CLEMSON – This year, 17 Clemson players submitted their names for NFL Draft consideration, the most by any Tiger class since 2019. As of Wednesday, as many as nine of these players are in serious contention to be selected by professional football teams.
Through research and interviews, The Clemson Insider has compiled a second mock draft, stating where Clemson players could end up after the NFL Draft, which will be held on April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Cornerback Avieon Terrell: Dallas Cowboys, Round 1, Pick 20
Avieon Terrell, Clemson’s veteran cornerback who racked up 28 pass breakups in his three-year career with the Tigers, is now a polarizing Draft prospect. Terrell lacks nothing in the heart and hustle categories, as evidenced by his eight forced fumbles and on-field swagger, but injuries have been a concern for the Atlanta, Ga., native.
Terrell dealt with an ankle injury, a concussion, and a quad injury in his time at Clemson, and, most recently, sustained a hamstring injury that kept him from performing at his own private Pro Day workout upon re-aggravation.
While considered a “lock” to become a first-round pick at times during the 2025 season, Terrell now could dip into the late second round after a troublesome pre-draft process, according to draft experts.
However, he was invited to Dallas early last week for a Top-30 visit to meet with Cowboys staffers, posting a praying hands emoticon on social media from the facility. If Dallas, on the hunt for a new defensive back, has other options off the board by pick No. 20– and they feel confident about Terrell’s health– he could wind up as the first Tiger selected in the Draft.
It all depends on how confident teams are in Terrell’s durability as an already-smaller corner, standing at five-foot-11 and 186 pounds.
Offensive Tackle Blake Miller: New England Patriots, Round 1, Pick 31
Unlike Terrell, offensive tackle Blake Miller’s most enticing characteristic may be his durability. The lineman started every single game in his time at Clemson, finishing with nearly 4,000 offensive snaps, a program record.
The Strongsville, Ohio native missed only one practice in his career, and was selected to All-ACC teams in three consecutive years from 2023-25 after anchoring Clemson’s right side under two offensive coordinators and offensive line coaches, as well as three starting quarterbacks.
With a six-foot-six frame and a long, athletic build, Miller could slip into a starting role in the NFL as early as next season, especially with a plethora of teams in dire need of offensive tackles. ESPN, The Athletic, and NFL.com rank Miller as high as the No. 3 offensive tackle in his class, falling as low No. 8, but with veteran experience and an “iron man” persona, we believe Miller will be one of the first tackles taken in this year’s class.
The New England Patriots used their first pick last season on Will Campbell, a left tackle who started 13 games in his rookie year. With starting right tackle Morgan Moses turning 36 this season, it could be time for the Patriots to invest in a younger player to take over his position upon his retirement.
We believe Miller fits that mold and can have a 10-year-plus career with one team, a staple of many New England players.
Defensive Tackle Peter Woods: Las Vegas Raiders, Round 2, Pick 36
This time one year ago, after former Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods completed his sophomore season with 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, he seemed like a sure first-rounder.
The mock drafts started early, labeling Woods a top-five pick ahead of the 2025 season. After a freshman All-American campaign in 2024 and a strong second-year performance, however, the lineman did not take the next step statistically as a junior. The Alabaster, Ala., native finished with 3.5 tackles for loss and only two sacks in 2025 as Clemson fell to a 7-6 record, its worst finish since 2010.
While several draft analysts still have Woods as a mid-to-late first round selection, he could easily fall to the second round and be scooped up by a team like Las Vegas, currently deeply in need of tackle depth. The Raiders finished in the back-half of the league in rushing yards allowed per game, and four defensive tackles combined for 10 sacks across 20 games.
In Las Vegas, Woods could have the potential to become a starter next year, similar to his trajectory if he goes to the Chargers or Texans in the first round. His position will all depend on if staffers are willing to take the former five-star recruit earlier off of physical upside, or if a subpar 2025 campaign will knock him to Day Two.
Last week’s mock draft labeled Woods as the final pick in the first round, headed to the Houston Texans. In turn, there is a legitimate chance that he could end up on either side of the Round No. 1 and No. 2 break.
Wide Receiver Antonio Williams: New Orleans Saints, Round 2, Pick 42
Clemson has a chance to continue the “Wide Receiver University” moniker this year, with veteran wideout Antonio Williams entering his name into the NFL Draft.
