It’s become an annual rite of passage: Clemson Football players being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft each April.
While there are more than enough mock NFL drafts to go around, some have more gravitas than others.
Mike Tannenbaum spent 2006-2012 as General Manager of the New York Jets and 2015-2018 as Executive Vice-President of Football Operations for the Miami Dolphins.
Jets jokes aside, his bonavides are there and he knows what teams are looking for in first round draft picks.
Tannenbaum has the New England Patriots selecting Andrew Booth, Jr. with the 21st pick in the first round of the NFL draft on April 28, even picking Booth over LSUs Derek Stingley, Jr.
"Booth has great quickness, scheme flexibility and the ability to play all over. And why Booth over LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr.? Stingley has played only 10 games over the past two seasons, and his production over that time left a lot to be desired. That’s concerning, and I’m leaning toward Booth, because I know what I’m getting from him."
Of course, mock drafts are craps shoots and best guesses, trying to figure out what teams are thinking in the middle of cloak and dagger, figurative head fakes and outright lying to throw other teams, fans and the media off real intentions.
Also, if you miss one pick, say the second or third of the draft, it has a ripple effect and the misses multiply throughout the round and entire draft in general. They are never completely accurate, though some are more accurate than others.
The point is, that Booth, Jr. is seen as a first round pick and someone a league insider “knows what he’s getting” with his selection.
He’s also not scared to stick his nose in there.
Andrew Booth pic.twitter.com/z4LErMeHbm
— Seldom Used Reserve (@seldomusedres) September 7, 2021
Booth, Jr. only played in 25 games at Clemson, accumulating 68 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, one sack and 9 passes defensed, while being known for his spectacular interceptions, including the one below.
Andrew Booth [1] pic.twitter.com/SYvr85VcfK
— Seldom Used Reserve (@seldomusedres) November 29, 2021
Wednesday night we found out Booth, Jr. had undergone sports hernia surgery and while that may limit his work in the early offseason, he’s expected to be ready for training camp.