Will Heldt is the latest in a long line of Clemson edge rushers hoping to become a first-round pick. The long and lean prospect has already earned such projections in early 2027 mock drafts. Does the tape suggest yet another Clemson edge rusher who can go in the first round?
Will Heldt 2027 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report
Measurables
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 260 lbs
Statistics
2025: 46 tackles, including 15.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
2024 (for Purdue): 56 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and 5 sacks.
2023 (for Purdue): 12 tackles, including 1 tackle for loss.
The Tape
Games Watched: LSU, Florida State, and at South Carolina.
Strengths
Heldt is a prospect with a full skill set for the position. While many college edge prospects struggle against the run, Heldt is effective.
At 6’6” with long arms, Heldt uses them to his advantage and flashes the ability to drop his hips to help him disengage from blocks. Heldt plays with a high motor and makes plays because of it. He gives good effort when trying to set an edge and has had success in doing so.
Will Heldt's best trait is his motor. On this play, the left tackle seals him inside. Many would give up on a play that looks like it's going outside. Heldt keeps working and is there to make a tackle.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/M4xTqpuZK5
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) July 7, 2026
Occasionally, Clemson uses Heldt in coverage to further add to his skill set. He’s most often in zone, where his height makes it difficult for quarterbacks to layer throws over him. His hips are okay for a tall prospect. In man coverage, he showed he can turn and run with running backs in man.
As a pass rusher, Heldt has more than one move. He favors using his length to keep blockers off his body and works from there. He battles away with his hands and tries to bat his man’s hands away early in his rush.
Heldt does a nice job of keeping his eyes on the quarterback and can spin off a block if the quarterback climbs the pocket.
On his outside rush, there are flashes of the ability to dip and corner. His best move is a hard inside step, which he doesn’t overuse, preferring to set blockers up before bringing it out of the toolbox.
Areas to Improve
Listed at 260 lbs, a good weight, Heldt has the frame to carry more weight. He needs to get stronger, and he might be better playing between 270 and 280 lbs. A combination of his length and added strength would make him more difficult to block.
Right now, the lack of strength shows up against bigger/stronger blockers. He can get moved against the run. If he rushes inside against shorter guards, they get under him, and he struggles.
Heldt also struggles to get blockers’ hands off his chest if he can’t bat them away early in his pass-rush rep. He needs to develop a counter to this. Heavier hands to knock blockers off balance would also add to his skill set, as right now he’s not a top speed or power rusher, and he’ll need to be really good at one of these with a threat of the other.
The LSU right tackle is able to get into Will Heldt's chest here. Heldt has no counter. As a tall man, he's got to come up with counters – again, getting stronger will help.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/7k5HHEhEf2
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) July 7, 2026
While there are flashes of a speed rush, there is a little tightness in the hips on show. He’s not an explosive athlete and lacks an elite closing burst.
At times, Heldt’s motor works against him. He will bite on window dressing and get out of his gap. That happens often on zone-read runs. He’s very much someone who has a strong desire to get the ball, but he doesn’t always think about misdirection and goes after what he sees first.
Key Tests in 2026
The season starts with a fun matchup for Heldt. A visit to Baton Rouge to take on LSU will give him the chance to show scouts he can deal with a big and physical SEC offensive line and Colorado transfer Jordan Seaton.
Other tests for Heldt include Miami (October 3), at Florida State (October 31), and the annual South Carolina game (November 28), complete with their new left tackle, Jacarrius Peak.
The full schedule can be found here.
Will Heldt 2027 NFL Draft Projection
Many college pass rushers rely on a speed rush. While Heldt lacks the elite speed, dip, and closing burst to do this, it has made him more advanced as a prospect. He knows he has long arms and works to use them to his advantage.
If Heldt gets stronger, it will help him considerably and be his pathway to becoming an NFL starter.
Like Oregon’s Teitum Tuioti, his motor gives him a high floor, as does his ability against the run. Heldt is a little too tall to drop down inside in the nickel, so he must work on playing lower when asked to do so.
Given that he’s more advanced technically than others in the class, if he’s used his off-season well and gotten stronger, he could be ready to take a step forward and therefore deserves discussion as a first-round prospect.
Main Photo: [Ken Ruinard/USA Today Network South Carolina] – Imagn Images
