Clemson Tigers Standout Already Being Called the 'Steal of the Draft'

The Clemson Tigers have several players who could come off the board in the first round of the NFL Draft, and one of them is cornerback Avieon Terrell.

Terrell is widely viewed as the third-best cornerback in this draft class behind LSU's Mansoor Delane and Tennessee's Jermod McCoy, but his stock seems to be vacillating with next Thursday inching closer and closer.

There was a time when Terrell was viewed as a for certain first-round selection, but things have changed in recent weeks, largely due to Terrell's so-so showing at the Scouting Combine.

At the very least, Terrell probably won't go any later than the first half of the second round, and if he does slip to Day 2, ESPN's Matt Miller feels whichever team lands him will be staging quite a coup.

"If he slides into Round 2 as expected, he'll be the steal of the class," Miller wrote. "The 5-foot-11 cornerback injured a hamstring while attempting the 40-yard dash at his pro day but showed on tape in 31 starts that he's the type of tough, feisty cornerback who can win on the inside or outside of the formation. Scouts are interested in competitive toughness, and Terrell is dripping with it."

Terrell spent three seasons at Clemson, most recently registering 48 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and five forced fumbles, a truly remarkable number for a defensive back. Or any player, for that matter.

The 21-year-old does come with some slight injury concerns, and his size has been called into question, but his tenacity should compensate for the latter.

Cornerback is also one of the most premium positions in football, so it's still possible that a team may try and reach for Terrell during the latter half of the first round. But if he does fall, Miller is right: he could end up being a massive steal.

In fact, there is a chance that Terrell could become the best corner in this year's class, as both Delane and McCoy also have serious questions heading into the draft. McCoy, for example, missed all of 2025 due to a torn ACL.

We'll see if Terrell hears his name called next Thursday, but if he doesn't, then whoever bags him on Friday should be in for quite a thrill.

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