As the Clemson Tigers finally begin to wrap up the transfer portal window, the program will soon get to see where some of their best playmakers land in the 2026 NFL Draft.

One of the biggest names to enter the draft for the struggling program is star defensive end TJ Parker, who is coming off an impressive three-year run with the Tigers.

In NFL Draft analyst Dalton Wasserman’s most recent mock draft, Parker fell all the way to the New England Patriots at pick No. 31.

“New England could use a young edge rusher to continue building its improving defense,” Wasserman wrote. "Clemson’s T.J. Parker fits that profile as a consistently violent player who has totaled 24 sacks over the past three seasons. He is also a productive run defender, a combination that has helped him earn PFF grades of at least 80.0 in each of the past two seasons.”

Parker, a former highly-touted prospect in the Tigers’ 2023 recruiting class, was a prolific pass rusher for head coach Dabo Swinney over the last two seasons with the program.

As a freshman, the talented EDGE rusher quickly made a name for himself, recording 32 tackles, 12 tackles for losses, and 5.5 sacks in 2023.

However, this was only the beginning of his dominant run with Clemson.

After putting the fanbase on notice in his first college season, Parker would eventually follow up the year with a massive sophomore season. With an elevated role in 2024, the athletic pass rusher turned into one of the best defensive players in college, ending his campaign with 57 tackles, 19 tackles for losses, 11 sacks, and six forced fumbles.

This led to him being a consensus top-five pick for the 2026 NFL Draft prior to the 2025 season.

Unfortunately, similar to the rest of the program, Parker saw a steep decline in his production throughout his junior year at Clemson.

In his 12 games played during the 2025 season, Parker tallied 37 tackles, nine tackles for losses, and five sacks. Luckily, the stout defensive end finished his career with the Tigers on a high note, as he racked up four tackles, three tackles for losses, and three sacks against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

If the Patriots were to select Parker, he would be a terrific fit for a team that lacks young pass rushers on their defensive line. His ability to be a force in both the pass and run game would make him an excellent every-down defensive end, while also being under the guidance of experienced players.

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