Three Tigers listed on Mel Kiper's 2019 NFL Big Board |
College football is back, and that means various NFL draft boards and mock drafts.
ESPN's eccentric 'draft guru' Mel Kiper Jr. released his way-too-early 2019 NFL Draft Board this week and had three Clemson defensive linemen included in the top 20. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence was rated No. 5 overall and the No. 3 DT behind Houston's Ed Oliver (1) and Rashan Gary (3). "As I wrote in my way-too-early Big Board, big-bodied guys who move like Lawrence and can eat gaps don't last long in the draft," Kiper said. "And Lawrence has shown that he is more than a plugger -- he has nine sacks in two seasons."
Defensive end Clelin Ferrell was chosen No. 14 overall and the No. 3 DE behind Ohio State's Nick Bosa (2) and Alabama's Raekwon Davis (7).
"I thought Ferrell could have been a first-round pick in the 2018 draft when he was a third-year sophomore," Kiper said. "He's that good. And so Clemson now has one of the most talented defensive lines I've ever seen in college football. Ferrell has 30.5 tackles for loss in two seasons, and he's a menace on the edge."
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins was rated No. 20 overall and the sixth best at his position.
"Like Ferrell, Wilkins skipped the draft and decided to return for another season at Clemson," Kiper said. "And like Ferrell, Wilkins could have gone on Day 1 last April. I compared Wilkins last year to former Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, because he's scheme-versatile and could play end or tackle in the NFL. The Clemson defensive line is loaded."
Here is Kiper's entire NFL Big Board:
1. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
2. Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
3. Rashan Gary, DT, Michigan
4. Devin White, LB, LSU
5. Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
6. Andraez "Greedy" Williams, CB, LSU
7. Raekwon Davis, DE, Alabama
8. Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
9. A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss
10. Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
11. Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
12. Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
13. Trey Adams, OT, Washington
14. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
15. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
16. Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State
17. Rodney Anderson, RB, Oklahoma
18. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
19. Brian Burns, OLB/DE, Florida State
20. Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
21. N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
22. Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
23. Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
24. Zach Allen, DE, Boston College
25. David Edward, OT, Wisconsin
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