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Joel Klatt makes Clemson football first-round NFL draft predictions
TL;DR
Joel Klatt predicts that two Clemson players will be selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, starting with edge rusher T.J. Parker at No. 22 to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Key points
- Joel Klatt predicts two Clemson players in the first round of the NFL Draft
- T.J. Parker is projected to be picked No. 22 by the Los Angeles Chargers
- Parker was considered a top-10 pick before the 2025 season
Mentioned in this story
Los Angeles Chargers
Clemson TigersT.J. Parker
The Clemson Tigers have as many as seven and possibly eight players who could be taken in the 2026 NFL Draft this week in Pittsburgh.
Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt sees two Clemson players going in the first round in his final mock draft, beginning with edge rusher T.J. Parker as the first of two Tigers chosen with back-to-back picks.
Klatt sees Parker landing with the Los Angeles Chargers' first-round pick at No. 22 overall.
"The Chargers need help along the edge. We know coach Jim Harbaugh wants to build a run well and have his defense work from the inside and out. T.J. Parker was widely considered to be a surefire top-10 pick entering the 2025 season. He didn't have the season that many had hoped for him, though. I don't know what happened at Clemson this past season, but the talent is still there with Parker." --Joel Klatt, Fox Sports.
Parker indeed had a disappointing final season at Clemson, finishing with only 37 tackles (18 solo) and five sacks in the Tigers' 12 regular-season games. That was almost half off his production from a sophomore season that saw him make 57 tackles (34 solo) and register 11 sacks, albeit in two more games than in 2025.
Interestingly, Klatt sees another Clemson player landing one spot after Parker: offensive tackle Blake Miller at No. 23 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Q&A
Which Clemson players are predicted to be first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Joel Klatt predicts that T.J. Parker and another Clemson player will be selected in the first round.
What pick is T.J. Parker expected to be drafted at in the 2026 NFL Draft?
T.J. Parker is expected to be drafted at No. 22 overall by the Los Angeles Chargers.
Why is T.J. Parker considered a top prospect for the NFL Draft?
T.J. Parker was previously viewed as a top-10 pick due to his talent, despite a less impressive season at Clemson.