Through three full seasons, and a half-year in 2023 due to injury, Williams was a bright spot of Clemson’s offense. The Irmo, S.C., native caught 21 touchdowns on 2,336 yards, helping him earn two-time All-ACC accolades. Williams was the Tigers’ leader in receptions his final two seasons, and proved his consistency through two different offenses and coordinators.
Williams suffered injuries in two of the last three years, including a hamstring injury in the season-opener against LSU last year, which could be a concern for NFL teams looking to draft a one primary wide receiver early. Though Williams stands at only five-foot-11, he demonstrated a mature approach to route-running from his freshman season at Clemson, and is crafty enough to play larger than his size. On Tuesday, ESPN deemed him the draft prospect with “the best receiving instincts.”
The Saints met with Williams ahead of the draft, according to SaintsWire.com, and with a young quarterback in Tyler Shough, New Orleans’ squad is looking to bring in at least one more receiver to support Chris Olave, a top-ten receiver in nearly all metrics in 2025.
If the Saints do not want to use their first-round pick on a wideout, or want to add another receiver with their second selection, Williams’ experience as a slot receiver could translate nicely to New Orleans’ pass-heavy offense.
Defensive End T.J. Parker: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round 2, Pick 46
In last week’s mock draft, we selected edge rusher T.J. Parker, with Woods and Miller, as the third Tiger prospect to be selected in the first round. Like Woods, however, a slower junior season could have knocked the All-ACC honoree into the second round.
ESPN has Parker, who finished with 19.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks as a sophomore, listed as the eighth-best edge rusher in the 2026 class. The Phenix City, Ala., native recorded 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in 2025, significantly less than the year prior, but put up impressive numbers at the NFL Combine and Clemson’s Pro Day.
Speed, athleticism, and violence off the edge are all skills that Parker has flashed and can grow into. But if several other defensive ends are taken ahead of him due to a fall-off last season– albeit he still had a three-sack game against South Carolina– Parker could fit in perfectly in Tampa Bay.
Though the Buccaneers signed former Lions pass rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad to a one-year contract this offseason, the squad still needs at least one more player to bolster a group that combined for only 3.5 sacks and four tackles for loss last season. The Bucs finished in the top five in total rush defense last year, but ranked 27th in passing defense.
If staffers believe Parker could help increase quarterback pressures and add an edge presence to an interior-focused defense, he could be a natural fit in the southernmost state. That is, if he is not already off the board on Day One.
Defensive Tackle Demonte Capehart: Arizona Cardinals, Round 4, Pick 104
Standing at six-foot-five and 312 pounds, Demonte Capehart has the size that any NFL team would want in a rotational defensive tackle. What Capehart brings to the table, unlike many of his peers, however, is his athleticism.
At Clemson’s Pro Day, the six-year collegiate veteran posted a 4.85-second 40-yard-dash time, along with a 33.5-inch vertical jump. These metrics ranked him as the No. 1 defensive tackle in overall Relative Athletic Score (RAS.) Though Capehart battled injuries through his Clemson career, he finished with 13.5 tackles for loss and a 2024 All-ACC honorable mention.
While Capehart does not appear to bring the ‘wowing’ stats from college that several peers in his position group have, the Hartsville, S.C., native brings experience, maturity, and as mentioned, elite athleticism for his size.
Since Clemson’s 2025 season ended, Capehart may be the Clemson player that has boosted his draft stock the most. Since last week’s mock draft included him as a Round No. 5 selection, he has garnered more media buzz, with some analysts putting him in the third round.
If he is still on the board when the Cardinals select their fourth-rounder, Capehart would fit in nicely as a rotational piece, especially when the defensive coordinator Nick Rallis uses a “Penny” scheme that utilizes five defensive linemen front.
Running Back Adam Randall: Houston Texans, Round 4, Pick 106
Like Williams, Randall was one of the brightest spots on Clemson’s offense last season. After playing three years as a wide receiver, the Myrtle Beach, S.C., native converted to running back ahead of his senior year, and led the Tigers with 814 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
He also added 254 receiving yards and passing touchdowns, coming in with the third-most receptions on the team.
After Randall dominated the pre-draft process, running a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and a 1.6-second 10-yard split, ESPN named him “the most powerful rusher,” in his class. Standing at six-foot-three, Randall would be one of the tallest backs in the NFL, but could use the size to bully defenders, especially once he gets more comfortable with new techniques and schemes.
