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CLEMSON — Clemson football's presence in the 2027 NFL Draft could be smaller than this year's class.
Clemsontied its school record for the most players selected in a seven-round draft after nine players were taken. This came after the Tigers went 7-6 in 2025, the second-worst year in coach Dabo Swinney's full 17 seasons.
Clemson tied with Miami and Texas Tech for the fourth-most players taken in the draft.
Clemson has high-end talent on its 2026 roster that can be taken in the 2027 NFL Draft, including defensive end Will Heldt, but the Tigers aren't expected to be among the leaders of players taken from their respective schools.
Here are Clemson's top prospects for the 2027 cycle, according to way-too-early mock drafts.
Heldt could have forgone his final year of eligibility to enter the 2026 NFL Draft after setting career highs in tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (7.5) last season. However, the All-ACC edge rusher came back for his senior season and will be Clemson's top pass rusher.
USA Today Sports' Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz's mock draft has Heldt going at No. 18 in the first round to the Detroit Lions.
"One promising possibility could be Heldt, who was talented enough to change the mind of noted transfer holdout Dabo Swinney," Middlehurst-Schwartz said. "If the 6-6, 260-pound edge rusher continues to develop after posting 7.5 sacks last season, he could enjoy the draft surge that many of his former teammates missed out on in this cycle."
Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer has Heldt going No. 32 overall in the first round to the Seattle Seahawks. The Athletic's Dane Brugler has the edge rusher going to the Seahawks in the first round, too, but at No. 30. CBS Sports' Cooper Petagna has Heldt going No. 25 to the New England Patriots in Round 1.
MORE: Is Dabo Swinney in final season as Clemson football coach? Experts' 2026 predictions
T.J. Moore led Clemson in receiving yards with 837 and caught 52 catches for four touchdowns in 2025. He will enter next season as the Tigers' top wideout after Antonio Williams went to the NFL and Bryant Wesco Jr. recovers from a back injury.
Bruglar has Moore going in the first round to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 28: "Listed at 6-3, 205, Moore is a physical presence with strong hands and improved route running. He can land in the early-round mix."
Bleacher Report's Zach Bachlar also has Moore going No. 26 in the first round to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Wesco, 6-2, recorded 31 catches for 537 yards and six touchdowns in seven games last season. A year prior, he had 41 catches for 708 yards and five touchdowns.
Iyer has Wesco, Clemson's deep-threat receiver, going No. 31 in the first round to the Los Angeles Rams to potentially replace future Hall of Fame wideout Davante Adams: "Wesco can replace that big scoring ability with some field-stretching juice."
MORE: How Cade Klubnik reacted to joining New York Jets in 2026 NFL Draft
Ashton Hampton, 6-2, is the Tigers' top defensive back returning after recording 10 pass deflections, one interception, one sack and 45 tackles in 13 games last season.
Bachlar has Hampton going in the first round to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 28, and Pro Football Focus's Daire Carragher has the cornerback listed No. 46 in its early top 100 big board.
"Hampton isn't quite at the same level as Avieon Terrell yet, but he has all the tools along with a terrific willingness to get involved in run support," Carragher wrote.
Sammy Brown, 6-2, earned All-American honors and a first-team all-ACC selection last season after recording 106 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and five sacks, one forced fumble, six pass deflections and one interception.
This offseason, he ran two 40-yard dashes in an average of 4.43 seconds, according to Clemson linebackers coach Ben Bouleware.
Walter Cherepinsky of Walter Football has Brown going in the first round to the New York Jets at pick 13. Carragher has the linebacker listed No. 96 in Pro Football Focus' early top 100 big board.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson players in 2027 NFL mock drafts: Will Heldt, Bryant Wesco Jr
Continue reading...
Clemsontied its school record for the most players selected in a seven-round draft after nine players were taken. This came after the Tigers went 7-6 in 2025, the second-worst year in coach Dabo Swinney's full 17 seasons.
Clemson tied with Miami and Texas Tech for the fourth-most players taken in the draft.
Clemson has high-end talent on its 2026 roster that can be taken in the 2027 NFL Draft, including defensive end Will Heldt, but the Tigers aren't expected to be among the leaders of players taken from their respective schools.
