Some of the top rookies in the NFL revealed to ESPN how they’ve spent (or plan to spend) their first NFL paychecks.
A trio of former Clemson standouts are among the rookies featured in the article – Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Peter Woods, Detroit Lions offensive tackle Blake Miller and Washington Commanders wide receiver Antonio Williams.
Woods, who was selected in the first round of April’s NFL Draft with the 29th overall pick, checked in under the category of “savings and investing”:
“I wouldn’t say there is [anything specific I want to buy],” Woods said. “Nah, I’m just kind of letting my money make money right now. I had a pretty blessed college situation [at Clemson]. It’s a different landscape [now]. It allows me to kind of be disciplined in that area. I’m not really worried about it, for real.”
As for Miller, Clemson’s other 2026 first-round pick who was taken 17th overall, he landed in the category of “homes and household goods”:
Miller isn’t looking to purchase anything crazy but is looking to buy a home. “I’m trying to be smart with it and not be a big, big spender,” Miller told ESPN. “But, I guess a place to live would be it.” Miller, who was selected by Detroit as the 17th pick, learned the value of being smart with his finances from his parents and by managing his money at Clemson from 2022 to 2025, where he started all 54 games of his career.
“Obviously being in college in the whole NIL era, that helped a little bit because I kind of was there when it was getting going and you get to see the progression of it,” Miller said. “Like guys now, you don’t just get a big chunk of money deposited in your account. You’re still making good money, but it’s not as crazy as it is now. So, I feel like that kind of helped me be able to deal with more and more money, and then my parents as well set a good example. They’re always there with questions or anything, and they’re really helpful.”
Williams, a third-round pick (No. 71 overall), fell into the same category as Miller:
The third-round pick from Clemson made one big purchase. “My first big purchase was a home about 10 minutes away from the [Commanders’] facility. I’m not a big spender. I feel that was a good investment. No cars, nothing crazy, man. I didn’t want to make any dumb decisions.”
Williams was a two-time All-ACC selection who recorded 2,336 yards and 21 touchdowns on 208 career receptions over 43 games (38 starts) during his Clemson career from 2022-25. He exited Clemson ranked fourth in school history in career receptions and tied with Mike Williams for the fourth-most career touchdown receptions in school history.
In 2025, Williams caught 55 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns over 10 games. The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder also rushed 13 times for 78 yards and a touchdown, completed a 75-yard touchdown pass and gained 44 yards on four punt returns en route to third-team All-ACC honors.
Miller was a mainstay on Clemson’s offensive line for the last four seasons, breaking the school record for career snaps from scrimmage by playing 3,778 offensive snaps over his 54 career games from 2022-25. The three-time All-ACC selection also 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.
Woods was a first-team all-conference honoree in his final season at Clemson, as well as a second-team All-American, becoming the first defensive tackle since Christian Wilkins in 2018 to earn All-American status at Clemson.
Woods was credited by the coaching staff with 40 tackles (3.5 for loss), two sacks and two pass breakups in 554 defensive snaps, while starting all 12 games he appeared in. The former five-star prospect from Alabama and 2023 freshman All-American was credited with 99 tackles (14.5 for loss), five sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups in his 35-game college career from 2023-25.