List of Clemson Tigers in the NFL draft explained

The Clemson Tigers football team of Clemson University has had 277 players drafted into the National Football League (NFL) since the league began holding drafts in 1936.[1] Each NFL franchise seeks to add new players through the annual NFL Draft. The draft rules were last updated in 2009. The team with the worst record the previous year picks first, the next-worst team second, and so on. Teams that did not make the playoffs are ordered by their regular-season record, with any remaining ties broken by strength of schedule. Playoff participants are sequenced after non-playoff teams, based on their round of elimination (wild card, division, conference, and Super Bowl).

Before the merger agreements in 1966, the American Football League (AFL) operated in direct competition with the NFL and held a separate draft. This led to a massive bidding war over top prospects between the two leagues, along with the subsequent drafting of the same player in each draft. As part of the merger agreement on June 8, 1966, the two leagues held a multiple round "Common Draft". Once the AFL officially merged with the NFL in 1970, the "Common Draft" simply became the NFL Draft.[2] [3]

The 2021 NFL draft was the only draft where a Tiger was drafted first overall with quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Thirty-eight Tigers have been drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft, with the most recent being Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee in 2023. The single first round of the NFL Draft with the most Tigers selected was 2019 with three players; while 1979, 1982, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2023 saw two players go in the first round. The most Tigers selected in a single NFL Draft is nine, in 1983 and 2016.

Of the Tigers selected in the NFL Draft, twenty-two have been selected to a Pro Bowl, and twenty-six share a combined thirty-two Super Bowl championship rings.[4]

The Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants have drafted the most Tigers, each with seventeen. Clemson has had at least one player selected by 30 NFL franchises since 2003. The New England Patriots haven't drafted a Tiger since 1991, while only the Carolina Panthers have never drafted a Tiger.

Key

BBackKKickerNTNose tackle
CCenterLBLinebackerFBFullback
DBDefensive backPPunterHBHalfback
DEDefensive endQBQuarterbackWRWide receiver
DTDefensive tackleRBRunning backGGuard
EEndTOffensive tackleTETight end
Selected to an all-star game (AFL All-Star game, NFL All-Star game or Pro Bowl)
Won a league championship (AFL championship, NFL championship, or Super Bowl)
Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame

