The 2026 NFL Draft is just a month away, as it’s set to be held from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.

Ahead of the draft, Pro Football Focus (PFF) identified the “most valuable trade asset” for each NFL team – “not just in terms of raw talent, but in how realistically it could be moved and what kind of return it could command.”

“Every NFL draft is defined as much by movement as it is by selection,” PFF’s John Kosko wrote. “And in 2026, the league’s most valuable assets aren’t just prospects on the board, but the players, picks and contracts that could reshape the draft entirely.”

A trio of Clemson pros are listed among the aforementioned players.

Cornerback A.J. Terrell was pegged as the most valuable trade asset for the Atlanta Falcons.

Now entering his seventh NFL season in 2026, Terrell has established himself as a crucial member of Atlanta’s secondary since being selected by the Falcons in the first round (16th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

A 2021 All-Pro, Terrell has recorded six interceptions, as well as 61 passes defended, across 93 games (all starts) in his NFL career so far. He had 68 tackles and two forced fumbles last season, and despite missing a couple of games due to a hamstring injury, he ranked second on the Falcons defense with 12 passes defended.

Before the 2024 season, he and the Falcons agreed on a four-year, $81 million contract extension, which keeps the 27-year-old under contract with Atlanta through the 2028 season.

“Terrell, a former first-round pick, remains a highly valuable asset despite a down 2025 season in which he posted a 57.7 PFF overall grade. He has a proven track record of strong coverage and reliable run defense, and at 27 years old, he still offers multiple years of team control,” PFF’s Kosko wrote.

“Public perception may outpace his career grading profile, but his talent as a dependable boundary corner remains clear. That combination of experience, versatility and positional value makes him an attractive option for teams in need of secondary help.

“Trading Terrell could net the Falcons significant draft capital or a high-end player to address offensive needs or bolster roster depth. In a league that consistently prioritizes quality cornerback play, he profiles as a premium asset.”

Meanwhile, former Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins was tabbed as the most valuable trade asset for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Higgins earned his first career Pro Bowl selection last season. In 15 games, Higgins registered 59 receptions for 846 yards, and he tied for second in the NFL with his 11 touchdown receptions despite missing a couple of games due to concussions. He set a career-high with those 11 touchdown catches last season.

While Higgins had previously never been a Pro Bowler, the 27-year-old has been highly productive over his six NFL seasons since being selected by the Bengals in the second round (33rd overall pick) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Coming into the 2025 season, he had caught 330 passes for 4,595 yards and 34 touchdowns across 70 career regular season games from 2020-24, while recording at least 900 receiving yards in four of his first five seasons, including back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2021 and 2022. Higgins has also appeared in seven playoff games and ranks second in Bengals history in both postseason receptions (31) and postseason receiving yards (457).

After being franchise tagged by the Bengals two straight years, Higgins got paid in a big way in March 2025 with a four-year, $115 million deal.

“While Joe Burrow may not be thrilled, the Bengals need to address their defense to better complement their top-tier offense. Higgins brings reliability and big-play ability, even with some injury concerns, and his contract structure offers cap flexibility for both sides,” Kosko wrote.

“He has shown flashes of true No. 1 receiver ability but is arguably the league’s best No. 2, instantly elevating any passing attack. Moving Higgins would allow Cincinnati to reshape its receiver room while acquiring valuable draft capital or defensive help.

“His proven chemistry with an elite quarterback in a high-volume passing offense makes him a highly valuable trade asset.”

The most valuable trade asset for the New York Giants, PFF says, is former Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

The 28-year-old Lawrence is under contract with the Giants through the 2027 season. In May 2023, he and the franchise agreed to a four-year, $90 million extension.

Lawrence saw his production take a step back in 2025, his seventh season with the Giants. In 17 games (all starts), Lawrence tallied 31 total tackles, four tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, four passes defended and an interception that he returned 37 yards.

Lawrence’s number of sacks, tackles and quarterback hits in 2025 were all career lows. However, there’s no doubt that Lawrence has established himself as a dominant presence on the interior of the Giants’ defensive line.

Prior to the 2025 season, Lawrence collected three straight Pro Bowl selections from 2022-24 and also earned All-Pro honors in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He became the first Giants player to be voted to three straight Pro Bowls since safety Landon Collins from 2016-18, and if he hadn’t suffered a season-ending elbow injury in 2024 – when he posted a career-high nine sacks — he could have very well earned his third consecutive All-Pro selection as well.

Heading into his eighth NFL season in 2026, Lawrence has racked up 341 total tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 30.5 sacks in 109 career games (102 starts) since being selected by the Giants in the first round (17th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.

“The Giants are firmly in rebuild mode, and their lone elite interior force stands out as a potential trade candidate. Lawrence earned a 78.4 PFF overall grade in 2025, including an 84.5 PFF pass-rush grade, continuing to impact games as both a run defender and interior disruptor,” Kosko wrote.

“While his run-defense performance dipped slightly from previous seasons, he has consistently been one of the league’s most dominant run defenders since entering the NFL. His strength and ability to collapse the pocket elevate any front seven, and his positional value makes him a rare asset. Trading Lawrence could bring back a strong return and provide the Giants with the capital needed to rebuild both lines.”