CBS: undrafted
DS: undrafted
DT: undrafted
PFN: undrafted
SN: 7th round (No. 230)
USAT: undrafted
WF: undrafted
Other local draft hopefuls
Asmar Bilal, Notre Dame LB
Matt Cole, McKendree WR (Curie)
Reggie Corbin, Illinois RB
Chris Finke, Notre Dame WR
Jordan Glasgow, Michigan LB (Marmion)
Madre Harper, Southern Illinois CB
Tony Jones Jr., Notre Dame RB
Luke Juriga, Western Michigan C/G (Marmion)
Nick Kaltmayer, Kansas State OT (Edwardsville)
Nigel Kilby, Southern Illinois TE
Luther Kirk, Illinois State safety
LaCale London, Western Illinois DT (Peoria)
Tucker McCann, Missouri kicker (O’Fallon)
Patrick Nelson, SMU safety (Hales)
Nate Wieting, Iowa TE (Rockford Lutheran)