Players selected

Clemson Tigers selected in the NFL/AFL Drafts[5]
YearRoundOverallNamePositionTeamNotes
1939540B New York Giants
16142EChicago Cardinals
194014HBBrooklyn Dodgers
13120GNew York Giants
18161BChicago Cardinals
1942535EDetroit Lions
194320189BChicago Bears
19451093BChicago Bears
1946643GPittsburgh Steelers
15136BGreen Bay Packers
29276TGreen Bay Packers
194716138CPittsburgh Steelers
194827246TNew York Giants
194916DB, TBPittsburgh Steelers
771GPhiladelphia Eagles
1951327FB, KGreen Bay Packers
781HB, EPittsburgh Steelers
11131BNew York Yanks
12146DB, LB, ENew York Giants
22262QBPittsburgh Steelers
25300TLos Angeles Rams
1952559GNew York Giants
13148BGreen Bay Packers
1953666GPittsburgh Steelers
10121EDetroit Lions
18209BChicago Bears
29340TChicago Cardinals
195424285TPhiladelphia Eagles
195516190GPhiladelphia Eagles
21244BWashington Redskins
28334CPhiladelphia Eagles
1956443TBaltimore Colts
22254TDetroit Lions
25292BPittsburgh Steelers
1957218HBGreen Bay Packers
334DTChicago CardinalsAFL All-Star (1961)
195817200CLos Angeles Rams
24280CPhiladelphia Eagles
195914158TPhiladelphia Eagles
14162LBSan Francisco 49ersAFL Champion (1960, 1961)
16192TBaltimore Colts
20230GPhiladelphia Eagles
20235LBPittsburgh Steelers
1960112DT, DE, GNew York Giants
213TSt. Louis CardinalsAFL All-Star (1961)
888FB, HBSan Francisco 49ers Super Bowl Champion (III)
14168LB, FBNew York GiantsAFL Champion (1960)
1961
AFL draft
968[6] QBOakland Raiders
14 112[7] THouston Oilers
1961
NFL draft
563[8] TBaltimore Colts
10134TSt. Louis Cardinals
12156QBDallas Cowboys
1962
AFL draft
969[9] WRNew York TitansNFL Champion (1962)
29231THouston Oilers
1962
NFL draft
341WRGreen Bay PackersNFL Champion (1962)
1963
AFL draft
538[10] GHouston Oilers
1963
NFL draft
567GLos Angeles Rams
1964
AFL draft
15118[11] FBHouston Oilers
1964
NFL draft
223HBChicago Bears
8102TESan Francisco 49ers
14190EBaltimore Colts
196517237TCleveland Browns
196612177TSt. Louis Cardinals
12182DEChicago Bears
196714360TCleveland Browns
1968364GCleveland Browns
499TChicago Bears
5134RBCleveland Browns
9230DBWashington Redskins
19698201C, TSt. Louis Cardinals
14344DEBoston Patriots
1970366DBDallas CowboysPro Bowl (1976, 1977, 1978)
Super Bowl Champion (VI, XII)
11283TDallas Cowboys
14347GSan Francisco 49ers
1971230T, C, GDetroit Lions
1972363TEPittsburgh SteelersSuper Bowl Champion (IX)
9217DBPittsburgh Steelers
14346LBGreen Bay Packers
19736155CNew York Jets
11266KChicago Bears
19746131RBKansas City Chiefs
1976128TEPittsburgh SteelersSuper Bowl Champion (XIII, XIV)
10282RBMiami Dolphins
11303WRNew York Giants
15424TBaltimore Colts
19785127DE, NT, DTSan Francisco 49ersSuper Bowl Champion (XVI)
8213DBNew York Jets
11305TDenver Broncos
197915WRBuffalo BillsPro Bowl (1980)
123QBKansas City ChiefsSuper Bowl Champion (XX)
364G, TSt. Louis Cardinals
492LBDetroit Lions
10249WRSan Francisco 49ers Pro Bowl (1981, 1982)
Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX)
11277WRKansas City Chiefs
1980120 DESan Francisco 49ersSuper Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX)
7189RBDallas Cowboys
12324FBBaltimore Colts
19816140DESeattle Seahawks
7178KBaltimore Colts
198216DE, DTSeattle Seahawks
119WRBuffalo Bills
5128LBTampa Bay Buccaneers
7188DBSan Diego Chargers
9225CBaltimore Colts
12327GDenver Broncos
1983110DBNew York Giants
366RBNew Orleans Saints
4101LBNew England PatriotsPro Bowl (1988, 1989)
5135RBDallas Cowboys
7194RBLos Angeles Raiders
8205 LBNew York GiantsSuper Bowl Champion (XXI)
11282LBLos Angeles Rams
11290GSeattle Seahawks
11298GMinnesota Vikings
12318WRNew York Giants
1984363DBAtlanta Falcons
6143DENew York Giants
8213KSt. Louis Cardinals
11295LBMinnesota Vikings
12320DTMiami Dolphins
12326WRDenver Broncos
1985122 DT, DEChicago BearsSuper Bowl Champion (XX)
358DBNew York Giants
377PLos Angeles Rams
5116TESt. Louis Cardinals
6152DBAtlanta Falcons
10260KTampa Bay Buccaneers
1987125 RBSan Francisco 49ersSuper Bowl Champion (XXIII, XXIV)
231RBAtlanta Falcons
238DBPittsburgh Steelers
4103TECincinnati Bengals
1988250DT, DECleveland BrownsPro Bowl (1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996)
381DTNew Orleans Saints
12322LBPittsburgh Steelers
1989111DBChicago BearsPro Bowl (1993)
497DEDenver Broncos
5113TEDallas Cowboys
10257TTampa Bay Buccaneers
10271RBHouston Oilers
