CLEMSON – This year, 17 Clemson players declared for the NFL Draft, the most by any Tiger class since 2019.
With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, The Clemson Insider has compiled its first mock draft involving Clemson players. Here is where we think several Tigers might end up, and in which round they could be taken.
OT Blake Miller: Los Angeles Chargers, Round 1, Pick 22
Blake Miller, an offensive tackle and four-year starter for the Tigers, has a plethora of attributes — namely size, durability, and experience — that have impressed NFL Scouts during and after his time at Clemson.
Miller started in all 54 games during his career (most consecutive starts by a non-specialist in Clemson history) and set the program record for career offensive snaps (3,779). Coming in at six-foot-seven and 317 pounds, with arms over 34 inches long, the Strongsville, Ohio, native has a pro build and could immediately compete to be a NFL starter. Many mock drafts have him listed as the No. 3 tackle in the class, dropping to No. 6 in other reports.
The Los Angeles Chargers brought in former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel this offseason, and with a new scheme, they will be looking to bolster their offensive line. McDaniel’s outside zone style requires athletic size on the line to keep blockers at bay for an extended period of time, and Miller’s athleticism and stamina (60-plus snaps in every game) fits that bill.
With that, we believe Miller will be the first Tiger off the board, and will venture cross-country to join the Chargers after hearing his name on April 23.
DE T.J. Parker: Cleveland Browns, Round 1, Pick 24
T.J. Parker burst onto the college football scene as a true freshman, earning freshman All-American honors in 2023, before notching an impressive 19.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks as a sophomore.
Though his production slowed in 2025, a 10-foot-10 inch broad jump and 1.61-second 10-yard split at the NFL Combine showcased the pure athletic ability that Parker has, garnering interest from several teams.
The Cleveland Browns boast one of the best players in the League in Myles Garrett, a defensive end and seven-time Pro Bowler. The Browns’ defensive ends combined for 53 sacks last year, with 23 coming from Garrett. Still, Todd Monken, the newly appointed head coach of the Browns, will want to pursue one more edge rusher after his staff backed out of a deal to sign Buffalo’s A.J. Epenesa.
Parker, a young (21) prospect could immediately benefit the Browns’ depth on the defensive line, and under Garrett and other veterans, he could sharpen his high-side abilities and overall technique without the immediate pressure of taking over a starting role on Day No. 1. With that, we believe Parker is headed to Cleveland after hearing his name called late in the first round. However, it is very possible that after a disappointing junior season, he could fall to the second or even third round, depending on what ends are ahead of him.
DT Peter Woods: Round 1, Pick 32 Houston Texans
Ahead of the 2025 season, Peter Woods was considered all but a shoe-in to be a Top-10 pick in the 2026 Draft. Like Parker, the Alabaster, Ala., native earned freshman All-American honors in 2023 after generating a forced fumble and 2.5 tackles for loss in two starts.
He added to that with a strong sophomore campaign, notching 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, but struggled in 2025 to piece together consistent stretches, and saw his statistics and Draft stock tumble as a result.
Still, with nimble quickness at 302 pounds, Woods has the disruptive qualities and build to become a starter in the NFL, he just may not be selected as the first D-lineman off the board. With that, we believe he could be selected to join a downright dominant Houston Texans’ line, which ranked No. 2 in the NFL in PFF grades last year.
Led by Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, the Texans line could be benefitted by interior prospects that could be developed over time under veterans that demand high intensity. The Texans operate in a 4-3 scheme, with four linemen, which will be similar to the 4-2-5 Tom Allen utilized at Clemson last year.
We believe that Woods could stay in the south and be the last Tiger selected in the first round on April 23.
CB Avieon Terrell: New York Jets, Round 2, Pick 33
Few players meant more to Clemson’s defense in 2025 than Aveion Terrell, a crafty cornerback and brother of NFL-star A.J. Terrell. Terrell provided eight pass breakups over the last two years, along with nine tackles for loss across his sophomore and junior seasons. He also broke up 28 passes across his three-year career with the Tigers.
Terrell’s heart– scrapping for loose balls, and shutting down receivers that were four inches taller– has always been a strength for the Atlanta, Ga., native. While earlier draft projections had him as a mid-first-found pick, a nightmare pre-draft process may have moved him to the second round.
Terrell met with the Cowboys, who have the No. 12 and No. 20 picks in the Draft in early April, but due to a nagging hamstring injury that sidelined him for his own Pro Day, taking an early chance on the smaller corner (where durability is already a concern) could be risky for Jerry Jones and Co.
While Terrell could still very well become a first-rounder, as Dabo Swinney predicted in his commitment facetime five years ago, a safer pick would come from the New York Jets at pick No. 33 to open the second round. The Jets lost star corner Sauce Gardner to the Colts this offseason, and are in the market for a cornerback that could turn into a dominant mainstay. With this, we believe Terrell is headed to the Big Apple.
WR Antonio Williams: Philadelphia Eagles, Round 3, Pick 68
This year, Clemson has only one wide receiver headed to the NFL Draft– veteran Antonio Williams. Williams, a four-year starter under two different offensive coordinators, led the Tigers in receptions his last two seasons, becoming just the fourth player in Clemson history with a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same season (2024 and 2025).
Williams was hindered by injuries his sophomore and redshirt junior seasons with the Tigers, missing two games with a hamstring injury in 2025 and eight with an ankle injury in 2023. Williams measured in at five-foot-11 at the Combine and 187 pounds. While not overly physical in stature, he has elite route-running skills and footwork that could benefit any team looking for primarily a slot receiver. He also could make an early impact on special teams, as he was a frequent punt returner at Clemson.
