Kiper doesn’t see Watson-Williams top 10 scenario

If you want to know if former Clemson standouts Deshaun Watson and Mike Williams are both going to be in the top 10 of Thursday’s NFL Draft, then don’t use Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft as a guide.

Though the ESPN draft analyst has wide receiver Mike Williams possibly going to the Los Angeles Chargers with the No. 7 pick, Watson is nowhere close to Kiper’s top 10. In fact, Kiper’s latest “Grade A” mock draft, which he released last week, has Watson not even in his first 32 picks.

Only twice in the history of its football program—1979 and 2015—has Clemson had two players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. No two former Clemson players have ever been taken in the first 10 picks of a draft.

Kiper doesn’t see it happening this year either for the reigning national champions.

“I think Williams is border line,” Kiper said. “He could drop into the middle of the first round easily. He certainly has a chance to be the first receiver taken.”

Kiper says the only reason the All-ACC performer will be the first receiver taken is because Western Michigan’s Cory Davis has a hurt ankle and has not run for the scouts.

“That has allowed Williams to maybe be the first receiver taken,” Kiper said. “I don’t think he would have been had Davis been healthy through the process and been able to run.”

As for Watson, Kiper does not see the two-time Heisman Trophy Finalist and Davey O’Brien Award winner as the nation’s best quarterback landing in the top 10, though some other draft experts believe he will.

“I think Watson goes in the mid-to-late first-round area,” he said. “I don’t think top 10 right now, but some think the Chargers at seven could take him. We will see.”

In 2015, former Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley was taken with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft by the Falcons, while linebacker Stephone Anthony was a surprise first-round selection by the Saints at No. 31.

The closest Clemson has ever come to getting two top 10 picks in the same year was in 1979 when wide receiver Jerry Butler went No. 5 to Buffalo and quarterback Steve Fuller was selected No. 23 by the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I will say you could end up with two, but I would say probably both could end up just outside the top 10 with Williams having the best shot to get into the top 10,” Kiper said.

The 2017 NFL Draft will be held in Philadelphia, Pa., starting on Thursday and running through Saturday evening.