The Clemson Tigers are off to a slow start by Dabo Swinney’s standards, sitting at 4-3 overall and 2-3 in ACC play. Through eight weeks of the 2023 college football season, all has not gone to plan, with losses to Duke, Florida State, and Miami.
However, there is a bevy of talent on the Clemson Football roster, and they’re sure to flood the NFL with said talent. Just take this 2024 NFL Mock Draft for example, where nine different Tigers are selected.
Clemson Football Sends Nine in 2024 NFL Mock Draft
In a recent 7-round 2024 NFL Mock Draft for ProFootballNetwork.com, PFN’s Ian Cummings selects nine Clemson players, including two in the first round.
Here’s how they broke down, where they were selected, and what Cumming had to say.
Round 1, Pick 22: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB
Landing with the Seattle Seahawks, Cummings pegged Trotter as the first Tiger off the board.
“Right now, it appears to be a toss-up between Clemson teammates Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Barrett Carter to be the first LB prospect selected in the 2024 NFL Draft,” Cummings wrote. “The Seahawks need stability at LB, and Trotter can provide it — as well as extra playmaking ability beyond the three-down utility.”
Indicating strong play through eight weeks of action, it’s clear that Trotter has improved his stock this season as he leads the team with 48 total tackles and has four pass breakups on the season.
Round 1, Pick 23: Nate Wiggins, CB
Cummings selects back-to-back Tigers in his 7-round mock draft, putting cornerback Nate Wiggins to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite drafting Joey Porter Jr. last season, the Steelers could certainly use someone with Wiggins’ ball-hawking nature.
There’s a definite prospect fit for Wiggins to the Steelers.
“In the 2024 NFL Draft, there are several cornerbacks who fit Mike Tomlin’s profile at CB — but few more than Clemson’s Nate Wiggins,” Cummings wrote.
It may be interesting to see if Wiggins lasts even this long, something that was noted as well: “In this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, Wiggins lasted to 23rd overall, and as a result, he’s the easy choice.”
Round 2, Pick 46: Andrew Mukuba, S
The second tier of Clemson players drafted in this 7-round NFL Mock Draft land in the second round and start with Andrew Mukuba to the Indianapolis Colts.
“Mukuba has the hyper-elite flexibility and corrective mobility to play the slot, and he’s also experienced managing space and playing from multiple alignments,” Cummings wrote of Mukuba’s selection.
Mukuba has 24 tackles, 3 pass breakups, and chipped in with elite-level play that we’ve come to expect from the three-down safety this season.
Round 2, Pick 47: Barrett Carter, LB
In another stretch of back-to-back, but in this case back-to-back-to-back Tigers, Barrett Carter is the pick to the Washington Commanders following Mukuba.
“Barrett Carter would be the final piece to a nightmare-inducing front seven with his explosiveness, twitch, energy, and all-encompassing versatility,” Cummings wrote about adding Carter to potential star LB Jamin Davis.
Carter is second to only Trotter with his 38 total tackles as he’s made his impact felt all season long.
Round 2, Pick 48: Will Shipley, RB
The third pick in a row from Clemson, Will Shipley lands up north with the Green Bay Packers.
“Neither Aaron Jones nor AJ Dillon is long for Green Bay,” Cummings wrote. “Will Shipley can replace elements of both. He has the slippery short-area athleticism, vision, and receiving value of Jones and the grating aggression through contact that Dillon has — even if he’s not as dense.”
Round 3, Pick 90: Ruke Orhorhoro, DL
The Dallas Cowboys take the next Clemson Tiger, Ruke Orhorhoro in the third round. That gives Clemson their sixth player selected in the first two days of the 2024 NFL Draft.
“If the Cowboys want, they could unleash hell on offenses by slimming Ruke Orhorhoro down to 285-290 pounds and employing his explosiveness and power on NASCAR fronts,” Cummings wrote.
Orhorhoro has flashed his talent in each of the past few seasons with Clemson, and could have tremendous upside in the right NFL system.
Round 4, Pick 126: Xavier Thomas, EDGE
Seeing his draft stock re-improve and get back to levels we all thought it should be, Xavier Thomas’ fully healthy season to date has been a revelation. As such, he’s seeing himself selected in Day 3 of the NFL Mock Drafts, including this one to the Denver Broncos.
“When he’s on his game, few 2024 NFL Draft EDGEs have the cornering ability and multitasking capacity that Xavier Thomas has,” Cummings wrote.
Round 7, Pick 212: Tyler Davis, DT
The final round of the 2024 NFL Mock Draft, penned by Cummings, sent Tyler Davis to the Seattle Seahawks. Davis has ripped through for multiple tackles for loss this season and has flashed his potential pass-rushing ability on the inside.
Round 7, Pick 221: Will Putnam, C
A seemingly ill-fated position when it comes to glory, Clemson center Will Putnam lands with the San Francisco 49ers in Round 7. Putnam can move incredibly well to the second level and would fit in perfectly with what the 49ers want to do offensively under Kyle Shanahan.