Chiefs summer scouting: Clemson Tigers offensive line
Clemson Tigers left tackle Tristan Leigh, right tackle Blake Miller and guard Collin Sadler form the most formidable trio on the program's offensive line. Walker Parks, who enters 2025 with more than 2,800 career offensive snaps, might also get some looks as a late Day 3 draft pick, but most analysts view him as a future undrafted free agent.
Miller began starting for the Tigers as a freshman in 2022. With three seasons and nearly 2,900 snaps under his belt, he's one of the most experienced offensive tackles in the 2026 class. Miller is undersized, lacking traditional mass for a right tackle, but his footspeed, patience and range mitigate some of those concerns.
Advertisement
Miller needs to play with better posture to avoid overextending and losing his balance. He reportedly added weight this offseason, which could quiet some concerns about the power of his anchor. Miller currently projects as a top 100 selection.
Leigh offers more traditional size than Miller. This additional power manifests in a stouter anchor and arresting grip strength to lock down outside linebackers. Leigh moves well in space, cutting off wide-alignment rushers at the top of the arc in the passing game or pulling for gap runs.
Unfortunately, Leigh's chest often extends over his knees, causing balance concerns as he attempts to mirror pass rushers. This issue also impacts Leigh's run blocking. He finds himself on the ground too often and puts some ugly losses on tape. This may be a permanent issue for Leigh since he didn't correct it in either of his two seasons as a starter. He projects as a fifth round pick.
Sadler suffered a season-ending calf injury early in 2024 that limited him to fewer than 100 offensive snaps at left guard. The subsequent surgery sidetracked his development, but Sadler's potential remains one of the most attractive draws along Clemson's offensive line.
Advertisement
Sadler needs to add some mass to his lower body to improve his anchor in pass protection and the strength of his leg drive in the run game. He also must correct his strike timing and hand placement to protect his chest. These two developments aren't difficult with proper coaching and a good strength and conditioning program.
Sadler's block framing, burst off the line of scrimmage, nimble footwork, speed and impressive 6'6", 310 lb. build make him an intriguing development project.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL draft scouting report: Clemson Tigers offensive line
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
14 minutes ago
- USA Today
6 reasons for optimism as the Philadelphia Eagles enter training camp
Philadelphia rookies and veterans will report for training camp on July 22, and we're examining six reasons why the Eagles should be optimistic about the 2025 NFL season After months of waiting, the Eagles will get their Super Bowl rings on Friday night for one final celebration, before the team gathers one week from Tuesday for the start of training camp at the NovaCare Complex. Howie Roseman has retooled both sides of the football, and a defense that saw seven starters depart could be just as dominant, depending on several roster competitions. Philadelphia rookies and veterans will report for training camp on July 22, and we're examining six reasons why the Eagles should be optimistic about the 2025 NFL season. 1. DC Vic Fangio A retooled defense would normally face some reservations about taking a step back in production, but most defensive units don't employ a coordinator like Vic Fangio. In his first season with the Eagles, Philadelphia (278.4 ypg) led the league in total defense for the seventh time in team history, having previously accomplished the feat in 1991, 1981, 1953, 1949, 1945, and 1944 (excludes the 1943 Steagles). Philadelphia ranked 1st in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (174.2) for the second time in the last three years (also 2022, 179.8). Furthermore, the Eagles finished with the NFL lead in defensive points allowed per game (16.9 — their best figure since 15.8 in 2008), opponent three-and-out percentage (39.0%), and FFs (18, tied). 2. HC Nick Sirianni Jalen Hurts will have another offensive coordinator, and the Eagles will face every team's best shot, but a Super Bowl-winning head coach adds calm to a 2025 squad looking to repeat. Sirianni is battle-tested and has faced every scenario imaginable, having led Philadelphia to the postseason in four consecutive seasons. According to Elias Sports, Sirianni (.706, 48-20) owns the 3rd-highest regular-season winning percentage by a head coach in the Super BowlEra (min. 50 games), trailing only John Madden (.759, 1969-78) and George Allen (.712, 1966-77). Overall, it is the 6th-highest mark in NFL history, behind Guy Chamberlin (.784, 1922-27), Madden, Vince Lombardi (.738, 1959-67, '69), Ray Flaherty (.720, 1936-42), and Allen. 3. Eagles' offensive line The Eagles have studs at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end, but the overall team success starts and ends with a dominating offensive line. Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson are among the two highest-graded offensive tackles in the NFL, and both are All-Pros, while left guard Landon Dickerson and center Cam Jurgens are Pro Bowlers. The right guard position is the only weakness, but this dominant union provides comfort for the entire offense. 4. DT Jalen Carter We talked about Philadelphia having studs at all three levels, and Carter is among the top three players at his position. The third-year defensive tackle has improved leaps and bounds each year, and could very well reset the market for all non-quarterbacks with another huge season. After earning All-Rookie Team honors, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft had 42 tackles, 12 for loss, 4.5 sacks, 61 combined QB hits and pressures, five pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. Carter performed at a high level despite playing 80 percent of the defensive snaps, up from 48 percent as a rookie. 