Will Heldt DE/EDGE Clemson |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #13 SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/28/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.80 seconds (56%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #13 | |
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 09/28/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.80 seconds (56%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
86.4 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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72% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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71% |
| Pass Rush: |
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83% |
| Run Defense: |
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79% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Mid
Overall Rank:
#49
Position rank:
#8 (DL)
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| College Games: 41 College Snaps: 1664 | ||
ESPN RATING: 76/100
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247 RATING: 86/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Zion Young - Missouri |
|
99% |
| Kyle Kennard - South Carolina |
|
95% |
| Anthony Lucas - USC |
|
92% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Heldt arrived at Clemson from Purdue and made an immediate impact in 2025, leading the Tigers' defense in sacks and tackles for loss and earning third-team All-ACC in his first season.A complete, high-motor end, he set the edge and rushed the passer at a high level all year, including an eight-pressure, two-sack game against South Carolina.
The senior has taken off in 2026, posting four sacks and six tackles for loss through three games with back-to-back multi-sack games, the first Clemson player to do that since Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and earning national defensive honors.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Well-rounded edge, even against the run and the pass
- Led Clemson with ten sacks and forty-five pressures on the year
- Beat South Carolina for two sacks and eight total pressures
- Finishes reliably as a tackler, missing only three all season
- Length at 78 inches helps him stack, set, and disengage cleanly
- Closed Syracuse with two sacks and steady edge pressure
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Ordinary timed speed limits the pure bend around the corner
- Relies on technique and length more than rare burst
- Anchor can be tested by the biggest tackles on power downs
- Pass-rush plan leans on long-arm power without an elite counter
Scouting Report: Summary
Heldt is a complete, well-rounded edge without a soft spot, leading Clemson with ten sacks after arriving from Purdue, using length to stack, set the edge and disengage on every down, and finishing as a tackler at a high level. However, his timed speed is average, so he wins with technique, length and a long-arm more than rare bend, his anchor can be tested by the biggest tackles, and the rush plan lacks an elite counter.Overall, Heldt lacks a go-to counter when the first rush stalls, but he is a leverage-and-length power player with a motor that shows up on every down against the run and the pass. A four-sack start to 2026 has his stock climbing, and he projects as a solid NFL starter, with the floor of a high-quality rotational end and a ceiling rising as the production mounts.
How other scouting services rate Will Heldt (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
38.1
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
6.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.