With this year’s NFL Draft just a couple of weeks away, Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest mock draft on Wednesday, and the longtime ESPN draft analyst currently projects a pair of Clemson products to come off the board in the first two rounds.

Kiper’s two-round mock draft (subscription required) has former Tiger cornerback Nate Wiggins going to the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round with the 22nd overall pick.

“Philadelphia’s defense fell apart at the end of last season, and top corners Darius Slay and James Bradberry are in their 30s. It’s time to add an injection of youth in the secondary,” Kiper wrote. “Wiggins surrendered just one completion of 20-plus yards in 2023, and he has outstanding speed — he ran 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the combine. The blend of cover skills and physical tools should make him an early contributor.”

In the second round of Kiper’s mock draft, he predicts former Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro to be taken by the Los Angeles Chargers with the 52nd overall pick.

“Time for another Chargers selection after two projected trades down. I gave them JC Latham and Xavier Worthy in Round 1, which would help with their holes at right tackle and wide receiver,” Kiper wrote. “Now I’m looking toward the defensive line, where the Chargers ranked 29th in pass rush win rate (35.1%) last season. The 6-foot-4, 294-pound Orhorhoro has some juice as an interior pass-rusher, and he could kick outside and defend the run as an end.”

The 2024 NFL Draft is set to take place from April 25-27 in Detroit.

Wiggins earned first-team All-ACC honors as a junior in 2023, when he tallied 25 tackles (one for loss), a team-high nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one sack and two interceptions (one of which he returned 46 yards for his second career touchdown) over 10 games (seven starts).

In his career at Clemson from 2021-23, Wiggins recorded 50 tackles (3.0 for loss), 24 pass breakups, three interceptions (including two returned for touchdowns), two forced fumbles, a sack and a blocked field goal over 34 games (18 starts).

Orhorhoro was a third-team All-ACC selection this past season, when he tallied 22 tackles (8.0 for loss), a career-high 5.0 sacks and a pass breakup across 12 games (all starts).

Along with a dozen career sacks, Orhorhoro was credited with 97 tackles (25.5 for loss), nine pass breakups and two fumble recoveries over 53 games (30 starts) from 2019-23.

A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available.  Get yours while supplies last!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!