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McShay's First 2026 Mock Draft Features Historic Clemson Dominance

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay has released his first 2026 mock draft, and he's predicting a Clemson sweep at the top.
ByZach Lentz
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Oct 5, 2019; Morgantown, WV, USA; ESPN broadcaster Todd McShay talks along the sidelines during the fourth quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Oct 5, 2019; Morgantown, WV, USA; ESPN broadcaster Todd McShay talks along the sidelines during the fourth quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images | Ben Queen-Imagn Images

The 2025 college football season hasn't even kicked off, but the hype for Clemson's immense talent is already reaching a fever pitch for the 2026 NFL Draft.

In his first mock draft for the cycle, ESPN analyst Todd McShay is projecting a historic orange wave at the top: a Clemson Tiger sweep of the first two overall picks.

The longtime draft guru's "Appropriately Early" mock draft sends a clear message about the level of talent in Death Valley, with a staggering four Tigers projected to be selected within the first 15 picks.

The 1-2 Punch

No. 1 Overall: Cade Klubnik, QB (Cleveland Browns)
McShay projects the Tigers' senior signal-caller to be the first name called, lauding him as a prospect who is "calm in chaos and has enough mobility and arm strength to succeed at the next level." After a massive 2024 season where he accounted for 43 total touchdowns, Klubnik is poised to prove he's the top QB in the nation.

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No. 2 Overall: T.J. Parker, DE (New Orleans Saints)
Immediately following his quarterback, McShay has the dominant defensive end coming off the board. Described as a "power-based edge whose game should translate well to the NFL," Parker is coming off a season where he set a program record with six forced fumbles to go along with 11 sacks.

The First-Round Parade Doesn't Stop

The Clemson dominance continues throughout the top half of the first round in McShay's projection:

  • No. 7 Overall: Peter Woods, DT (Carolina Panthers)
    McShay calls Woods "one of the top three prospects that I studied on tape this offseason," praising his "lightning-quick hands" and versatility along the defensive line.
  • No. 14 Overall: Antonio Williams, WR (New England Patriots)
    The second receiver off the board in the mock, Williams is pegged as a "strong route runner" who can become a go-to target for a team in need of offensive weapons.

While the 2026 NFL Draft is a long way off, McShay's projection serves as the ultimate validation of the elite roster Dabo Swinney has assembled for the 2025 season. It confirms what many around the country believe: the road to the National Championship runs through a Clemson team loaded with future Sunday superstars.

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