ESPN’s Field Yates released his first 2026 NFL mock draft this week.

His early preseason predictions for Round 1 feature five Clemson players – quarterback Cade Klubnik, defensive tackle Peter Woods, defensive end T.J. Parker, cornerback Avieon Terrell and offensive tackle Blake Miller.

Yates sees Klubnik, Woods, Parker and Terrell all coming off the board within the top 15 overall picks, including Klubnik, Woods and Parker in the top 10.

He projects Klubnik to be selected third overall by the New Orleans Saints.

“Klubnik would become the first quarterback taken in the first round by the Saints since Archie Manning in 1971,” Yates wrote. “New Orleans bypassed the position at No. 9 in April, but it’d be hard to do it again in the top five next year. Klubnik is a mechanically sound and accurate passer who accounted for 43 total touchdowns during his breakout 2024 season (36 passing, seven rushing). He lacks elite size at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, but he’d offer the Saints some stability at QB as they reset their roster.”

Yates’ mock draft has Woods going one pick after Klubnik, to the New York Giants at No. 4.

“Entering the season, two non-quarterback prospects rise above the rest for me: Ohio State’s Caleb Downs and Woods,” Yates wrote. “The Giants are well-positioned at safety after signing Jevon Holland, so I’m going with Woods and adding to an already outstanding defensive line. Woods is a chaos causer. He had just three sacks in 2024 after none as a freshman in 2023, but his game goes far beyond the box score; every opponent O-line had a plan for him on each snap last season. He also has the positional versatility to line up and rush from multiple spots, which would help alongside Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Dexter Lawrence II and Kayvon Thibodeaux.”

Parker is projected to be selected eighth overall by the New England Patriots.

“Parker brings a blend of versatility and pass-rushing nuance,” Yates wrote. “He is at his best as an edge rusher, but he has also shown the capacity to kick down to a 4i alignment (inside shoulder of the offensive tackle) and even drop into coverage. His production speaks for itself — he forced a Clemson-record six fumbles and had 11 sacks in 2024, and his 12.5 tackles for loss in 2023 were a school record for a true freshman. The Patriots, meanwhile, were last in the NFL in sacks in 2024 (28) and must keep addressing their pass rush. New coach Mike Vrabel will want to be tough on both sides of the line.”

Terrell is also a top-15 selection in Yates’ mock draft, going to the Miami Dolphins at No. 15.

“The Dolphins enter the 2025 season razor thin at cornerback,” Yates wrote. “Jalen Ramsey is gone, and Artie Burns and Kader Kohou both suffered season-ending injuries this spring. So it’s easy to match Miami to the CB class. Terrell — the younger brother of Falcons standout A.J. Terrell Jr. — has fantastic ball skills and a contagious confidence (it seems to run in the family). During his breakout 2024 season, the younger Terrell intercepted a pair of passes, broke up 12 more and forced three fumbles. When opposing quarterbacks targeted Terrell in 2024, he allowed just 26 of 60 attempts to be completed and surrendered only two completions for at least 20 yards.”

Rounding out the Clemson selections in Yates’ mock draft is Miller (No. 31 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles).

“Miller is an experienced right tackle (41 starts) with very good movement skills and the lateral agility to stick with edge rushers,” Yates wrote. “Yes, the Eagles don’t have many pressing needs at the moment. But they have always been ahead of the curve on offensive line investments, and this would give them a promising player in the pipeline to develop behind 35-year-old Lane Johnson.”

If the Tigers were to have five first-round picks as Yates predicted, that would break the Clemson record for players taken in the first round of an NFL Draft, as that record (three) came in 2019 when Clelin Ferrell (No. 4 to Raiders), Christian Wilkins (No. 13 to Dolphins) and Dexter Lawrence (No. 17 to Giants) were selected in the opening round.

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.