Randall told TCI in early April that he had a meeting scheduled with Houston staffers, along with another visit and personalized workout with two other teams. With veteran back David Montgomery joining the Texans this season on a two-year deal, Houston might make the most sense for Randall.
If selected in the fourth round, he could spend the next two years learning from Montgomery, and could be groomed to take over in the next few years. While still raw as a prospect, Randall could immediately provide value as a “positionless player.”
However, with his uptick since the Combine and Clemson’s Pro Day, it is very possible that Randall is off the board by Day Three.
Offensive Tackle Tristan Leigh: Round 6, Pick 196
Another Tiger player, offensive tackle Tristan Leigh, garnered some media attention in the last few weeks, after taking at least three pre-draft visits with the Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans. Leigh, voted by his teammates as a permanent captain in 2025, made 33 starts in his four-year Clemson career, notching 2,202 total snaps.
The lineman primarily played left tackle for the Tigers, additionally getting some reps at right guard and tackle throughout his career. Leigh participated in the Shrine Bowl this offseason after surrendering no sacks in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus.
Leigh was a five-star recruit out of high school, and worked his way up to becoming a mainstay for offensive coordinator Matt Luke. He was not invited to the NFL Combine, and did not run, jump, or lift at Clemson’s Pro Day, but weighed in at 312 pounds and participated in offensive line drills.
Another seasoned veteran out of the Upstate, Leigh is also rough around the edges at times in pass protection, but brings a durability– outside of missing three games last season– that NFL teams look for.
Leigh attended a top-30 visit with the Vikings last week, per his Twitter. Logically, if the Vikings continue their interest with the Fairfax, Va., native, he could be taken in the sixth round. If he is still available, Minnesota could also select him with one of its three seventh-round picks.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik: Los Angeles Rams, Round 6, Pick 207
While Cade Klubnik will no longer be considered a top Draft prospect next week, as he was thought to be this time last year, he still could provide value to several NFL squads.
Klubnik spent four years at Clemson, making 40 total starts. The signal-caller led his team to two ACC Championship wins in 2022 and 2024, earning MVP honors in both games. His best season came in 2024, when he threw 36 touchdowns and only six interceptions for 3,639 yards.
He added 17 rushing touchdowns over the course of his career.
Klubnik struggled at times in 2025, and suffered an ankle injury that limited his motion and comfort for a portion of the season. With the dropoff in statistics and wins, he will probably not be selected on Day One or Two of the Draft. Still, he can provide experience, toughness, and loyalty to any professional team.
The Rams, fresh off of a 12-5 season, lack quarterback depth behind 2025 NFL MVP Matthew Stafford. The Rams have not re-signed Jimmy Garoppolo, who was on a one-year deal last season, and could use a backup that has almost a decade of experience as a starter to understand Sean McVay’s offense.
The Rams could take a quarterback ahead of Klubnik in the second or third rounds, but if they choose to shift their focus elsewhere on the first two days, we believe Klubnik could be a great fit.
Linebacker Wade Woodaz: Houston Texans, Round 7, Pick 243
Linebacker Wade Woodaz is another example of a tenured Clemson starter who could bring experience from two different collegiate schemes to an NFL roster. Woodaz ranked second in total tackles for the Tigers last year, behind only fellow linebacker Sammy Brown.
The Tampa, Fla., native started 30 games for the Tigers, breaking up 13 passes, and securing three interceptions. A tall and rangy defender at six-foot-four, Woodaz improved his tackling ability under first-year defensive coordinator Tom Allen last year.
Woodaz showed off his high school track skills at Clemson’s Pro Day, running a 4.52-second 40-yard-dash, which was the second-fastest among participating Tiger defenders. Woodaz, in an interview with TCI earlier this month, admitted that he looked “raw” at times on tape, but believes that he can contribute at the professional level.
Woodaz told TCI that he had conversations with several NFL teams, including the Seattle Seahawks and the Texans. While he noted that no team knew exactly which picks they would make, he developed a strong relationship with Houston linebacker coaches.
Woodaz could translate his special teams experience to the professional level, and could work up to becoming a rotational piece to the NFL’s top-ranked defense with years of coaching and improvement.
All of these former Tigers, and two-time ACC Champions, will have their chance to hear their names called and learn their professional fates on April 23-25, when the NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Penn.