Notre Dame Football: 5 Best 2013 NFL Draft Prospects

The Notre Dame football team sent two first-round picks to the 2012 NFL draft in receiver Michael Floyd (No. 13, Arizona Cardinals) and safety Harrison Smith (No. 29, Minnesota Vikings).

In the 2013 NFL draft next April, the Irish could do the same. 

Linebacker Manti Te'o is a solid bet to be a first-rounder, and tight end Tyler Eifert has vaulted himself into the discussion. A big season catching the football could propel Eifert into the top-32 picks. 

In the following slides, we rundown Te'o, Eifert and the rest of the Irish's top 2013 draft prospects.

LB Manti Te'o

Te'o would have been a likely first-round pick had he come out in the 2012 NFL draft, but the stout linebacker decided to give another year to Notre Dame instead.

Most considered Te'o one of the very best players from the recruiting class of 2008, and he's delivered with the most tackles on the team over the last three seasons. 2011 was clearly his best season, as Teo tallied 128 tackles and five sacks for the Irish. 

At 6'2"and 255 pounds, Te'o is tailor-made to play linebacker at the next level. Barring some catastrophic injury or regression, he'll be a solid bet to be a first-round pick in 2013.

TE Tyler Eifert

Before we say anything about Eifert, it's worth noting that Notre Dame has produced a tight end drafted in the first two rounds three times since 2006. Eifert looks poised to join that group that includes Kyle Rudolph, John Carlson and Anthony Fasano. 

He stepped out of Rudolph's shadow in a big way in 2011, catching 64 passes for 803 yards and seven scores in 13 starts last season. 

Eifert is only a junior in 2012, so there's a possibility he stays around another season. But if he's able to replicate or beat his 2011 season, Eifert will run out of reasons to stay. He has the chance to be the first tight end off the board next April. 

OT Zack Martin

Martin, a starter of 26 games (24 at left tackle and two others at right) the last two seasons, has been one of the big reasons behind the turnaround of Notre Dame's offensive line. In 2011, the Irish allowed just 17 sacks and were much improved running the football. 

While Martin (6'4", 305 pounds) isn't likely to be one of the top tackle prospects for 2013, he will have the opportunity to come out if he receives a high grade from scouts after the season. He's just a junior in 2012. 

More than likely, Martin will stick around another two years to hone his craft. By 2014, he could be a second or third-round pick.

RB Cierre Wood

Wood has started just 14 games in his collegiate career, and the Irish have a somewhat crowded backfield to start 2012. 

But it's clear that Wood has more natural ability than any Irish skill player, and he should be used as such next season. The touches should come for a back that is NFL ready right now. 

Last season, Wood set career highs with 1,102 yards rushing and nine scores. He displayed the size (6'0", 215 pounds) and speed combination that NFL scouts still covet at the position. 

If he comes out after his junior season, Wood could be a third- or fourth-rounder. 

S Jamoris Slaughter

The pickings start getting slim for Notre Dame after Wood, but Slaughter looks like a guy who could impress as a late-rounder.

He has good size for the safety position (6'0, 200 pounds), and he should test well in agility/speed drills in the pre-draft lead up. 

Slaughter did have an ankle injury last season, and it's something that should be monitored in 2012. But Slaughter looks like he has some upside as a sixth- or seventh-round pick next April.