Andrew Booth on falling out of first round: 'I knew it was coming'

Preparing for the 2022 NFL Draft, former Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth knew there was a chance his draft stock might slide after opting out of the Tigers’ Pro Day and the NFL Combine due to his health. Booth previously said he hasn’t been healthy during football season since high school.

His stock dropped, eventually falling out of the second round. He didn’t have to wait long as the Minnesota Vikings picked him up in the second round. Booth feels as though his slide could have been a blessing in disguise.

“So I knew with the medical issues and everything else, I was ready to yesterday,” Booth said. “Me being confident in myself and knowing what I bring to teams, but I know this medical thing might play a role in how long I stay on the [draft] board, but yeah, I knew it.

“It’s all good. I’m happy to be here – very happy that my dream has finally came true. [Falling to the second round] was actually kind of nerve wracking to because now I’m like, ‘okay, this [my health] is really playing a role here.’ But like I said, I’m happy where I ended up going.”

Booth played a significant role on the defensive side of the ball for the Tigers in 2020 and 2021, recording 64 total tackles, five interceptions, a sack and a fumble recovery. The 2021 campaign was Booth’s best yet, as he made 37 tackles (26 solo) along with three interceptions. 

The former Tiger tallied eight tackles in a win over Boston College on Oct. 2 and picked off a pair of passes in a victory against South Carolina on Nov. 27. Over his three seasons at Clemson, Booth played in 25 games – meaning he brings plenty of experience to the Vikings.

Even though he battled through injuries during college, Booth is confident that the player he is now is better than the one that shows up on tape from his college days.

“I’m more healthy than the guy who is on tape. Ten times better than the cat on tape,” he said.

The Vikings were in major need of an upgrade in the secondary entering the draft, so they will be hoping that Booth can live up to his potential and develop into a solid contributor for years to come. If he can stay healthy, Booth could make an impact right away in Minnesota.