Here are Clemson's top prospects for the 2027 cycle, according to way-too-early mock drafts.
Clemson 2027 NFL Draft top prospects
Will Heldt, DE
Heldt could have forgone his final year of eligibility to enter the 2026 NFL Draft after setting career highs in tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (7.5) last season. However, the All-ACC edge rusher came back for his senior season and will be Clemson's top pass rusher.
USA Today Sports' Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz's mock draft has Heldt going at No. 18 in the first round to the Detroit Lions.
"One promising possibility could be Heldt, who was talented enough to change the mind of noted transfer holdout Dabo Swinney," Middlehurst-Schwartz said. "If the 6-6, 260-pound edge rusher continues to develop after posting 7.5 sacks last season, he could enjoy the draft surge that many of his former teammates missed out on in this cycle."
Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer has Heldt going No. 32 overall in the first round to the Seattle Seahawks. The Athletic's Dane Brugler has the edge rusher going to the Seahawks in the first round, too, but at No. 30. CBS Sports' Cooper Petagna has Heldt going No. 25 to the New England Patriots in Round 1.
MORE: Is Dabo Swinney in final season as Clemson football coach? Experts' 2026 predictions
TJ Moore, WR
T.J. Moore led Clemson in receiving yards with 837 and caught 52 catches for four touchdowns in 2025. He will enter next season as the Tigers' top wideout after Antonio Williams went to the NFL and Bryant Wesco Jr. recovers from a back injury.
Bruglar has Moore going in the first round to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 28: "Listed at 6-3, 205, Moore is a physical presence with strong hands and improved route running. He can land in the early-round mix."
Bleacher Report's Zach Bachlar also has Moore going No. 26 in the first round to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bryant Wesco Jr., WR
Wesco, 6-2, recorded 31 catches for 537 yards and six touchdowns in seven games last season. A year prior, he had 41 catches for 708 yards and five touchdowns.
Iyer has Wesco, Clemson's deep-threat receiver, going No. 31 in the first round to the Los Angeles Rams to potentially replace future Hall of Fame wideout Davante Adams: "Wesco can replace that big scoring ability with some field-stretching juice."
MORE: How Cade Klubnik reacted to joining New York Jets in 2026 NFL Draft
Ashton Hampton, CB
Ashton Hampton, 6-2, is the Tigers' top defensive back returning after recording 10 pass deflections, one interception, one sack and 45 tackles in 13 games last season.
Bachlar has Hampton going in the first round to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 28, and Pro Football Focus's Daire Carragher has the cornerback listed No. 46 in its early top 100 big board.
"Hampton isn't quite at the same level as Avieon Terrell yet, but he has all the tools along with a terrific willingness to get involved in run support," Carragher wrote.
Sammy Brown, LB
Sammy Brown, 6-2, earned All-American honors and a first-team all-ACC selection last season after recording 106 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and five sacks, one forced fumble, six pass deflections and one interception.
This offseason, he ran two 40-yard dashes in an average of 4.43 seconds, according to Clemson linebackers coach Ben Bouleware.
Walter Cherepinsky of Walter Football has Brown going in the first round to the New York Jets at pick 13. Carragher has the linebacker listed No. 96 in Pro Football Focus' early top 100 big board.
Clemson NFL Draft picks 2026
- Round 1, Pick 17:Blake Miller, OL, Detroit Lions
- Round 1, Pick 29:Peter Woods, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
- Round 2, Pick 35:T.J. Parker, DE, Buffalo Bills
- Round 2, Pick 48:Avieon Terrell, CB, Atlanta Falcons
- Round 3, Pick 71:Antonio Williams, WR, Washington Commanders
- Round 4, Pick 110:Cade Klubnik, QB, New York Jets
- Round 4, Pick 123:Wade Woodaz, LB, Houston Texans
- Round 5, Pick 155: DeMonte Capehart, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Round 5, Pick 174:Adam Randall, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson players in 2027 NFL mock drafts: Will Heldt, Bryant Wesco Jr
Continue reading...
