Before the 2026 college football season kicks off, the Bleacher Report Scouting Department released its initial projection for the first round of next year’s NFL Draft.

Two Clemson standouts on the defensive side of the ball are currently projected as first-round picks in Bleacher Report’s 2027 NFL mock draft – junior cornerback Ashton Hampton and senior edge rusher Will Heldt.

The mock draft has Hampton going to the New York Jets with the 12th overall pick:

Clemson’s Ashton Hampton gives the Jets a true No. 1 corner, which they currently lack.

“Hampton has the makings of a physical, top-flight corner, who brings it in man coverage and adds a willingness against the run with excellent tackling ability,” [Bleacher Report scout Dan] Harms said. “The 6’2″, 205-pound defensive back locates the football down the field and uses his superior length to impact the catch-point. He’d either give Aaron Glenn the type of defensive back the former NFL DB likely craves or brings New York’s next coaching staff the kind of mentality it’ll want in the secondary.”

As for Heldt, he is projected to be selected by the Denver Broncos with the No. 21 overall pick:

An investment in Clemson’s Will Heldt next offseason will help stabilize this [pass-rushing] position group.

“This projection is about maintaining a strength, seeing as the team’s defense led the league in sacks over the last two years,” [Bleacher Report scout Matt] Holder said. “The 6’6″, 260-pound Heldt has great size and decent movement skills, along with the ability to push the pocket using a long-arm move and a nasty inside spin move as a counter.”

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid also released a 2027 mock draft with his preseason first-round predictions, and like Bleacher Report, Reid projects both Hampton and Heldt to be first-round picks.

Reid’s mock draft has Hampton going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 19 overall pick.

“The Bucs have been reloading their defense with younger players, but cornerback is a position that could be worth addressing in 2027,” Reid wrote. “Benjamin Morrison was inconsistent as a rookie last season after being drafted in the second round, and Zyon McCollum had a disappointing injury-filled campaign. If McCollum struggles to regain his pre-injury form, then Hampton could take his place. He’s a big, physical corner at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds who thrives in man coverage.”

Reid projects Heldt to be taken by the Miami Dolphins with the 32nd (and final) pick of the first round.

“The 6-foot-6, 260-pound Heldt is a long, linearly built player who understands how to use his length, as evidenced by his team-high 7.5 sacks a year ago,” Reid wrote. “Despite being a limited athlete, Heldt’s get-off from a two-point stance is above average. He needs to add more mass to his frame, but he already has the effort and nuances to perform as an NFL pass rusher. The Dolphins need plenty of help on the edge to join 2024 first-rounder Chop Robinson, and Heldt could be an asset there.”

A rangy athlete, Hampton is credited with 77 tackles (3.5 for loss), 17 pass breakups, three interceptions, including a pick-six, and a sack over 27 games across his first two years at Clemson.

He broke out during his freshman campaign in 2024, when he appeared in all 14 games, made four starts, and earned freshman All-America honors after tallying 30 tackles (0.5 for loss), six pass breakups and two interceptions, including one he returned 53 yards for a touchdown.

Hampton followed up his debut season with a strong sophomore season in 2025, locking down a key role in the secondary. He recorded 47 tackles (three for loss), a sack, an interception and 11 pass breakups while starting all 13 of Clemson’s games.

Heldt’s outstanding first year as a Tiger in 2025 saw him tally 48 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, four pass breakups and a forced fumble over 13 games (all starts) en route to third-team All-ACC honors. He led Clemson in both sacks and tackles for loss while finishing fourth on the team (and first on the defensive line) in tackles.

Heldt came to Clemson last offseason following two productive seasons at Purdue. He played in all 24 games for the Boilermakers from 2023-24, totaling 68 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks and a fumble recovery over those two seasons.

He is one of only 14 players nationally to post 10-plus tackles for loss and five or more sacks in each of the past two seasons.

The Athletic’s lead NFL Draft analyst, Dane Brugler, ranked Hampton as the No. 3 draft prospect at the cornerback position heading into the upcoming season. Heldt is ranked as the No. 4 edge rusher in Brugler’s preseason positional rankings for the 2027 draft.

The 2027 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place from April 29 to May 1 in Washington, D.C.