History-making tackle Blake Miller and powerhouse Peter Woods lead a massive Clemson draft class, earning high marks from their coach as they head to Detroit and Kansas City.
The Clemson Tigers had a rather impressive and stunning draft class coming off a 7-6 season in 2025.
The Tigers had nine players taken within the first 175 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft. In addition to their draft picks, another seven players were signed as undrafted free agents following the draft.
Clemson had two players taken in the first round of the draft.
The Detroit Lions, which lost offensive lineman Taylor Decker, needed an offensive tackle and took Blake Miller with the No. 17 pick.
Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney was excited for Miller to be taken in the first round. It was the first time an offensive lineman went on Day 1 during his head coaching career.
"I hadn't had a first-round OL," Swinney said, via ESPN. "I said, 'If Blake Miller ain't a first-rounder, I'm never going to have one.' This guy's as good as we've ever seen. There's nothing you could discount Blake Miller on.
"He's got incredible size, length, athleticism, flexibility, he's strong as an ox, smart, high character. I mean, he really checked every single box."
Miller seems to be a perfect culture fit for the Lions and head coach Dan Campbell.
Defensive tackle Peter Woods went to the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 29 pick. The Chiefs used their two first-round picks to boost the defense, trading up to take cornerback Mansoor Delane with the No. 6 pick.
Swinney believes the Chiefs are getting a player that has the potential to last a long time in the NFL. Woods has learned how to stay on the field during his time at Clemson.
"He's really learned how to take care of his body, but this guy's a brick house, man," Swinney said. "I told everybody, he's kind of 1 of 1. I really haven't had a guy like Peter, just his combination of speed and strength, power.
"He's got twitchiness. He's a really, really smart football player. The Chiefs got a good one."
The Tigers are losing several key players from 2025, meaning Swinney has some rather big questions to address this offseason. He'll need to develop his new roster really quickly.
While the defense got much better in the transfer portal, the offense is lagging behind.