Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell could be an early pick in the NFL Draft.
Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell could go in the first round in the upcoming NFL Draft. In CBS Sports' latest mock draft, Terrell went with the 17th overall pick to the Minnesota Vikings.
"Terrell has NFL bloodlines -- his brother is former first-round pick A.J. Terrell. Avieon plays bigger than his listed size (see his matchup in 2024 against former Stanford WR Eric Ayomanor). He can stay in phase on vertical routes, has good ball skills and will try to bait QBs into making throws. In run support, he plays outside CB like a strong safety," Ryan Wilson wrote.
Terrell could be an impactful player for the Vikings' defense, especially if they retain defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Flores operates an aggressive defense, calling a ton of blitzes and exotic pressure packages. Terrell is one of the best cornerbacks in the draft and would add to Minnesota's talented defense.
The Vikings are 8-8 as they enter the final week of the season. They will miss the playoffs, but have had impressive defensive performances, including their win over the Detroit Lions.
In that win, the Vikings intercepted Jared Goff twice and recovered four fumbles. They also sacked Goff five times.
Adding a talented cornerback, Terrell, to their defense could make their defense even more potent.
Terrell has also been a quality run defender, which is rare for a cornerback. That makes him an even better fit for Minnesota.
The Tigers will need to replace multiple talented defenders going into the draft. Outside of Terrell, Peter Woods and TJ Parker are heading to the NFL Draft and could be first-round picks.
Clemson had a disappointing 2025 season, going 7-6, including a loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl. Head coach Dabo Swinney has a lot of work to improve the roster back to playoff contention.
The Tigers haven't made it to the National Championship since 2019 and will need to be more aggressive in adding via the transfer portal, something Swinney hasn't done often.
While Clemson looks to get back on track, they will see players like Terrell called early in the draft after impressive careers.