Clemson is featured prominently in this new 2026 NFL mock draft, especially at the top.

ESPN NFL Draft/college football analyst Jordan Reid released his early first-round predictions, and he projects four Clemson players to be selected among the top 27 overall picks.

Reid has three of those Tigers as top-10 picks, including two top-three picks – and the No. 1 overall pick.

Reid’s mock draft has the Cleveland Browns trading up and acquiring the No. 1 overall pick from the Tennessee Titans in order to take Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik.

“The Browns drafted two quarterbacks last week: Dillon Gabriel in Round 3 and Shedeur Sanders in Round 5. But Cleveland didn’t address the position with any of its four picks in the top 70, and it might take a bigger swing next April,” Reid wrote. “Klubnik made huge strides in his second season as a starter, finishing 2024 with 3,639 passing yards, 36 touchdown passes and only 6 interceptions. He could be the long-term answer.

“Klubnik maintains a strong platform while going through his reads and is consistent no matter the defensive structure. He also has the mobility to escape pressure, but he has B-level arm strength, so it will be important for him to show that he can throw into tight windows this season. His game reminds me a lot of Bo Nix.”

Of course, Trevor Lawrence is currently the only No. 1 overall pick that Clemson has ever had.

On ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike show, Reid further discussed why he sees the Browns using draft capital in order to move up to the top of the draft and take Klubnik with the No. 1 overall pick, despite drafting two quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft and trading for one quarterback (Kenny Pickett) this offseason.

“That’s something I debated in this mock draft,” Reid said. “But if they’re picking inside of the top three, obviously things didn’t go as planned as they wanted it to. And then with this projected to be a really strong quarterback class, if you’re picking inside of the top three, I don’t think any Day 2 or Day 3 quarterback should keep you from selecting one of those guys at the top of the draft. And we know they have a very crowded quarterback room right now, but whenever you potentially have two picks inside of the top five, which they have in this mock draft scenario, I just don’t see how they come out of it without a quarterback.”

As for the other Clemson selections in Reid’s mock draft, he has defensive tackle Peter Woods joining Klubnik as a top-three pick, with Woods going to the Titans at No. 3.

“If I were making a way-too-early rankings board, Woods would have an argument to be at the top,” Reid wrote. “At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, he has a nonstop motor and wreaks havoc. He has excellent hand power to stack, shed and disrupt plays. Woods had three sacks last season on the interior, and his pass-rush upside would be welcomed in Tennessee.”

Reid also has Clemson defensive end T.J. Parker as a top-10 pick, going to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 9.

“The Colts have recently used their first-round picks on edge rushers Kwity Paye (2021) and Laiatu Latu (2024), so we know they’re not afraid to invest draft capital at the position. Paye doesn’t have a long-term contract and is currently set to play 2025 on the fifth-year option,” Reid wrote. “Parker had a breakout season in 2024, with 11 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. He is a versatile player capable of playing from multiple pre-snap alignments and stances, using his length as a run defender and closing speed in the pass rush.”

Rounding out the Clemson picks in Reid’s mock draft is cornerback Avieon Terrell as the No. 27 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers.

“At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Terrell is smaller than his older brother A.J., who plays corner for the Falcons. But Avieon is a pest for opposing receivers, as his 11 pass breakups tied for the 15th most in the FBS last season,” Reid wrote. “The loaded Clemson defensive front should bring a lot of pressure this season, which could lead to more interceptions for Terrell (two). The 49ers still need their Charvarius Ward replacement.”