19909241RBMinnesota VikingsPro Bowl (1996)
10260WRNew Orleans Saints
10274DTNew York Giants
1991241DBNew England Patriots
251WRSeattle Seahawks
253LBSan Francisco 49ers
378PChicago BearsPro Bowl (1996)
Super Bowl Champion (XL)
486DBPhoenix Cardinals
5117DTPhoenix Cardinals
10271GPhiladelphia Eagles
11301GChicago Bears
1992116DT, DELos Angeles RaidersPro Bowl (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)
238LBPittsburgh SteelersPro Bowl (1996, 1997)
5117CSan Diego Chargers
5125LBMinnesota VikingsPro Bowl (1998)
1993115 LBGreen Bay PackersSuper Bowl Champion (XXXI)
372 DB, WRLos Angeles RaidersSuper Bowl Champion (XXXV)
491RBTampa Bay Buccaneers
4106LBMinnesota Vikings
6164DBMiami Dolphins
1994250DT, DE, NTPittsburgh Steelers
7203TCleveland Browns
19956179LBTampa Bay Buccaneers
1996250LBSan Diego Chargers
261DBPhiladelphia EaglesPro Bowl (1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011)
Pro Football Hall of Fame (2018)
5138DBWashington Redskins
1997128DT, DEDenver BroncosPro Bowl (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
Super Bowl Champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
240 DBSt. Louis RamsSuper Bowl Champion (XXXIV)
1998115LBSeattle Seahawks
4102DEMiami Dolphins
5129RBSt. Louis Rams
6159GSt. Louis Rams
7210GMiami Dolphins
1999125DBGreen Bay Packers
245LBCleveland Browns
5139DESan Diego Chargers
5169LBMinnesota Vikings
7231LBNew York Giants
7249DTCincinnati Bengals
2001115WRWashington Redskins
7232LBTennessee Titans
7244DBSan Diego Chargers
20034114 DTDenver BroncosSuper Bowl Champion (XLIII)
4128DEDenver Broncos
2004372DTGreen Bay Packers
377WRSan Francisco 49ers
2005257DBNew York JetsPro Bowl (2006)
398LBSeattle Seahawks
5140WRChicago Bears
2006115DBSt. Louis Rams
381QBSan Diego Chargers
7241LBTampa Bay Buccaneers
200714DETampa Bay Buccaneers
396LBSan Diego ChargersSuper Bowl Champion (XLIV)
5139CSt. Louis Rams
5159DBPhiladelphia Eagles
7235WRNew York Jets
2008232DEMiami Dolphins
6170TKansas City Chiefs
20094103DTSt. Louis Rams
5165DBMiami Dolphins
5166DBDallas Cowboys
6195RBCleveland Browns
201019RBBuffalo BillsPro Bowl (2012)
4108WROakland Raiders
5134DEPhiladelphia Eagles
5164DBPittsburgh Steelers
7240LBIndianapolis Colts
2011241DEWashington Redskins
250DBSan Diego Chargers
251DETampa Bay Buccaneers
4122TBuffalo Bills
4130RBTennessee Titans
6173DBSeattle SeahawksSuper Bowl Champion (XLVIII)
2012238DEJacksonville Jaguars
364TEIndianapolis ColtsSuper Bowl Champion (LIII)
393DTCincinnati Bengals
4115DBTennessee Titans
2013127WRHouston TexansPro Bowl (2015), (2017), (2018), (2019), (2020)
4127DEAtlanta Falcons
5143DBBuffalo Bills
6187RBArizona Cardinals
201414WRBuffalo BillsSuper Bowl Champion (LIV)
3100OGSan Francisco 49ers
4102CBWashington RedskinsSuper Bowl Champion (LIV)
4118WRPittsburgh Steelers
6213QBNew York Jets
201518DEAtlanta FalconsPro Bowl (2016)
131LBNew Orleans Saints
5137NTAtlanta FalconsPro Bowl (2019), (2020)
5165 PSan Francisco 49ersSuper Bowl Champion (LV)
6188LBBuffalo Bills
2016119DEBuffalo Bills
233DTTennessee Titans
254Mackensie AlexanderDBMinnesota Vikings
257SIndianapolis Colts
4109LBNew York Giants
5166NTHouston Texans
7241WRNew York Jets
7244SMinnesota Vikings
7247RBSeattle Seahawks
201717WRLos Angeles Chargers
112QBHouston TexansPro Bowl (2018), (2019), (2020)
397CBMiami Dolphins
4140RBNew York Giants
4142DTHouston Texans
5150TENew York Jets
20183100LBKansas City ChiefsSuper Bowl Champion (LIV)
6185WRIndianapolis Colts
6187WRBuffalo Bills
201914DEOakland Raiders
113DTMiami Dolphins
117DTNew York GiantsPro Bowl (2022), (2023)
240CBOakland Raiders
4117DEDetroit Lions
5149WROakland RaidersPro Bowl (2021)
202018LBArizona Cardinals
116CBAtlanta Falcons
233WRCincinnati Bengals
3100LBLas Vegas Raiders
4109GLas Vegas Raiders
4127SPhiladelphia Eagles
7250GLos Angeles RamsSuper Bowl Champion (LVI)
202111QBJacksonville JaguarsPro Bowl (2022)
125RBJacksonville Jaguars
246OGCincinnati Bengals
385WRGreen Bay Packers
5181WRKansas City ChiefsSuper Bowl Champion (LVII)
2022242CBMinnesota Vikings
7231LBBuffalo Bills
2023128DECincinnati Bengals
129DTNew Orleans Saints
386LBBaltimore Ravens
5137DEWashington Commanders
5156GLos Angeles Chargers
5175TELos Angeles Rams
2024130DBBaltimore Ravens
235DTAtlanta Falcons
4127RBPhiladelphia Eagles
5138DEArizona Cardinals
5155LBPhiladelphia Eagles
6196DTLos Angeles Rams

