2019 NFL Draft Big Board: Top 25 Prospects entering NFL Combine

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 26
Next
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

There may not be a prospect in this class with a higher floor than Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. Wilkins was essentially a pro playing in college this past season, eschewing an almost assured spot in the first round of the 2017 draft in order to come back to college to win a National Championship.

Wilkins was the emotional leader of a truly dominant defensive front; a defensive front that completely dominated Alabama in the National Championship Game, holding an explosive Crimson Tide offense scoreless for the game’s final 40+ minutes.

Wilkins doesn’t possess the prototypical length you would hope for as a defensive tackle, but he makes up for it with his relentless competitiveness and raw power. Wilkins fits best as a three-technique defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme, but he’s versatile enough to play nose in an odd-man front as well if asked to do so.

The concern with Wilkins is that he could be potentially maxed out as a player already. Does he have the long-term potential to warrant a high first round selection, or will teams look at him as a finished product and fill their need at defensive tackle with another in a deep class at the position who they view as having a higher ceiling?

I think that would be foolish thinking as Wilkins looks like far from a finished product to me. He has the obviously high floor to make an impact on day-one in the NFL, but his potential far exceeds his current ability.

Wilkins figures to find a spot in the mid-to-late first round. The Falcons at No. 14 could be intrigued enough to pull the trigger early, with his first round floor likely being with the Colts at No. 26.