Notre Dame football: 3 former Fighting Irish stars who need an NFL team in 2021

These three former Notre Dame football stars are in need of a new NFL team for 2021.

With the 2021 NFL Draft firmly in the rearview, let’s take a look at some former Notre Dame football stars who are still without a team this deep into 2021 NFL free agency.

With Brian Kelly taking over in South Bend, the Fighting Irish have been one of the better programs in the country over the last decade. While Notre Dame has not won a national title under Kelly, they have played for one and have made the College Football Playoff twice with him at the helm. A big reason for this is he recruits and develops a ton of high-end NFL talent at Notre Dame.

Here are three former Notre Dame football stars who are still without an NFL team this offseason.

Notre Dame football: 3 former Fighting Irish stars in need of a new NFL team

Maybe Manti Te’o has a season or two left in the tank before he calls it a career?

Kelly’s greatest player in linebacker Manti Te’o has not played very much at all the last two seasons. He appeared in the Chicago Bears‘ playoff game vs. his former employer in the New Orleans Saints. While he has not been the same transcendent player in his three NFL stops as he was at Notre Dame, maybe Te’o can make a roster heading into his age-30 season this year?

Tyler Eifert actually had a healthy season in his lone year down in Duval

Injuries have derailed former Notre Dame star tight end Tyler Eifert in his NFL career. At his peak, he was a Pro Bowler in his third year in the league with the 2015 Cincinnati Bengals. However, Eifert has only appeared in all 16 games in a season once in eight years. While he did not play in all 16 with the 2020 Jacksonville Jaguars, Eifert has been relatively healthy in the last two seasons.

Golden Tate can still be an impactful receiver at this point of his NFL career

After 11 NFL seasons, Golden Tate is looking to join his fifth franchise. He spent the last two years with the New York Giants, but did not achieve the same individual success he experienced previously with the Detroit Lions, nor the same team success he had early in his career with the Seattle Seahawks. This savvy veteran receiver could help round out many team’s receiving corps.

Overall, the Fighting Irish still have three guys who can make an impact on NFL rosters. Tate and Eifert are likely to get signed, while it remains to be seen with Te’o. As for who will be the better player in 2021 between Tate and Eifert, it really comes down to what team they go to and how they will be featured in their respective teams’ offenses. Right now, the edge should go to Tate.

Where do you believe these three former Notre Dame football stars will end up signing in 2021?

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