With starting wide receiver A.J. Brown engaged in trade rumors, the Philadelphia Eagles could use a wideout to solidify depth on the offensive side of the ball, though their defense has been a primary strength recently. Williams could provide depth and immediately see the field as a punt returner.
While he could certainly be selected by another wide-receiver-hungry team in the second round, it would make sense for the Eagles to invest in a two-time All-ACC option.
RB Adam Randall: Washington Commanders, Round 5, Pick 147
One of the most intriguing prospects in the entire 2026 Draft class is running back Adam Randall, a true senior out of North Myrtle Beach, S.C. While Williams is the only true wide receiver out of Clemson this year, Randall is the only former wideout on the board, after switching positions ahead of the 2025 season.
Randall was the Tigers’ leading rusher last season, notching 814 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, in addition to three receiving touchdowns last season. At over six-foot-three, Randall has wide receiver size and quickness, but still has natural instincts to fall forward and blow through tackles as a back. With only a year under his belt as a running back, Randall still has much to improve upon in his technique and understanding of the position, but could become a “positionless player” for any NFL team.
At the Combine, Randall ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, along with a 1.6-second 10-yard split, putting him towards the top in both categories in his position nationwide. He also ran routes at Clemson’s Pro Day with quarterback Cade Klubnik.
Randall told TCI in early April that he had a private workout scheduled with the Washington Commanders, and with a fifth and sixth round pick, it is very possible that Randall ends up in the nation’s capital. However, due to an impressive pre-draft performance, we believe he could be taken in the fifth rather than the sixth or seventh, where he was originally slated.
DT Demonte Capehart: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round Five, Pick 155
Veteran defensive lineman Demonte Capehart may be the Clemson player that increased his draft stock the most in the pre-draft process. Capehart, a six-year player for the Tigers, ran a 4.85-second 40-yard dash, along with a 33.5-inch vertical jump. Both metrics had him among the top defensive line prospects in the country.
Another metric, Relative Athletic Score (RAS) had the Hartsville, S.C., native as one of the top defensive tackles to test in decades, based on the showcased by the 313-pound defender.
Capehart started in 12 games for Clemson over his career, battling injuries that held him back in early seasons. He was a 2024 All-ACC Honorable Mention, and generated 13.5 tackles for loss in his Clemson career.
The former high-caliber recruit changed the conversation around him in the pre-draft process, and as Tampa Bay looks to add depth to its defensive line, Capehart could be a big, athletic, body to come in as a rotational player. While he was originally perceived as a seventh-rounder or free agent, we believe Capehart’s recent success has solidified him as a fifth-round pick.
QB Cade Klubnik: Carolina Panthers, Round 5, Pick 159
One year ago, quarterback Cade Klubnik was predicted to be a Top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on the heels of an ACC Championship Game MVP Award and trip to the College Football Playoff. However, after throwing 36 passing touchdowns in 2024, he threw only 16 his senior year, and his completions and attempts also dwindled.
Additionally, the Austin, Texas, native struggled at times to make the same quick decisions he made in 2024, especially when receivers Bryant Wesco Jr. and Antonio Williams were out with injuries.
Klubnik also suffered an ankle injury in 2025, missing a start against SMU and struggling with nagging pain throughout the rest of the season. While no longer the highly-touted first round candidate that he was nine months ago, Klubnik still can bring athleticism, experience, arm talent, and effort to any professional quarterback room.
The Carolina Panthers, just two hours up the road from Clemson, are in the market for a true back up behind starter Bryce Young, and as a developmental project, Klubnik could benefit from learning and working behind the scenes before getting a shot to lead a team.
Though the Panthers rarely take on Clemson players, Klubnik could transition nicely into an offense that utilizes RPOs, similarly to Garrett Riley’s offense at Clemson. With that, we believe Klubnik could be a fifth-rounder headed to Charlotte, and if not selected at No. 159, he could be taken by the same squad at pick No. 200 in the sixth round.
LB Wade Woodaz: Seattle Seahawks, Round 6, Pick 188
For the last two seasons, Clemson fans could almost guarantee that they would see Wade Woodaz each Saturday as one of the Tigers’ starting linebackers. Woodaz, a Tampa, Fla., native, started in 30 games in a four-year collegiate career, and finished with 17 tackles for loss in his last two seasons combined.
Woodaz is tall, standing just short of six-foot-four, and has rangy athleticism that came from playing defensive back growing up. While still “raw” according to NFL scouts, Woodaz brings experience to the table, as well as a solid build, and extensive special teams experience.
Though he lacks the ability to dominate as a tackler at times, and can be shut down by physical pass catchers, Woodaz has the upside to become a professional, given the right coaching and time.
He also boosted his draft stock by running a 4.52-second 40-yard time at Clemson’s Pro Day, ranking among top linebackers nationwide and slotting in as the second-fastest Tiger defender, just behind cornerback Jeadyn Lukus.
Woodaz told TCI that he has been in frequent communication with the Seattle Seahawks, and though they do not know exactly who they will pick, they told Woodaz that they “hope it works out” between the pair. With a sixth-round pick, it seems like Woodaz could be headed to Seattle, and could make an impact on special teams.
All of these prospects, in addition to several other eligible Tigers, will have their chance to hear their name called in the 2026 NFL Draft from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Pa.