Clemson Football: Who is the first Tiger off the board in the 2019 NFL Draft?
Several Clemson football players will hear their names called in the 2019 NFL Draft, but who will be the first taken off the board?
Three former Clemson football players are expected to be taken in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Those three guys are Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell and Dexter Lawrence.
It’s pretty impressive that three players off the same defensive line are expected to go within picks of each other at the top portion of the draft, but that’s exactly what’s expected to happen.
Depending on which analyst or scout you talk to, you’ll get different answers on who will be the first Tiger off the board.
For the longest time, it seemed that Clelin Ferrell was a lock to be taken as the first Tiger. Ferrell was trending up draft boards and was anywhere between pick No. 10 and pick No. 14. Lately, though, Ferrell has been seen anywhere between pick No. 12 and pick No. 18.
Christian Wilkins, who previously was considered either a late-teens pick or an early-20s pick, has been trending upwards and into the mid-teens as of late. Though some still have Wilkins going in the 20s, most have him going right around No. 14 to No. 19.
When looking at the three guys, I do believe that Dexter Lawrence will be the last Tiger taken in the first round. He is expected to go somewhere in the 20s, although there have been a few mock drafts with him going No. 19 to the Tennessee Titans, which would be a good fit. Still, that No. 19 spot will most likely have already seen either Wilkins or Ferrell go before it.
So, who will be the first Tiger taken?
Next. Kendall Joseph's 2019 NFL Draft Grade. dark
I think the safe pick is still Clelin Ferrell. Scouts like his ability off the edge as a middle pick in the first round, but the trendy pick is certainly Christian Wilkins.
Wilkins has impressed the upper management in interviews and in his workouts. It only takes one team to fall in love with him and then all of a sudden it may very well be Wilkins who ends up going a pick or two before Ferrell.