This Clemson Tigers standout is predicted to be the last pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Clemson Tigers have a handful of star defensive players entering the NFL Draft this year, with defensive tackle Peter Woods, edge rusher T.J. Parker and cornerback Avieon Terrell headlining the list.
But there is another lesser-known Clemson interior defender who will be making the jump to the pros this spring, as well: DeMonte Capehart.
In fact, Capehart opted out of the Tigers' Pinstripe Bowl against Penn State to prepare for the draft along with several other Clemson standouts.
T.J. Randall of Pro Football Network recently ran a seven-round mock draft, and he predicted Capehart to land with the Green Bay Packers with the last pick of the draft.
That would make Capehart "Mr. Irrelevant" for 2026.
Typically, seventh-round draft choices — much less the final selection — never actually get to play in the NFL. But could Capehart be an exception?
There are some who feel that the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Capehart could actually be an earlier Day 3 pick, going somewhere in the fifth round. And you can see why.
Clemson Tigers defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart with head coach Dabo Swinney. Credit: Ken Ruinard / USA Today Co Inc SC / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.While Capehart's numbers won't jump off the page, he is a good space filler and could ultimately develop into a decent rotational pieces on the professional level.
The 23-year-old — who will get a chance to boost his draft stock at the Shrine Bowl this Tuesday — registered 21 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and a couple of passes defended this past season.
Capehart arrived at Clemson in 2020 and spent his entire six-year collegiate tenure with the Tigers, a rather rare feat in today's NIL era.
He certainly isn't Woods and also won't draw the type of attention that Terrell and Parker will receive this April, but there is no question that Capehart has the talent and the measurements to compete in the NFL.
Teams in need of some help in the trenches may view Capehart as a late-round sleeper, so it would not be the least bit shocking to see him go on to enjoy a rather successful professional career.
To be perfectly honest, it would actually be rather surprising to see Capehart slip all the way to the back end of the seventh round.
We'll see where Capehart ends up in a few months.
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