Clemson Tigers Standout Has NFL Draft Experts Completely Stumped

Perhaps the most intriguing Clemson Tigers player entering the NFL Draft this year is edge rusher T.J. Parker, who had a breakout campaign in 2024 only to put forth a rather disappointing showing this past season.

Regardless, Parker is one of the most talented pass rushers in this upcoming class, and whatever NFL team gets him could be landing a star in the making.

However, Parker seems to have draft experts completely befuddled.

You won't see many other players in this class whose stock vacillates as much as Parker's. I have seen Parker forecasted as a mid-first-round pick, while other mock drafts have the 21-year-old falling to the middle of the second round.

Basically, Parker appears to be one of the most significant boom-or-bust prospects heading into the spring, and there does not seem to be any general consensus on what the Phenix City, Al. native will become.

The same cannot be said for a couple of his fellow Clemson stars, namely defensive tackle Peter Woods and cornerback Avieon Terrell.

Both players are almost guaranteed to be first-round selections (barring a disastrous Scouting Combine or other unforeseen circumstances).

Woods' stock seems to be a bit more delicate than Terrell's in terms of variance (Woods has been mocked anywhere from the top three all the way down to the mid teens while most seem to agree that Terrell will be taken in the back half of Round 1), at least both players are pretty much universally viewed as Day 1 guys.

To be fair, Parker did throw some scouts off with his 2025 campaign, when he registered just 37 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks a year after racking up 57 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and six forced fumbles.

Last year, Parker seemed primed to become one of the very top edge rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft, but his production tailed off considerably this past season.

But the raw talent is clearly there. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound defender possesses a tremendous blend of size and athleticism, plus impressive versatility.

There is no question he is gifted enough to be a first-round pick, but whether or not the NFL agrees remains to be seen.

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