USA TODAY Sports explains why two Clemson football starters in particular make sense as NFL Draft picks by these franchises.

The 2026 NFL Draft begins on Thursday in Pittsburgh, and several Clemson football players could hear their names called relatively early.Defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, offensive lineman Blake Miller, and cornerback Avieon Terrell are four such names to keep an eye on as potential first- or second-round picks.Two of those players, in fact, were named "perfect prospects" by USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft analyst Ayrton Ostly. Ostly believes the Buffalo Bills would do well to add Woods.Why Peter Woods makes sense for Buffalo Bills in 2026 NFL DraftPer USA TODAY Sports' Ostly:"Buffalo's secondary could use some help, but adding another young body up front could lift the unit's floor as a whole.

Woods is similarly sized to Ed Oliver and T.J. Sanders with plenty of potential that he flashed in Clemson that made him a potential top-five prospect coming into 2025. He could work out the holes in his game in a rotational role early before developing into a star later on."

Woods falls outside the first round in a recent mock draft by ESPN's Jordan Reid, but CBS Sports' Bryant McFadden and Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice and Charles McDonald has him going to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 22 overall. Interestingly, Miller goes to the Philadelphia Eagles at 23rd overall one pick later in CBS Sports' mock draft.Carolina Panthers could finally draft a Clemson football playerAnother player Ostly considers a perfect prospect for one NFL team is Terrell. The USA TODAY analyst argues the Panthers would be wise to take the Clemson cornerback in the early rounds of the draft.Carolina has never drafted a player from Clemson, but Ostly argues: "Carolina spent massively in free agency to bring in Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd to bolster the front seven on defense.

Terrell upgrades the secondary to bring it more on par with the improvements up front. He could stick outside opposite Jaycee Horn or kick inside to the slot thanks to his smaller frame. EIther way, he’d be a force in run defense with an attacking attitude."In the most recent mock drafts, ESPN's Jordan Reid has Terrell going to the Cleveland Browns in the second round at No. 39 overall.

USA TODAY Sports' Jacob Camenker, however, sees the Kansas City Chiefs drafting the Clemson corner with their first-round pick at 29th overall.When is 2026 NFL Draft? Time, TV channel, scheduleRound 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday from Pittsburgh.

Rounds 2-3 begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, with rounds 4-7 on Saturday beginning at noon. The NFL Draft will be televised on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson football duo named 'perfect prospects' at 2026 NFL Draft