T.J. Clemmings Is One of Few Offensive Linemen That Could Interest Packers in First Round

The tackle from Pittsburgh might tempt Green Bay if he's still on the board with the 30th overall selection.

Pitt offensive lineman T.J. Clemmings at the NFL Combine—Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports.

Pitt offensive lineman T.J. Clemmings at the NFL Combine—Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports.

Depending on what happens with Bryan Bulaga in free agency, an offensive lineman could be of interest to the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Perhaps they'll be tempted by a player like Pittsburgh's T.J. Clemmings even if Bulaga comes back. If Clemmings is still available when the Packers are on the clock with the 30th overall selection, he could fit the description of "best player available."

Not that any talk of the first round registers with Clemmings.

“As of right now, it is all talk," said Clemmings at the NFL Combine. "I don’t get into what the media says and people think because things change on draft day a lot. I know the work that I’ve put in and I am trusting that everything will work out.”

The argument can be made that Clemmings is the top offensive tackle in this year's draft class, but that might depend on whether someone considers players like Iowa's Brandon Scherff and LSU's La'el Collins to be a better fit at guard.  Both lined up at tackle in college, and either way, neither player may fall to the end of the first round.

Invited to the nation's premier college football all-star game back in January at the Senior Bowl, Clemmings may not have left the impression that he was first-round material to anyone watching the week of practice leading up to the game.

Even Clemmings admits he didn't look all that good going up against some of the top young talent the sport has to offer, but there are reasons he labored.

"I played both left and right (tackle)," said Cemmings of the Senior Bowl. "I struggled on one-on-ones. It was the first time I played the left side.”

During his time at Pitt, Clemmings played exclusively right tackle. And not only did he play strictly on the right side, Clemmings didn't even play on the offensive side of the football until his junior year.

As someone that made little impact on the defensive line as a freshman and sophomore, Clemmings is willing to say his football-playing days might have come to an end if he didn't make the flip to offense.

"Clemmings is so gifted, high school basketball player, he only played two years of high school football," said Mike Mayock of the NFL Network. "He was a defensive lineman when he got to Pitt. He only got the offensive line his last two years. I thought his tape was phenomenal, given all that."

Clemmings wasn't your run-of-the-mill high school basketball player, either.

Coming out of New Jersey, there were scholarship offers on the table from big-time programs like Rutgers, Seton Hall and Providence.

Having a basketball background certainly didn't hurt Clemmings, finding that the skills used on the hardcourt carried over to the gridiron.

"Just being able to change directions and constant running, it all helped to switch over football," said Clemmings.

It's those basketball skills that have analysts so high on the 6' 5", 309 lb. offensive lineman. He may have struggled in one-on-one pass protection drills at the Senior Bowl because of his inexperience, but he displays quick feet and kick slides, showing good lateral agility.

A team like the Packers could be the perfect fit for Clemmings, particularly if they lose Bulaga. In Green Bay, they don't need to develop a left tackle with David Bakhtiari holding down the fort. They could allow Clemmings to play where he's comfortable.

Observers might slap the "raw" label on the Pitt Panther, but he's come to terms with that.

“It doesn’t bother me. If that is what they feel, then that’s fine," said Clemmings. "I only had two years on the offensive line under my belt and that’s not going to change from now to the draft. I need some work in some things and I am not afraid of that. I am ready to work on things that people feel I need to work on.”

 

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor at Cheesehead TV and its "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (5)

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

March 08, 2015 at 12:19 pm

We lost Bulaga then its a need, this should be fun as it is each year but the BUGA wants to much money.

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

March 08, 2015 at 12:19 pm

We lost Bulaga then its a need, this should be fun as it is each year but the BUGA wants to much money.

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HankScorpio's picture

March 08, 2015 at 02:43 pm

Clemmings has 35 inch arms. So, he's one-up on T-Rex Bulaga already!

that's satire, BTW

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Imma Fubared's picture

March 08, 2015 at 02:53 pm

Not a big fan of best player available unless the best player available fills a need you have or course. Otherwise, if the better Linebackers are gone, and no dbacks are available either, then to load up with O line Help, good O line help makes sense.
I hope the Pack can keep Beluga. He's been drafted and developed now and is in his prime. Spend the bucks, keep the big guy.

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Allan Murphy's picture

March 08, 2015 at 06:01 pm

Let's sign Bulaga see were we at .

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