RJ Maryland, a tight end from SMU, was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent after the 2026 NFL Draft. He is noted for his athleticism and seam-stretching potential.
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SMU's RJ Maryland is one of the more interesting undrafted free agents the Green Bay Packers signed after the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft, as a young, athletic tight end with potential upside at the next level.
Here is the lowdown on Green Bay’s new tight end addition:
Russell “RJ” Maryland was born and raised in Southlake, Texas, and is the son of former first overall pick, three-time Super Bowl champion and former Packer, Russell Maryland.
He starred at Southlake Carroll High School as a wide receiver and tight end, catching passes from future Texas Longhorns quarterback and NFL draft pick Quinn Ewers.
Maryland initially committed to Jeff Hafley at Boston College, before flipping to SMU, where he spent all four years of college.
His PFF receiving grade went up each year from his freshman year in 2022 through 2024, improving from 62.5 to 64.3 to 75.9. Unfortunately, Maryland suffered an ACL injury midway through the 2024 season, and his grade fell off dramatically in 2025 to 67.5
In terms of run blocking, Maryland’s grades were 39.3, 36.1, peaked in 2024 at 55.9, then dropped to 42.8 in 2025. He was mostly used as a receiver rather than a blocker, ranking in the top five in slot usage among 178 draft eligible tight ends in 2025, and 174th inline.
Maryland is small for a tight end at 6-3 ½, 238 pounds. He posted a 7.67 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) out of a possible 10, highlighted by a ‘great’ speed score which featured a 4.51 40-yard dash, ranking in the 98th percentile historically at his position. His size was graded as ‘poor’.
He also achieved a ‘good’ explosion score, helped by a 90th percentile broad jump of 10-2, and managed a 72nd percentile short shuttle, while skipping the 3-cone. His most notable athletic comparison is , a former third-round pick of the . Maryland turns 22 in July.
RJ Maryland is a tight end from SMU, born in Southlake, Texas, and is the son of former NFL player Russell Maryland.
RJ Maryland is recognized for his athleticism and potential to stretch the seam, making him an intriguing addition to the Packers' roster.
The Packers signed RJ Maryland as an undrafted free agent due to his promising skills and upside as a young tight end after the 2026 NFL Draft.
RJ Maryland's seam-stretching ability could enhance the Packers' offensive options, especially in the passing game.
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A productive player as an underclassman, Maryland was on course for an excellent 2024 season before tearing his ACL. He had 359 yards and four touchdowns in just seven games that season, and overall racked up 19 career scores, with 17 coming in his first three seasons.
In 2024, he ranked fifth among 85 qualified tight ends in yards per route run (Y/RR), just above Colston Loveland and behind Tyler Warren, both of whom were 1st round picks in 2025.
It came in a limited sample size, but in 2024 he ranked first in Y/RR against man coverage, catching all five targets, and ranked sixth against zone coverage. In 2025 he was way down at 127th out of 131 qualifiers in Y/RR against man, but did still rank 20th versus zone.
Maryland only dropped three passes on 70 targets between 2024 and 2025, improving significantly after five drops in 2023. However, his contested catch win rate is a disappointing 35.9%, only catching one of six such targets in 2025 and producing a season-best of just 50% in 2024.
Maryland’s speed is his calling card and what makes him an intriguing prospect. He ran the second-fastest 40 at the combine among tight ends, ahead of Eli Stowers and behind only Kenyon Sadiq, and his top speed of 22.7 mph was faster than receivers Carnell Tate and Chris Brazzell.
It shows up on seam routes as he scoots downfield in a hurry, and he is effective on wheel routes, especially when sent in motion before the snap, as he can beat linebackers and get open downfield. Maryland can stack defenders on vertical routes and make big plays over the top.
In the red zone, he can outrun defenders to the end zone on flat routes, punishing them if they take a false step inside. His speed also helps him eat up ground after the catch.
His explosion testing also shows on the field, as he bursts pretty well out of route breaks to create some separation against opponents. Maryland can gear up on routes to get beyond opponents.
If the job of a pass catcher is: get open, catch the ball, then Maryland has shown both of those abilities. He uses late hands to make catches in tight quarters and not let defenders know the ball is coming, and is able to catch bad balls whether high or low.
Maryland adjusts very well to back shoulder passes, toe tapping along the sideline when needed. If he turns his head around and a rocket ball is coming his way, he can react quickly to catch it outside his frame. He also tracks the ball well over his shoulder downfield.
While his contested catch ability is in doubt, Maryland showed the toughness to make a catch over the middle with a defender draped all over him.
He runs a pretty diverse route tree for a tight end and was also used in motion quite a lot, as well as on screens, where he can rumble forward for yards after the catch. Maryland showed some savvy to peel off and find a soft spot for a reception late in the rep after being bumped off his route initially.
As a blocker, he is fairly effective when working in space, able to get out to the edge from an inline position, turn and wall off defenders to the inside. He can motion out and lead block for running backs or running quarterbacks. Maryland will get to his landmark as a blocker consistently.
Per The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, an SMU source said Maryland is a “terrific worker who shows up early and strains in his training." An NFL scout said he is “reserved, but his dad’s success in the league drives him."
The elephant in the room, and the main reason Maryland went undrafted, is the difference between 2024 and 2025. He returned from the knee injury for the start of his senior year, but did not look the same kind of athlete, and sported a hefty knee brace during the season.
His tape was far better in 2024, and he only had one catch of 25-plus yards in 2025, as his big-play impact was muted. The Packers will be hoping another year removed from the injury he is more like his old self, as his excellent athletic testing suggests.
In terms of weaknesses, Maryland’s route running is very loose and is not fooling anyone. He lacks wiggle, is not an especially graceful mover and when he has to really break gear on routes he loses all momentum and struggles to get it going again.
This extends to his work with the ball in his hands. Maryland is usually tackled very quickly without much resistance if he does not have a clear lane to exploit. Attempts to dead leg defenders in the open field are futile.
His lack of size does show up at times, as he can be heavily disrupted by contact on routes, and can fail to hold on to the ball through contact when targets become contested, as evidenced by his underwhelming contested catch success rate.
Maryland is simply not a good blocker at this stage, and it will be a challenge for him to develop without adding some extra bulk. His blocking lacks oomph, intensity, and technique, as he fails to sustain blocks or even latch on to begin with. He tends to lunge or throw his shoulder at his target.
Too often defenders slip or bounce off him as he tries to engage, and when blocking on screens he can get smashed into the ball carrier on contact. In pass protection he does not play with enough urgency to look for and find work.
Overall, Maryland is a seam stretching tight end with the speed to make big plays downfield and be a mismatch in the passing game, but does not impress much as a route runner, lacks YAC-ability when facing obstacles and although he tries as a blocker, is not effective.
It is hard to see how Green Bay would have a use for him in 2026, especially after claiming Luke Lachey off waivers from Houston, who has more blocking prowess.
Hopefully they can get Maryland on the practice squad this year, with the potential for him to be a long-term Luke Musgrave replacement as a vertical threat at the tight end position.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers UDFA profiles: RJ Maryland offers seam-stretching potential