CLEMSON — A year after quarterback Trevor Lawrence was selected first overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Tigers don’t have a prospect scheduled to go off the board that early on April 28.
Andrew Booth Jr., a Clemson cornerback, has a chance to select in the first 32 picks. But that’s probably the end of the Tigers’ first-round hopes.
So, where are they going to land? Let’s look at what the draft experts have to say.
Andrew Booth Jr.
Corner, a lesser, ordered some noteworthy game tape during his time at Clemson. His one-gave interference versus Virginia in 2020 moves stunningness at whatever point it’s recapping, and the 6-foot, 200-pound. The corner was a human tripwire versus runs and short passes in 2021. He’s not reluctant to get grimy.
Yet, put that tape away, and Booth couldn’t show NFL scouts a lot during the pre-draft process. Wounds sidelined him from working out at both the NFL Combine and Clemson’s genius day. Considering the Georgia local didn’t take off until his lesser year and injury burdens, that is a worry.
With this set of conditions, NFL teams will have to ask themselves: Can they trust what they see on film?
Experts believe that at least one team will say “yes” to that query. Recent mock drafts had Booth going to the Chiefs, with ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. having him off the board at No. 29. Booth is the No. 30 overall pick for Kansas City by Pro Football Focus. You can wager on NFL on our recommended site which is OKBET.
On the top end, Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News projects Booth to the Vikings at No. 12 overall.
Booth is Dane Bugler’s No. 26 overall prospect, and he’s anywhere between a first- and second-round pick, according to The Athletic. In man coverage, Bugler has a good feel for “pattern matching,” but he can make blunders in zone coverage.
“Booth’s tape shows some volatility, and he has to develop his feel for space,” Bugler said in his selection guide, “but he possesses fluid athleticism, finds the football, and disturbs the catch point, three crucial aspects to playing the position at a high level.” “If he stays healthy, he has NFL starting potential and projects best in a man-to-man scheme.”
If Booth selects in the first round, Clemson will have a first-round choice in four consecutive drafts, extending the program’s all-time streak. Only Alabama and Florida have had a first-round pick in the last nine years, as Clemson has had one in eight years.
Justyn Ross
Dabo Swinney has stated that whatever the NFL team selects, Ross will be getting a “first-round talent,” but a group taking a chance on the 6-4, 205-pound receiver in the first round seems improbable.
Ross was obligatory to sit out the 2020 football season due to a neck problem that doctors thought would destroy his career. He returned in 2021 but did so with a fracture in his foot that he played through all ten games before aggravating it against UConn and needing surgery to repair it.
Ross is gifted once more. As a freshman, he had 46 catches for 1,000 yards (21.7 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns, and as a sophomore, he had 66 grabs for 865 yards (13.1 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns. Ross couldn’t quite connect with D.J. in his final season. Uiagalelei threw for 514 yards and three touchdowns on 46 catches (11.2 per catch).
Ross’s draft team will be taking a chance on his potential, hoping that his injury problems are behind him and that the freshman version is still obtainable. Ross will very certainly be a Day 3 choice on April 30.
Ross is forecast to be a sixth-round pick to a priority-free agent by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. Evaluates as a fourth- or fifth-round pick and the No. 19 receiver in the draft by Bugler, who rates him as a fourth- or fifth-round pick.
“Ross’ NFL evaluation is contingent on his medicals,” Bugler said, “but he is a long, limber athlete with possibly the biggest catch radius of any receiver in the draft class.” “He’s a high-risk talent with a difficult forecast because there’s no assurance he’ll return to his pre-injury form.”
Mario Goodrich
Goodrich was probably not even on the NFL’s radar a year ago. He started four games and had 16 tackles and two interceptions.
Goodrich emerged as a late bloomer as a senior, starting all 12 games and earning first-team All-ACC accolades alongside Booth. The 6-foot-180-pounder had 48 tackles and nine pass breakups. Two interceptions on the season (including a pick-6 in the Cheez-It Bowl).
The question now is whether the NFL sees a one-hit-wonder or a player who has matured just in time.
Goodrich, who was welcome to the Senior Bowl, ran 40-yard run times in the 4.5-second reach at the join. Clemson’s master day, yet he was combating rib issues during both. So those times presumably won’t kill his stock.
“He has a size and plays an actual inclusion yet may be fastened to a zone plot because of an absence of wanted pursue speed,” Zierlein composed. “He’s solid against the run and has exemplary Cover 2 qualities. Yet Goodrich could get some thought as reinforcement security.”
Goodrich might be a free agent or a late-round pick. But, again, that’s more thought than he’d likely receive in 2020. Goodrich has at least a chance to play at the next level with a strong 2021.
Baylon Spector
Spector is the most likely to pick among Clemson’s fifth and sixth-year seniors.
Clemson linebacker James Skalski is rated as a free agent by Bugler and Zierlein, who have sixth-round evaluations. Safety Nolan Turner, who ran a 4.37 40-yard sprint and a 37.5-inch vertical at Clemson’s pro day, has a more mixed reception from analysts. He ran a blistering 4.37 40-yard dash and registered a 37.5-inch vertical but doesn’t look to play with such speed on the field.
Then again, draft specialists appear to accept Spector can surpass his testing numbers. My previous well-being who built up to play linebacker. Spector piled up 210 professional handles at Clemson. He ran a 4.6-second 40-yard run at 6-1, 233 pounds on his master day.
Zierlein considers him a “solid working drone linebacker who plays with amazing senses and essentials.” Bugler concurs.
“Spector has some well-being linebacker tweener attributes. Which harms his potential NFL roof,” Bugler expressed, “yet he is natural and athletic, which can keep him acquiring an NFL check as a reinforcement and exceptional teamer.”
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