Clemson could be headed to the top of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Every year, it seems like one school dominates the NFL Draft, sending a horde of talent to the pros after contending for (and sometimes winning) a title. That starts at the top, where Georgia sent five players to the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, as did LSU in 2020 and Ohio State in 2016.
Each of those teams sent double-digit prospects to the NFL. The Clemson Tigers might be next. What separates Clemson from its high-profile counterparts isn't its surplus of talent, but how many prospects could reasonably be the No. 1 pick in April.
ESPN lists three Tigers among top-pick contenders
Summer scouting for the 2026 NFL Draft means tuning into a lot of Tigers football.
The operation starts with quarterback Cade Klubnik, whose blend of in-structure efficiency and out-of-structure athleticism has landed him in the first round of most way-too-early mock drafts. He's a contender to be the top pick of the draft, and in a recent ESPN article detailing some candidates to hear their name called first, he was given a 15% chance of doing so.
Klubnik doesn't have elite arm talent, making it all the more important for him to maximize his tools and win with his intangibles.
On the other side of the ball, Clemson is stacked. Edge rusher T.J. Parker is the consensus top edge rusher in an impressive class, largely due to his speed-to-power prowess.
"The 6-3, 265-pound Parker is the most likely non-quarterback to be selected first, combining a good first step with strong hands to disengage at the point of attack," Jordan Reid wrote.
"Those hands help him win by overpowering blockers, and he finished his sophomore season with 11 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss, second most in the FBS among defensive linemen. He has also been a turnover creator, forcing four fumbles last season (also second in the FBS) and stands out in a loaded Clemson defensive front."
MORE: PFF: Clemson's defensive line is unmatched
Parker has made a solid case to be a top pick, perhaps even the first defensive player off the board. Personally, his teammate's upside makes him an even bigger priority, even if his positional value lessens his chances of going No. 1.
Peter Woods is the best defensive tackle in the country. His versatility and athleticism allow him to wreak havoc from a handful of alignments. From each one of them, he projects to be an elite run defender, boasting strong burst and a knack for good hand usage. That explosiveness lends itself to pass-rushing upside, and while it hasn't shown up in the box score just yet, he's a safer bet to blossom than some of last season's first-round linemen.
"Woods played a lot off the edge last season but stayed disruptive as a run defender," Reid added, along with a 1% change of going first in April. "He had only three sacks last season as a sophomore, but his explosive power allowed him to penetrate the backfield as a pass rusher. He'll get more snaps inside this season as a 3-technique under new defensive coordinator Tom Allen. If he can convert more pass rushes into sacks, Woods could be a top-five pick come April."
With receiver Antonio Williams and corner Avieon Terrell also pushing for Round 1 capital, there's no shortage of talent on the Tigers' roster.
Subsequently, it's no surprise Clemson is among the favorites to take home a College Football Playoff championship this season. At ESPN Bet, they trail only Ohio State, Texas, Penn State, and Georgia with +900 odds to hoist the season's final trophy.
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