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Way-too-early 2026 NFL Mock Draft has 4 Clemson football players going in 1st round

ByConnor Muldowney|
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) against the Texas Longhorns during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) against the Texas Longhorns during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

As the 2025 NFL Draft wrapped up, Clemson football fans couldn't help but feel a little disappointed in the output. The Tigers had just three guys drafted as Barrett Carter went to the Bengals, RJ Mickens was selected by the Chargers, and Phil Mafah was picked by the Cowboys.

Three guys were drafted from a team that made the College Football Playoff and won an ACC title. That just didn't sit right with a lot of people.

Dabo Swinney included.

While he felt like there should've been more of his guys drafted, a handful of them were signed as undrafted free agents shortly after the seventh round concluded.

The Tigers went without having a guy selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft for the first time in seven years. That streak was impressive but it came to an end as Carter slid to the fourth round. Don't expect the same results next year, however.

According to a way-too-early 2026 NFL Mock Draft on PFF, four Tigers are projected in next year's first round. Actually, they're projected as top-15 picks.

The first is Cade Klubnik who will be the second quarterback off the board at No. 4 to the New York Jets while TJ Parker goes No. 7 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. Just two picks later, Peter Woods will be off the board as he goes to join Mafah on the Cowboys and then Avieon Terrell is off the board at No. 13 thanks to the Rams.

That's four Clemson players in the top 13 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, according to this mock, and it's hard to argue because all of those guys are projected to be early picks already.

I could see Klubnik being the first quarterback off the board but it'll be tough to argue against Arch Manning and this has Parker and Woods as the first and second edge rushers off the board, respectively, and Terrell as the first cornerback taken.

Can it be 2026 yet?

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