Rutgers receiver KJ Duff keeps making his case as one of the most intriguing names in the 2027 NFL Draft, and his latest outing only added more fuel. Against Maryland in week seven, the six-foot-six, 225-pound junior put together another big day: nine catches, 113 yards and two touchdowns.
That made it his fourth game with at least 100 receiving yards and his third with multiple scores. For Rutgers, he’s become one of the few true difference-makers on offense, and on Saturday he helped carry the Scarlet Knights to a win.
The production is backing up the buzz around him. Duff, a former four-star recruit, already cleared 1,000 receiving yards in 2025 and earned second-team All-Big 10 honors. Now he’s taking another step forward and climbing quickly up draft boards.
What makes him so appealing is how hard he is to defend in tight coverage. His size gives him an obvious edge, but it’s not just about body type. Duff shows strong athleticism, gets to the ball at its highest point, and has the hands to finish the catch even when the window is crowded.
Once the ball is near him, the rep usually ends there. He’s comfortable making catches away from his frame, can hold on through contact, and gives a quarterback a trustworthy target when the play breaks down.
There’s more to his game than winning with size alone, too. Duff moves better than you’d expect for a player his build. He’s not a straight-line burner, but he’s fluid and flexible, and he pairs that with the kind of awareness that helps him uncover in zone and work defenders into giving him space.
That blend is why he fits as an enticing option for the Chargers in April. Justin Herbert currently doesn’t have a dependable enough group around him.
Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Tre Harris all have upside, but the source material says they haven’t been able to stay healthy or string together consistently productive games. As a result, Herbert has been left without a reliable explosive target, and that’s a problem Los Angeles needs to avoid carrying into 2027.
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