ESPN’s Kiper Chimes in on Potential 1st-Round Tigers

Longtime ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has released his new 2026 NFL mock draft.

Kiper’s second mock of this year’s draft features three Clemson players as projected first-round selections, and Kiper weighed in with his thoughts on each of them.

Kiper has Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods going to the New York Jets with the No. 16 overall pick.

Woods was credited with 99 tackles (14.5 for loss), five sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups over 35 games (24 starts) in his Clemson career from 2023-25. He was a freshman All-American in 2023, and in 2025, he became Clemson’s first All-American at defensive tackle since Christian Wilkins’ unanimous selection in 2018. Woods was…