CLEMSON – During his tenure as Clemson’s head football coach, Dabo Swinney has coached his fair share of first-round draft picks.

Since 2010, after his first full year as the Tigers’ head coach, Clemson has had 18 former players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, including quarterback Trevor Lawrence who went first overall in the 2021 draft.

Starting with DeAndre Hopkins’ first-round selection by the Houston Texans in the 2013 draft, Clemson has produced at least one first-round pick in 10 of the last 12 previous drafts.

The most productive first round came in 2019, when defensive end Celin Ferrell, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence were all selected in the first 17 picks of the draft. It marked the first time in the history of the draft one school had three defensive linemen taken in the first round of the same draft.

It is still the only time in Clemson history three former players were selected in the opening round of an NFL Draft.

Unfortunately, for Clemson, that will not be the case in the 2025 NFL Draft. In fact, it’s unlikely any Tiger will be chosen in the first two days of this year’s draft, which begins Thursday and runs through Saturday.

Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday at 8 p.m. from Lambeau Field, in Green Bay, Wis. Rounds 2-7 will follow on Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (noon).

Clemson is not expected to have a player selected in the draft until the later rounds, which is supposed to begin with linebacker Barrett Carter. Many mock drafts suggest he could go as early as the fourth round.

He is the only player who seems to be guaranteed a draft spot heading into the draft. Other Tigers who could be selected on Saturday include tight end Jake Briningstool, safety R.J. Mickens, running back Phil Mafah, defensive tackle Payton Page, and offensive guard Marcus Tate.

Clemson had just seven players eligible for this year’s draft, which Swinney said is a blessing because it means they have a lot more Tigers coming back for the 2025 season. Former punter Aidan Swanson is also eligible in this year’s draft.

“We don’t have a lot of guys (in the draft) and that is the best thing about it. But I do think they will all get an opportunity,” Swinney said.

Those opportunities will come in the later rounds, though. Carter is believed to go first for Clemson, but few mock drafts have him going earlier than the fourth round. Mickens could go in the fifth round, while Briningstool is marked as a sixth-round pick at best.

Page, Mafah and Tate are likely seventh round picks if they are taken.

Clemson NFL Draft Notes

• If no one is selected after round three, it will mark the first time since the 2009 NFL Draft that Clemson did not have a player selected in the first three rounds. The first player chosen that year was defensive tackle Dorell Scott, who went No. 103 overall in the fourth round to the Rams.
• The last time Clemson did not have a player taken in the first two rounds of a draft came in 2018 when linebacker Dorian O’Daniel went No. 100 overall on the last pick of the third round to the Kansas City Chiefs.
• The last time Clemson had its first player selected in a draft after the fourth round came in 1995, when outside linebacker Wardell Rouse was selected by Tampa Bay at No. 179 overall in the sixth round. He was the only Clemson player who was drafted that year. It’s also the last time Clemson had just one player chosen in an NFL Draft.
• Only two players were selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. Cornerback Anrew Booth went in the second round (No. 42 overall) to the Vikings, while linebacker Baylon Spector (No. 231) was drafted in the seventh round by the Bills.