5. DeJean and Mitchell DeJean was among the highest-rated players in the slot, holding opponents to 50 receptions. He had five pass breakups, and quarterbacks had an 82.2 passer rating against him. Mitchell ranked 3rd among NFL CBs with 16 forced incompletions, trailing only Zyon McCollum (17) and Denzel Ward (17). He was 3rd among CBs in yards allowed per coverage snap (0.8) behind Pat Surtain (0.6) and Derek Stingley (0.7) (min. 600 coverage snaps). Even with the loss of Darius Slay, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Isaiah Rodgers, and others, Philadelphia can be optimistic about having two Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists in their secondary. 6. Zack Baun An outstanding inside linebacker can erase a ton of mistakes and make a defense elite, and that's precisely what Zack Baun did for the Eagles in 2024. Signed to a one-year deal with the idea that he'd add versatility as a pass rusher and linebacker, Baun earned All-Pro honors, and was a finalist for AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Zack Baun was thehighest-graded LB (90.1) by PFF in the regular season, producing 150 tackles and five forced fumbles (2nd in the NFL, behind T.J. Watt – 6). In the playoffs, Baun became the second NFL linebacker since 1991 to generate takeaways in each of their first four career postseason starts (Devin White in 2020), which included a diving interception of Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX. Baun returns after agreeing to a contract extension, and his presence gives a retooled defense a stud performer at all three levels.


USA Today
14 minutes ago
- USA Today
Where does Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson now rank among salaries?
The New York Jets signed wide receiver Garrett Wilson to a four-year contract extension worth $130 million on Monday. The deal includes $90 million guaranteed. The Jets and Wilson's representation had been negotiating all offseason long. It's refreshing to see it get done ahead of training camp. Wilson's extension marks the first time in NFL history that a receiver will average over $31 million in annual salary after playing only three seasons. With two years remaining on his rookie contract, fifth-year option included, Wilson now will be under contract for the next six campaigns, through 2030. Once Wilson's extension officially kicks in, he'll average $32.5 million per season. That per year payday is the biggest contract in Jets history. Wilson will become the fifth-highest paid receiver in the NFL. Only Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and CeeDee Lamb, DK Metcalf earn more than $32.5 million per season. Meanwhile Wilson's $90 million in guarantees is fourth-largest among wideouts. Chase, Jefferson, and Lamb all possess $100 million or more in guarantees. The Jets showed no hesitancy to pay Wilson a premium. Wilson posted career highs last season in receptions (101), receiving yards (1,104) and touchdowns (seven). Wilson is one of five receivers in NFL history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards and 80 receptions in each of his first three campaigns, per ESPN Stats & Info.


USA Today
14 minutes ago
- USA Today
Free agent Bills let leave named among NFL's 'most overpaid players'
The Buffalo Bills have earned some praise for a past decision from Bleacher Report, in a twist. Bleacher Report named the "most overpriced player" at each position in the NFL heading into the 2025 season. Once upon a time, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds was a first-round pick by the Bills but did not stick around in Buffalo. Prior to the 2023 season, Edmunds signed a big contact with the Chicago Bears in free agency. Since then, the Bills have not struggled at the position. Edmunds was once in one of the NFL's best linebacker duos with Matt Milano in Buffalo but Terrel Edmunds has since taken his spot there seamlessly. While Edmunds is still considered a productive player in B/R's breakdown, it's not the list he or the Bears will want to see him on. B/R's breakdown on Edmunds can be found below: Average Annual Salary: $18 million Over his seven seasons in the NFL, Tremaine Edmunds has been consistently productive. The 2018 first-round pick for the Buffalo Bills has tallied at least 100 total tackles every season he has been in the league. But as Bleacher Report's Kris Knox pointed out in calling his four-year, $72 million contract one of the NFL's 10 worst, what Edmunds has not been in Chicago is a true impact defender: "Edmunds hasn't been a complete bust for the Bears. He's topped 100 tackles in each of his two seasons with the franchise while allowing an opposing passer rating below 90.0 in coverage. He has certainly had his moments. "Edmunds has not, however, been a Pro Bowl-caliber player or helped turn Chicago's defense into a top unit. Pro Football Focus graded Edmunds as the league's 119th-best linebacker overall for the 2024 season. In other words, Edmunds has been good but not great when at his best for the Bears. In return, Chicago is paying the 27-year-old as if he was an All-Pro-level off-ball linebacker. "Among inside 'backers, only San Francisco standout Fred Warner is earning more annually than Edmunds." Annual salary is the only place you'll see Edmunds compared to Warner. Edmunds is what he is: a good-but-not-great linebacker who is wildly overpaid. His pact was a bad contract when it was signed. It hasn't aged well, either. But at least the Bears can get out of it in 2026 with a relatively minimal dead cap hit.