Clemson Football: Dexter Lawrence is a gem in the late-first round
Former Clemson football defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is being projected as a late-first round pick, and second round pick, by most NFL Mock Drafts.
If you’ve been keeping up with NFL Mock Drafts, you know that there are three former Clemson football players that are consistently finding their name in the first round.
Clelin Ferrell is expected to go between that 12-20 range. Christian Wilkins is expected to go anywhere between that 13-23 range. And then there’s Dexter Lawrence.
There are mixed reviews of Dexter Lawrence. Nothing necessarily related to his on-the-field talent.
Everyone pretty much agrees that Lawrence is a dominant nose-tackle at the next level. The problem with why he’s not going higher in the NFL Draft, though, is because most organizations consider Lawrence to be a two-down player.
He doesn’t provide much of a pass-rush and really does project as that big interior lineman that you see on first down and second down, as well as in short-yardage situations. That type of player just doesn’t go highly drafted.
For Lawrence, he also has a bit of a cloud hanging over his head.
He was one of three Clemson football players to test positive for Ostarine, an illegal substance, before the beginning of the CFB Playoff. Because of that, Lawrence was forced to sit out the final two games of his career.
It should be noted that Lawrence has handled the situation as well as anyone could. He has taken the higher road and has been open and honest about the entire process. He truly doesn’t know how the substance got in his system and has maintained that he’s not that type of player or person.
But, with the scandal and with the fact that he is projected to be a two-down player in the NFL, most mock drafts have Lawrence going anywhere between pick No. 23 and falling out of the first round altogether.
It’s uncertain if a team at the end of the first round will take Lawrence. Many are in need of interior defensive line help. I think he could be considered the gem of the first round.
Lawrence is a dominant interior defensive lineman with plenty of skill to be a talented run-stuffer as soon as he steps foot on an NFL field.
Next. OL chemistry progressing following the spring. dark
If a team like the Indianapolis Colts- who have been really impressed with Lawrence- or the Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, LA Chargers or Philadelphia Eagles came away with Lawrence at the end of the first round, it would be a steal.
A gem near the end of the first round. That’s exactly what Dexter Lawrence is going to prove to be.