Detroit Lions 2018 NFL Draft watchlist: Clemson vs. Louisville
There will be several 2018 NFL Draft prospects for the Detroit Lions to keep an eye on during Clemson at Louisville. Here are some names for fans to watch.
Every Wednesday, I will write a post about a college football game with the five most interesting draft prospects from that particular matchup. This will not necessarily be a detailed scouting report on each player but I will give names to watch.
Two important details: The first one is that I will only write about players that can be eligible for the 2018 NFL draft. The second is that I am not trying to replace anyone on the Detroit Lions. If I write about a quarterback, I am not saying the Lions should replace Matthew Stafford with that player. It’s just a general prospect preview on one particular game. Let’s get started.
This week’s big game college football game is an ACC showdown, with Clemson traveling to Louisville in the ABC primetime game on Saturday night.
1.Lamar Jackson (Jr.), QB, Louisville
The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner, Lamar Jackson is one of the most dynamic football players in the last 25 years. He’s drawn such comparisons to Mike Vick (even from Vick himself) for his incredible running ability and his cannon arm. Jackson had over 5,000 total yards and 51 touchdowns in 2016 but was not a complete passer. He only completed 56.2% of his passes and teams started to blitz him to get him off balance later in the year which worked.
This year Jackson has looked phenomenal throwing the football against Purdue and North Carolina with a 64.7% completion percentage and zero interceptions. He looks more comfortable when he is blitzed and is more patient in the pocket.
Jackson has shown improvements in his footwork and his balance while throwing the ball. His greatest gift is his athletic ability. He will always be a dynamic runner first and will be an elite NFL athlete. The question will be how well he improves as a passer.
Clemson garnered 11 sacks against Auburn last week and have an elite defensive front. Jackson must be willing to stand in the pocket and make tough throws and that is what NFL teams will want to see from him. If Jackson continues to show the improvements he has made as a thrower, he will be in consideration for a top ten pick.
2. Christian Wilkins (Jr.), DT, Clemson
If you are looking for an athletic freak of an interior lineman who can stop the run and get to the quarterback, then Christian Wilkins from Clemson is your guy. He’s listed at 6’4 and 300 lbs and can wreak havoc in the back field. He can make plays sideline to sideline and despite having just 3.5 sacks in 2016, he had 10 (non-sack) tackles for loss and an impressive 10 pass deflections. Wilkins had a fine game against Auburn last week with two sacks and was constantly hounding Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham.
Wilkins does not have many holes in his games and is already getting raves as a potential top ten pick in the 2018 draft. He can be susceptible to screens and some people think with his athleticism he can even be a better pass rusher in the future. He can push offensive linemen around and can chase down quarterbacks with ease.
3. Deon Cain (Jr.), WR, Clemson
If you love a wide receiver who can stretch the field vertically, Deon Cain is your guy. He was considered one of the top breakout players for 2017 after having a monster game against Alabama in the 2017 national championship game with 5 catches and 94 yards. He has a career 18.2 yards per catch and elite athleticism for the wide receiver position.
He is really good at taking screens behind the line of scrimmage where he can make guys miss and get first downs. He is good at keeping his feet in bounds on sideline catches and his top end speed makes him a threat for a long downfield pass every play.
Right now Deon Cain is not a complete wide receiver. While athletically fascinating, he has not shown much in terms of route running or making plays over the middle. He’s also not the biggest guy at 6’1 and 190 pounds and has struggled with physical corners. I love his big play potential and just the threat that Cain can beat you over the top keeps the defense on its toes. Louisville has a really good cornerback, so look to see if Deon Cain can make get loose on Saturday.
4. Jaire Alexander (Jr.), CB, Louisville
Speaking of that really good cornerback from Louisville, Jaire Alexander is one of the better ballhawks in the country. He had five interceptions in 2016 and exploded on the national scene against Clemson last year when he picked off NFL first round quarterback DeShaun Watson. Alexander is really good at turning his head around and finding the ball and he has the physicality to take on bigger wide receivers.
He is not the biggest cornerback and can struggle with jump ball situations trying to high point against taller wide receivers. He does have the athleticism and size that scouts love to cover players in the slot. He also is good at returning punts, where he took one back against Florida State and had a 10.3 yard per return average.
He is getting some first round love, however, Alexander is dealing with an injury to his knee and is questionable for Saturday’s game. Hopefully Alexander will be ready to go for Saturday’s game and go against Deon Cain to give us a fun matchup.
5. Mitch Hyatt (Jr.), OT, Clemson
Mitch Hyatt was the first Clemson offensive lineman since 1980 to start his first game as a true freshman and has been there ever since. He since has made 32 consecutive starts at left tackle. He was first team All-ACC in 2016 and was named to multiple All-American lists by publications such as Sports Illustrated and Athlon Sports.
Hyatt is known as a mean lineman who loves to finish blocks and can also protect the blind side of the quarterback. He had very good game film against Alabama (he is #75 at left tackle) in the 2017 national title game and looks to be a potential first round pick.
Next: Mixed reviews for Lions offensive line in week 1
Hyatt is a good pass blocker but I really like him in the run game. He can get to the second level and block linebackers. He has shown the ability to pull and get around to finish blocks. He has a long wingspan and good size at 6’5 for offensive tackle. He has struggled against speed rushers at times and his footwork can get choppy but he is only a junior. He has plenty of room to grow and get even better.