NFL.com analyst Tom Blair recently identified 10 rookies from the 2026 NFL Draft class who are “in position to succeed in Year 1 and beyond.”

A pair of former Clemson players made the list, one on each side of the ball – offensive tackle Blake Miller and edge rusher T.J. Parker.

Miller was the first Clemson player to come off the board in April’s NFL Draft, when the Detroit Lions selected him in the first round with the No. 17 overall selection.

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.

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.

The three-time All-ACC selection 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. 

Blair ranks Miller as the No. 2 rookie best positioned to experience NFL success off the bat.

“The Lions clearly see Miller, who has 54 college starts to his name, as a pro-ready prospect — which is great, because they have a Miller-ready offensive line,” Blair wrote. “The unit wasn’t the only thing that went sideways for Detroit in 2025, but fixing it could be the most efficient way to level the Lions back into the NFC’s upper class. In 2025, Detroit registered the second-highest QB pressure rate (34.3%) of Dan Campbell’s tenure, with a steep drop in EPA per dropback from 2024 (0.25) to ’25 (0.12). As for the ground game, a slip in average rushing yards before contact (1.8 to 1.5) corresponded with a reduction in EPA per carry (from 0.04 to -0.06).

“If Campbell and Co. are going to make sure last season goes down as a blip in the Jared Goff era, they need someone to help seal up the QB’s protection and get the run game rolling again as they move on from Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker. If Miller’s got the goods, he’ll be leaned on to keep the Lions’ current competitive window extended for as long as possible.”

Meanwhile, Parker checks in at No. 10 on Blair’s list of rookies in position to succeed right away.

The Buffalo Bills selected Parker with the No. 35 overall selection in the second round on Day 2 of this year’s draft.

The edge rusher finished his Clemson career with 144 tackles (41.5 for loss), 21.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and five pass breakups over 39 career games (29 starts) from 2023-25. He was the only player in the nation to reach both five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries across the 2024-25 seasons.

He was a second-team All-ACC selection by both the conference and the AP in 2024 after earning freshman All-American honors in 2023.

Parker became the 25th defensive lineman selected in the NFL Draft in Dabo Swinney’s head coaching tenure, the 11th Clemson player drafted by the Bills in the NFL Draft all-time, and the fourth defensive lineman selected by the Bills in the first 35 picks of a draft since 2016.

“Why get excited about someone who looks like a backup pass-rushing option behind Gregory Rousseau and Bradley Chubb? Well, in part because Rousseau and Chubb’s presence means the Bills won’t need to force Parker’s development,” Blair wrote. “At the same time, Chubb is turning 30 this summer and is on a three-year deal that includes no more guaranteed money after Year 2, per Over the Cap. So there should be plenty of room for Parker to claim a larger role down the road.

“And, of course, Parker will have the chance to do plenty right away even while playing behind Rousseau and Chubb. As Sal Maiorana of the Democrat and Chronicle pointed out, Parker is suited for the 3-4 scheme that new coordinator Jim Leonhard is implementing. And Mike Hoecht will be less than a year removed from a torn Achilles. The Bills haven’t ranked in the top 10 in QB pressure rate since 2022, per Next Gen Stats, and they could really use a long-term partner for Rousseau. If Parker impresses, he can start down the path toward becoming a crucial defensive counterweight to Josh Allen’s superstar QB play.”

Parker and the Bills will open the 2026 regular season on the road against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Sept. 13, while Miller and the Lions will kick off the upcoming regular season at home against the New Orleans Saints on the same date.