Clemson Football: How many Tigers’ defenders could be drafted in 2019?
Coming off of a down year in terms of players drafted, how many Clemson football defenders could hear their names called in the 2019 NFL draft?
Despite a third straight ACC championship and College Football Playoff appearance, the Tigers didn’t have many players drafted in 2018.
Dorian O’Daniel was the highest Clemson alum off the board at 100th overall, followed by Deon Cain at 185th and Ray-Ray McCloud at 187th. While three players taken certainly isn’t bad, it’s not the normal output the Tigers have become accustomed to.
2019 NFL Draft
Clemson is loaded on the defensive side of the ball coming into 2018. At this point, we are all familiar with the excess of talent the Tigers have along the defensive line. It’s say to predict that Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant will all be drafted in 2019.
That being said, Clemson has more than a few other players who could potentially hear their names called on draft night next year.
The Tigers have a host of defensive backs who will be draft eligible at the end of the 2018 season. Headlining that group is corner back, Trayvon Mullen. At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Mullen has prototypical NFL size and speed. With a strong season in 2018, we could see Mullen declare early for the draft.
Players like K’Von Wallace, Tanner Muse and Mark Fields, will all have a good chance at being drafted depending on their production this season.
At linebacker, Kendall Joseph will almost certainly be drafted in 2019. Tre Lamar, while young, has the size and tape to shoot up draft boards next year as well should he decide to declare early.
I wouldn’t count out players such as Isaiah Simmons and Albert Huggins either. Both certainly look the part of an NFL player and have the Clemson pedigree on their side.
Next: Predicting Clemson's post-spring depth chart at WR
As of right now, I’d say the Tigers will have at least six defensive players taken in the 2019 NFL draft. That number could certainly swell to 9 or 10 with a few early declarations.