Clemson had a disappointing season in 2025. However, one player on the team is projected to be a first-round pick in April's draft.
Clemson finished the 2025 season with a 22-10 loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl.
The loss dropped the Tigers to 7-6, a disappointing finish for a program that entered the year with expectations to return to the College Football Playoff.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has received criticism for not adding enough talent in the transfer portal to compete with top programs. Still, the Tigers have talent.
They're expected to have a couple of players taken in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
ESPN's Matt Miller is projecting Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell to be taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the No. 21 pick.
The Steelers have a need for the safety position. Outside of Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh has questions at the position and could look for a better alternative than James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr. to play opposite of Porter.
"The younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr., Avieon Terrell is a savvy cover man with fantastic short-area quickness and fast eyes," Miller wrote.
"He's an ultra-athletic, fluid mover with the hips, quickness and press-man prowess to be a solid starter immediately, especially in a defense that can pressure the quarterback and create flip-the-field opportunities for defensive backs."
The Steelers have other needs on the roster. Most pressing is the quarterback position. It's unclear if Aaron Rodgers will return to play under new head coach Mike McCarthy.
However, the best quarterback in the 2026 class is Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana, likely to go to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1. Pittsburgh might not want to reach to pick Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at 21.
Terrell finished 2025 with 30 tackles, five forced fumbles and nine passes defensed.
In a post on Instagram, Terrell said he was thankful for his time at Clemson.
“Playing here at Clemson has been an incredible blessing, and I’m grateful for every memory, every challenge and every opportunity this program has given me," Terrell posted on his social media.
Pittsburgh could be one of the better teams for Terrell to land with. The Steelers have a proud history of developing young defensive talent.