2026 NFL Draft Player Profile: Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
My first prospect of the 2026 cycle, a fiesty corner with ball skills and a high football IQ.
📝 Background
A three-sport athlete out of Beaumont, Texas, Chandler Rivers brought elite versatility and competitive fire to Duke from Day 1. A former three-star recruit, Rivers became a freshman starter in Durham and has developed into one of the ACC’s most consistent and disruptive corners. In 2024, he tallied 54 tackles, 7.5 for loss, three interceptions, nine pass breakups and two forced fumbles, earning All-America nods in the process.
🔍 Strengths
Explosive and fluid: Quick feet and sudden burst allow him to mirror receivers and close gaps in an instant.
Smart and savvy: Diagnoses route concepts with veteran-level vision; rarely out of position in zone coverage.
Sticky in man: Stays in-phase without grabbing, even against shifty slot receivers.
Physical tackler: Takes clean angles and doesn’t shy away from contact.
⚠️ Weaknesses
Size concerns: Listed at 5-10, 180, he may struggle against NFL boundary receivers.
Can overplay: Occasionally bites on double moves or gets caught peeking in man coverage.
Physical matchups: Has trouble disengaging from bigger, stronger wideouts in press situations.
📈 NFL Outlook
Rivers projects as a high-floor nickelback with upside to develop into a full-time starter as an outside corner. While his size may limit his outside reps early, his football IQ and toughness should earn him a role early on and possible Day 2 draft consideration.
