KJ Duff WR Rutgers |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #8 ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.58 seconds (23%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #8 | |
| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.58 seconds (23%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
86.4 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 115.6 | |
| Hands: |
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85% |
| Short Receiving: |
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87% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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89% |
| Deep Threat: |
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88% |
| Blocking: |
|
66% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Late
Overall Rank:
#28
Position rank:
#4 (WR)
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| College Games: 33 College Snaps: 1794 | ||
ESPN RATING: 79/100
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247 RATING: 89/100
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Denzel Boston - Washington |
|
81% |
| Tetairoa McMillan - Arizona |
|
73% |
| Jayden Higgins - Iowa State |
|
68% |
Draft Profile: Bio
KJ Duff spent a season at Riverhead High School on Long Island before moving to St. Anthony's, where he became the first freshman to start on varsity in program history. He left as the school's career leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches, helped St. Anthony's win its first league title and won the 2023 Rich Reichert Award as the Catholic league's best player. He was the top-rated player in New York and chose Rutgers over North Carolina and Miami.Duff caught 27 passes for 425 yards as a freshman. In 2025 he started all 12 games and caught 60 passes for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns, becoming Rutgers' first 1,000-yard receiver since 2014 and leading the nation with 22 contested catches. His best game came at Purdue, where he caught six passes for 241 yards, the most by any Big Ten player that season. He was a second-team All-Big Ten pick and considered leaving, but he stayed at Rutgers after talks with Greg Schiano and receivers coach Dave Brock.
Duff opened 2026 with nine catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns against UMass, then had 137 yards at Boston College and 131 against Howard. He caught nine passes for 113 yards and two scores in the 37-30 win at Maryland and has 45 catches for 774 yards and nine touchdowns. He played only briefly against Michigan on 31 October before leaving with a lower-body injury, and his status is unclear.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Huge frame that overwhelms defensive backs at the catch point
- Led the nation with 22 contested catches in 2025
- Caught six passes for 241 yards at Purdue in 2025
- Opened 2026 with 196 yards and three scores against UMass
- Wrestles throws away through contact with strong, late hands
- Back-to-back seasons with big production, including nine touchdowns this fall
- Four 100-yard games this season with two different starting quarterbacks
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Below-average speed, and he gathers before breaking, limiting separation
- Left the Michigan game with a lower-body injury, and his status is unclear
- Contested-ball success has dipped, with 13 wins on 27 tries this season
Scouting Report: Summary
Duff is a supersized boundary receiver who turns 50-50 balls into his own. He led the country with 22 contested catches in 2025 on the way to 1,084 yards, and his 241-yard game at Purdue was the best by any Big Ten receiver that season. He lives on back-shoulder throws and fades where his frame simply outmatches the coverage, and Greg Schiano has said those balls should go from 50-50 to 80-20.He has carried that into 2026 despite a struggling team around him. He opened with 196 yards and three touchdowns against UMass, had three more 100-yard games and has nine touchdowns on 45 catches. He has also produced with different quarterbacks, a sign that his game does not depend on perfect timing. Four 100-yard games in eight outings show he remains the focal point of the Rutgers passing game.
However, Duff is not a burner, and the ceiling reflects it. His speed is below average, more athletic corners can stay attached and take away the vertical shot, and he gathers before he breaks, so separation comes from strength and positioning rather than quickness. His contested-ball success has dropped this season, with 13 wins on 27 tries, and his run after the catch is functional rather than dangerous. He also left the Michigan game with a lower-body injury on 31 October, and his availability for the rest of the season is unclear. He nearly left Rutgers after 2025 before deciding to stay.
Overall, Duff fits a play-action offense that wants a big-bodied X on the boundary and a red-zone target who wins with size on third down. He projects as a first-round possession receiver, with a high floor as long as the scheme leans into his strengths rather than asking him to run past people. His frame and catch radius also give a quarterback a large target on back-shoulder throws and fades in the red zone.
How other scouting services rate KJ Duff (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
34.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
4.0
*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.