Early 2027 Mock Drafts Project Rutgers’ KJ Duff as a First Round Pick

TL;DR

KJ Duff, a wide receiver for Rutgers, is projected as a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, with analysts ranking him as the No. 18 prospect. His standout performance last season included 60 catches for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Key points

KJ Duff is projected as a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
He had 60 catches for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns last season.
Analysts rank him as the No. 18 prospect for the upcoming draft.

Mentioned in this story

Ian StrongAthan KaliakmanisDylan LongerganAJ SurcaeKenny BrittAnthony DavisDevin McCourty

KJ DuffRutgers Scarlet KnightsNew York JetsKansas City Chiefs

PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 29: Kj Duff #8 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights catches a pass against Audavion Collins #2 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in the fourth quarter at SHI Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 40-36. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images Rutgers football wide receiver KJ Duff burst onto the scene last season, showing huge potential in a season where he totaled 60 catches for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns, with his best performance coming against Purdue, where he made 6 catches for 241 yards and one touchdown in the Scarlet Knights’ win. NFL scouts have taken notice of that performance, with different experts and analysts projecting Duff to go in the first round. According to Pro Football Focus, Duff is the No.18 prospect in the 2027 NFL draft, and they have him going No.15 overall to the New York Jets next season. In addition to Pro Football Focus, a few other sites have Duff going in the first round, according to nflmockdraftdatabase.com, a website dedicated to bringing every 2027 NFL mock draft from every major analyst all into one place. Across the 55 mock drafts they have gathered right now, KJ Duff is listed as a first-rounder in three of them, with the other two coming from NFL Trade Rumors and Player Profiler. He is also expected to be drafted by the , according to the information gathered by the site. While only having three mock drafts placing him in the first round, being that high in the first place isn’t seen that often from someone who has only played two seasons of college ball, and only being a full-time starter for one of them. However, next season does pose some challenges for Duff. His good friend and roommate, , transferred to CAL this off-season, meaning that Duff will be solely relied upon as the No.1 option. Yes, this means he might get more targets, but it also means that defenses will key in on him more. The other challenge for next season is that Duff will have a new quarterback throwing him the ball. After developing a relationship with former quarterback , Duff will have to rely on either Dylan Longergan or AJ Surcae to adjust to their new roles well. However, there is a flip side to that as well, as having a receiver like Duff provides a major boost to whichever quarterback is throwing him the ball. If Duff does get selected in the first round, he will become the fourth-ever Rutgers player to get selected in the first round, joining , Anthony Davis, and .

Q&A

What are KJ Duff's stats from the 2026 college football season?

KJ Duff recorded 60 catches for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns during the 2026 season.

Which NFL teams are projected to draft KJ Duff in 2027?

KJ Duff is projected to be drafted by the New York Jets at No. 15 overall and the Kansas City Chiefs, according to various mock drafts.

How many Rutgers players have been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft?

If KJ Duff is selected in the first round, he will become the fourth Rutgers player to achieve this, joining Kenny Britt, Anthony Davis, and Devin McCourty.