How are Clemson’s 2026 first-round picks faring so far this offseason, ahead of their rookie NFL campaigns?

ESPN provided updates on every Round 1 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, giving an overview of what each first-rounder has shown thus far.

Clemson produced a pair of first-round picks in April’s draft – offensive tackle Blake Miller and defensive tackle Peter Woods. The Detroit Lions landed Miller with the No. 17 overall pick, before the Kansas City Chiefs took Woods with the 29th overall selection.  

Miller was a mainstay on Clemson’s offensive line for the last four seasons, breaking the Clemson record for career snaps from scrimmage by playing 3,778 offensive snaps over 54 career games (all starts) from 2022-25. The three-time All-ACC selection started every game Clemson played in his entire four-year career and set the Clemson record for consecutive starts by a non-specialist with 54. 

Miller became Clemson’s highest-selected offensive lineman since 1960, when Lou Cordileone was selected by the New York Giants with the No. 12 overall pick and Harold Olson was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the No. 13 overall pick.

“Coach Dan Campbell feels that Miller has continued to ‘take these small steps every day’ throughout the offseason,” ESPN’s Eric Woodyard wrote. “The Lions see him as a potential Day 1 starter at right tackle, as he went through reps with the first unit during veteran minicamp while they’re transitioning All-Pro lineman Penei Sewell to left tackle. Miller continues to find his way while benefiting from Detroit’s veteran coaching staff. ‘There’s so many resources available to me, and everyone is willing to help and that means the world,’ Miller told ESPN. ‘Having guys on this staff who have played a lot of football really helps, and I love it here.’”

Woods enters the NFL ranks after earning All-America recognition for his junior campaign in 2025. He was Clemson’s first AP All-American at defensive tackle since Christian Wilkins in 2018, and he finished his Clemson career with 99 tackles (14.5 for loss), 5.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups over 35 games (24 starts) from 2023-25. He also scored two rushing touchdowns as a contributor on offense.

“Several veterans were quick to notice Woods’ athleticism and explosiveness in the offseason program, whether on the practice fields or in the weight room,” ESPN’s Nate Taylor wrote. “Even though Woods is not a projected starter, he should offer plenty of rotational contributions as an additional interior pass rusher next to Chris Jones. ‘I’ve been really, really impressed with Pete,’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. ‘Not only [with] what he does on the field but the way he carries himself in the [classroom].’”

Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen also praised Woods for multiple attributes he brings to the table, including his quickness, explosiveness, strong motor and versatility, which he displayed in 2024 while splitting time between defensive tackle and defensive end.

“He’s big, he’s explosive, he’s athletic, he played multiple positions at Clemson, and he has a high motor,” Cullen said on June 3. “He’s 310 pounds, and he has quickness, explosiveness and he’s athletic. He can bend for a big guy.”

As for Miller, Campbell — the sixth-year Lions head coach — says Miller possesses the “right” mindset in the way he goes about his business.

“He wants to do it right,” Campbell said on June 11. “He tries to do what you ask him to do, what he’s coached to do. It’s just, it’s early. There’s things he learns every day. Look, even for not being a physical aspect to this with pads, that D-line doesn’t cut him really any slack, either. So, whoever lines up over him is trying to [make things tough on him].

“That’s kind of part of it. So, Sewell went through it a little bit, Hutch [defensive end Aidan Hutchinson] went through it a little bit. They just kind of all want their [good reps]. Not in a bad way. So, he’s learning. And as long as he continues to grow and just take these small steps every day, he’ll be fine.”

Miller and the Lions will open the 2026 regular season against the New Orleans Saints at Ford Field in Detroit on Sept. 13 (1 p.m., FOX), while Woods and the Chiefs will kick off the regular season against the Denver Broncos at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium in a Monday Night Football matchup on Sept. 14 (8:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC).