Two Tigers projected in 1st round of latest NFL Mock Draft

by Tony Crumpton - Assoc. Editor - Fri Mar 31 11:40:51 GMT-04:00 2017

Walterfootball.com released their 2017 NFL Mock Draft and two former Clemson players are projected in the first round and eight total Tigers through five rounds.

Former Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams was projected #10 overall to the Buffalo Bills.

"So, if this pick isn't a quarterback, what will the Bills do?," Walterfootball.com said. "My guess is that Mike Williams becomes the top option. Buffalo has nothing at receiver outside of Sammy Watkins, who has trouble staying healthy. Williams is a stud. He dominated the national championship, and he has drawn comparisons to Andre Johnson. The Titans and Buccaneers have strong interest in Mike Williams, but he won't make it to their picks (Tennessee's No. 18; not No. 5)."

In 2016, Williams had 98 receptions for 1361 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had 177 catches for 2727 yards and 21 touchdowns (and his degree) during his impressive collegiate career at Clemson.

Former Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson was projected #30 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"I should note that no team we've spoken to has Deshaun Watson as a first-round prospect. One high-ranking personnel man in the NFC told me he has Watson as a third-round prospect," Walterfootball.com said. "It's so much like the Teddy Bridgewater draft, when the media had Bridgewater in the first round, and yet NFL franchises considered him to be a second-day prospect, even before his woeful pro day. However, this was prior to the national championship, so I have to believe some team will trade up into the back end of the opening frame to take Watson, much like the Vikings did with Bridgewater. In this case, Pittsburgh is simply taking Watson with its own pick, and I think it's a very logical selection."

In 2016, Watson completed 388 passes out of 579 attempts for 4593 yards and 41 passing touchdowns with 17 interceptions (and his degree) for an adjusted QBR of 84.9.

In other Clemson player draft projections -- Carlos Watkins was projected to go to the New York Giants in the second round with the #55th overall pick, Cordrea Tankersley was predicted to go to the Houston Texans in the third round with the #89th overall pick, Jordan Leggett was projected to the Tennessee Titans in the third round with the 100th overall pick, Wayne Gallman to the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round with the 174th overall pick, Artavis Scott to the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round with the 178th overall pick, and finally Jadar Johnson to the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round with the #182 overall pick.