The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books and for the first time since 2009, a Clemson football player was not selected in the first three rounds.
That's right, we went three days before we heard a Clemson player's name called as Barrett Carter came off the board in the fourth round thanks to the Cincinnati Bengals. He was projected as a Day 2 pick but he slid to Day 3 and found a new home in Cincinnati where he'll look to prove himself (again).
Clemson had a very modest NFL Draft for its standards under Dabo Swinney and it's hoping for better results when the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around.
And the results will be better.
Here are the five Tigers who could be selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
1. Cade Klubnik, QB
This is the most obvious one to me. Cade Klubnik is my top returning quarterback in college football after passing for over 3,600 yards with 36 touchdowns and only six picks and rushing for another 400-plus yards. He was one of the most improved players in all of college football last season and he's going to be projected as a first-round pick.
Could he go No. 1 overall? If he flirts with 4,000 yards and keeps those turnover numbers down while improving that completion percentage, I don't see why not.
2. Peter Woods, DL
After dealing with some Alabama rumors all offseason, Peter Woods returns to the defensive line after recording 28 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and three sacks in 2024. He's going to be one of the best defensive linemen in the country and he's probably the most disruptive. I've seen him projected in the top 10 in next year's draft and I tend to agree with that assessment.
3. T.J. Parker, DE
Honestly, a guy who isn't getting enough love in early mocks is T.J. Parker and yet he's still projected by many to be a first-rounder. I think he's a top-10 talent. Parker had a huge 2024 season with 57 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks and he has proven himself to be one of the most dominant edge rushers in the country. This dude lives in the backfield. I think the top-15 range is likely.
4. Avieon Terrell, CB
I've seen a lot of hype surrounding Avieon Terrell as potentially the top cornerback off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft and while I'm not sure that'll be the case, I think his first-round projection is valid. He was an absolute ball-hawk last season, picking off two passes and recording 12 pass breakups. On top of that, he proved he wasn't afraid of contact with 58 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, and three forced fumbles. His 5-11, 180-pound frame may be the only concern here.
5. Antonio Williams, WR
Speaking of players with smaller frames, Antonio Williams is just 5-foot-11 as well but he is one of the most productive and electric receivers in the country. If he doesn't at least get a first-round look in the 2026 NFL Draft, I'd be shocked. He leads arguably the best receiving corps in college football and he's barely scratched the surface with 75 catches for 904 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024 as a junior. He has 153 career receptions for 1,732 yards and 17 scores. Williams has that first-round potential.