Once viewed as a lock to be taken in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell is now expected by many analysts to slide into the second round.
Unfortunately for Terrell, his stock has taken a hit during the pre-draft process, in large part due to a nagging hamstring injury. He went through limited on-field testing at the NFL Scouting Combine, and after not participating in Clemson’s Pro Day, he aggravated his hamstring injury during his private pro day last month.
Though Terrell was previously frequently projected as a mid-to-late first-round pick, he is now generally projected as an early second-round selection. But despite the slip, many analysts still view him as a high-upside player, with some considering him a potential “steal” if he falls to Day 2.
One of those analysts is ESPN’s Matt Miller, who thinks Terrell will be the biggest steal of the draft.
“If he slides into Round 2 as expected, he’ll be the steal of the class,” Miller wrote. “The 5-foot-11 cornerback injured a hamstring while attempting the 40-yard dash at his pro day but showed on tape in 31 starts that he’s the type of tough, feisty cornerback who can win on the inside or outside of the formation. Scouts are interested in competitive toughness, and Terrell is dripping with it.”
The 2026 NFL Draft is set to be held from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. Round 1 will take place on Thursday, April 23, followed by the second and third rounds on April 24 and then rounds 4-7 on April 25.
Miller ranks Terrell as the No. 33 overall prospect in this year’s draft class and the sixth-best cornerback. Miller compared Terrell to Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon, who was drafted by the Bears out of Washington in the second round (39th overall pick) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
“The younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr., Avieon Terrell is a sudden and versatile player who can make an impact in the slot or out wide,” Miller wrote. “He has elite ball production, with three sacks and five forced fumbles last season and 21 pass breakups dating to 2024. Despite lacking elite size, Terrell undercuts routes well and has the closing speed to impact the ball in the air. He’s not an outside press corner but has the quickness to excel as a nickel or slot defender.”
A 2025 All-American and Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, Terrell was credited with 128 tackles (nine for loss), 30 pass breakups, three interceptions, four sacks, eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries across 39 games (31 starts) in his career as a Tiger from 2023-25.
The two-time All-ACC selection set Clemson records for a defensive back in forced fumbles in a season (five in 2025) and a career (eight), and he led all cornerbacks nationally in forced fumbles across his Clemson career.