![Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) runs towards the end zone during the fourth quarter in an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. Bills lead 10-7 at the half over the Jaguars. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_62,w_731,h_411/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/293/01kgq10ztmcndx35ej0t.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) runs towards the end zone during the fourth quarter in an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. Bills lead 10-7 at the half over the Jaguars. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]")
As the current Clemson team gears up for the 2026 season under Dabo Swinney, the “Clemson Pro” brand is stronger than ever in the NFL.
Recently, Pro Football Focus (PFF) announced a broad list of the Top 250 players set to hit free agency this spring, and four recognizable Tigertown players are probably going to be among the most coveted sights on the market.
Travis Etienne:
The Resurgence (No. 15 Overall) central among the bunch is Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne who enters free agency as PFF’s No. 15 overall prospect and the No. 3 ranked running back. After a “disappointing” 2024 campaign, Etienne muted critics this past season, returning to elite form. He showed the explosiveness that made him a one-time first-round pick: tying for 10th at his position with 28 rushes of 10+ yards.
Season Stats: Career-high 13 total touchdowns and only one fumble.
Career Resume: 3,798 rushing yards, 1,338 receiving yards, 32 touchdowns since 2021.
PFF Take: "Etienne appeared closer to his best this season … his 46 missed tackles forced tied for 14th spot out of all running backs.
D.J. Reader: The Interior Anchor (No. 20 Overall).
Ranked just five spots behind Etienne is veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader. Still 31, Reader is one of the most consistent interior forces in the league. During his last season with the Detroit Lions, Reader held onto his streak of never allowing his PFF grade to drop below 60.0 in pass-rush or run-defense in his entire career.
DeAndre Hopkins: The Elite Technician (No. 113 Overall).
“Nuk” continues to defy age. As a 34-year-old entering his age-34 season, DeAndre Hopkins continues to be a nightmare for cornerbacks, with a separation rate of 63.2%, which makes him top-five among all NFL pass-catchers this season. PFF believes a return to the Tennessee Titans might be the ideal match as Hopkins can help develop the already young QB Cam Ward and a receiving corps that struggled with efficiency in 2025.
Christian Wilkins: The 2026 Wildcard (No. 168 Overall).
The name that stands out most on the list is undoubtedly Christian Wilkins. Following a tumultuous exit from the Las Vegas Raiders involving a grievance that reportedly went well beyond $35.2 million in voided contract money, Wilkins sat out the full 2025 season. That “quiet” year has dropped him to No. 168, but his record as a Campbell Trophy winner and high-motor defender makes him a “high-upside bet” for a contender in search of a little interior pass-rush help.
The Bottom Line: From Etienne’s explosion in the playmaking ring to veteran savvy of Hopkins and Reader, that “Clemson South” influence on the NFL is about to kick off some big contracts with the signing period starting.