Clemson football: Latest mock draft has four Tigers in Top 50 picks
Clemson football is loaded with NFL talent for 2020 and several of them are expected to hear their names called in the first two rounds in 2021.
The 2020 Clemson football team is by far the most talented team that the Tigers have ever assembled. According to USA Today, they are the eighth-most talented team in the country. Alabama, Ohio State, UGA, Penn State, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Michigan are allegedly more talented
During head coach, Dabo Swinney’s time at the helm of the Tigers, NFL scouts, general managers, and coaches have spent a lot of time on campus getting to know the stars of college football.
With all the talent on this roster, there are four that are expected to hear their names called in the firsts 50 picks of the 2021 NFL draft.
NFL Draftwire, which is run by USA Today, released its latest mock draft and they believe that three Clemson players will be taken in the first round and a fourth will go in the middle of the third round. While the names are the players we all know will be drafted, their landing spots are much different than we have seen previously.
Trevor Lawrence - 2nd overall – Jackson Jaguars
NFL Draftwire believes that Trevor Lawrence will actually be the second player taken in the draft and they believe that he will end up in Jacksonville. No, Justin Fields was not their first pick. They actually have Washington taking Oregon tackle Penei Sewell with the top pick in the 2021 draft and Lawrence being taken by the Jaguars at pick number two.
Washington skipping a quarterback would not be surprising as they just spent a first-round pick on Dwayne Haskins in 2019 and believe that he is the future of the franchise. When you believe you have your guy you must protect him at all costs, so going offensive tackle makes a lot of sense.
The Jaguars taking Trevor at number two is the surest bet in the 2021 NFL draft. Gardner Minshew and “Minshew mania” is a cute story but the Jaguars want to win and Trevor is the most for-sure prospect since Andrew Luck.
Travis Etienne - 13th overall – Atlanta Falcons
If this mock draft were to come true, this would make Travis just the fifth running back to be taken in the Top 20 picks since 2013; he would join Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, Ezekiel Elliott, and Saquon Barkley.
The Atlanta Falcons have four running backs under contract currently, Todd Gurley, Ito Smith, Brian Hill, and Qadree Ollison, but Gurley and Hill are unrestricted free agents after the 2020 season and the Falcons going running back would make a lot of sense for them, especially one as explosive and as versatile as Etienne.
Jackson Carman - 25th overall – Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is the most hit/sacked quarterback in the NFL. Protecting him has to be the most important offseason move in 2021 for the Seahawks and drafting Jackson Carman would do that on a team-friendly five-year deal.
Carman has faced the nation’s best pass-rushers during his first two years at Clemson and did not give up a sack to any of them.
Since Gus Goins was drafted in 1939, Clemson football has never had an offensive lineman taken in the first round of the NFL draft, this would obviously make Jackson Carman the first. Only Harold Olsen in 1960 and Dave Thompson in 1971 was drafted out of Clemson the second round. Carman being taken this high up is a testament to not only his talent but the development going on in Death Valley.
Xavier Thomas - 45th overall – Atlanta Falcons
According to Draftwire, the Falcons will double-dip in the 2021 NFL draft with former Clemson football players.
This pick makes a lot of sense. The Falcons declined the fifth-year option for former first-round pick Takk McKinley and will more than likely move on from him after the 2020 season concludes, which means that they will be in the market for a pass rusher.
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Thomas is undersized by NFL standards, but he does bring a variety bag of moves needed to get to the quarterback on that level. He would also get the chance to join former Clemson football standout Grady Jarrett and A.J. Terrell as Atlanta continues to mold a young defense into a championship contender.