The 2026 NFL Draft marked the ninth time that Clemson has produced multiple first-round picks in a single draft, as this year, offensive tackle Blake Miller and defensive tackle Peter Woods were selected in the opening round.

The Detroit Lions landed Miller with the No. 17 overall selection, while the Kansas City Chiefs picked up Woods with the 29th overall selection.

ESPN’s team of reporters named the pros and cons for each player who was taken in the first round this year, examining why each draft pick fits in, and what question marks they still have.

For the Lions’ Miller pick, ESPN’s Eric Woodyard weighed in on the pros and cons:

Why they picked him: The Lions’ offensive line wasn’t up to par last season, finishing with the second-worst pass block win rate in the NFL (56%), according to ESPN Analytics/NFL Next Gen Stats. After missing the playoffs in 2025, Detroit continues to retool its offensive line by adding Miller, with an emphasis on improving the pass protection around veteran quarterback Jared Goff. His experience is primarily at right tackle for Clemson, and he has a prototypical frame for an offensive tackle — at 6-foot-6, 315 pounds — to help immediately.

Biggest question: Was Miller the best option among available offensive tackles to help right away? Fans should be cautious about questioning Lions GM Brad Holmes’ decisions based on his track record in the NFL draft, but it’s still a fair question. Either way, the Lions addressed one of their top positional needs with an elite prospect on the offensive line. This is another foundational building-block pick and a solid player who started all 54 games of his college career. Miller is the first offensive lineman selected by the Lions in the first round since they took Penei Sewell at No. 7 in 2021.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Nate Taylor gave his take on the pros and cons of the Chiefs’ Woods pick:

Why they picked him: The Chiefs turn the centerpiece of the Trent McDuffie trade into an athletic defensive tackle in Woods, who should be a rotational contributor as a rookie. The Chiefs need depth behind pass rusher Chris Jones and Omarr Norman-Lott, last year’s second-round pick who sustained a season-ending torn ACL in his right knee in October. Woods is an intriguing athlete. Last week, general manager Brett Veach acknowledged that the Chiefs needed to add two players at the interior position.

Biggest question: How quickly can Woods help ease the burden on Jones? With impressive quickness, Woods can learn a lot from Jones, the Chiefs’ best defensive player. The Chiefs hope that Woods will grow in Kansas City after an up-and-down college career. If that happens, sooner rather than later, Woods could help Jones avoid being on the field for 80% of the snaps, as he has done. With a need at the position, Woods should have plenty of opportunity to earn snaps.

Miller was a mainstay on Clemson’s offensive line for the last four seasons, breaking the Clemson record for career snaps from scrimmage by playing 3,778 offensive snaps over 54 career games (all starts) from 2022-25. A 2022 freshman All-American and three-time All-ACC selection, Miller started every game Clemson played in his entire four-year career and 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 enters the NFL ranks after earning All-America recognition for his junior campaign in 2025. He was Clemson’s first AP All-American at defensive tackle since Christian Wilkins in 2018, and he finished his Clemson career with 99 tackles (14.5 for loss), five sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups over 35 games (24 starts) from 2023-25. He also scored two rushing touchdowns as a contributor on offense.

In addition to his All-American recognition, Woods was a first-team All-ACC selection by the league, the AP and Phile Steele in 2025. He was also a freshman All-American in 2023.

–Clemson Athletic Communications contributed to this story