Notable undrafted players

Note: No drafts held before 1920

YearPlayerDebut TeamPositionNotes
1966FBBaltimore Colts
1974Marion ReevesDBPhiladelphia Eagles
1979DBPhiladelphia Eagles
1980CWashington Redskins
GPhiladelphia Eagles
1983DTAtlanta Falcons
1984LBDenver Broncos
1989TEChicago Bears
2001FBDallas Cowboys
2002DBDallas Cowboys
2015WRTennessee Titans
2022TEJacksonville Jaguars

References

General
Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Draft Finder Query Results - NFL - Clemson . Pro Football Reference . Sports Reference LLC . May 9, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518084328/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/draft-finder.cgi?request=1&year_min=1936&type=&round_min=1&round_max=30&slot_min=1&slot_max=500&league_id=NFL&team_id=&pos=ALL&college_id=clemson&conference=any&show=all . 2015-05-18 . live .
  2. Web site: NFL History by Decade: 1961–1970 . 2010-06-09 . NFL.
  3. News: Time Changes for 2008 NFL Draft . 2008-04-22 . 2010-06-09 . NFL . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121026144408/http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d807e6d6a&template=with-video&confirm=true . 2012-10-26 .
  4. Web site: 2020-09-09. 2020 Clemson Football Media Guide. 2020-09-09.
  5. Web site: Draft Finder Query Results - AFL - Clemson . Pro Football Reference . Sports Reference LLC . December 6, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084210/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/draft-finder.cgi?request=1&year_min=1936&year_max=2011&type=&round_min=1&round_max=30&slot_min=1&slot_max=500&league_id=AFL&team_id=&pos=ALL&college_id=clemson&conference=any&show=all . 2016-03-04 . live .
  6. Lowndes Shingler was drafted in 1961 by the Oakland Raiders (68th overall) and by the Dallas Cowboys (156th overall).
  7. Jimmy King was drafted in 1961 by the Houston Oilers (112th overall) and by the St. Louis Cardinals (134th overall).
  8. Ron Osborne was drafted in 1961 by the Baltimore Colts (63rd overall) and in 1962 by the Houston Oilers (231st overall).
  9. Gary Barnes was drafted in 1962 by the New York Titans (69th overall) and by the Green Bay Packers (41st overall).
  10. Don Chuy was drafted in 1963 by the Houston Oilers (38th overall) and by the Los Angeles Rams (67th overall).
  11. Pat Crain was drafted in 1964 by the Houston Oilers (118th overall) and by the Chicago Bears (23rd overall).