Chandler Rivers CB Duke |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #0 ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/23/2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.40 seconds (84%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.9 DOB: 10/17/2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jersey: #0 | |
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 03/23/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| Forty time: 4.40 seconds (84%*) | |
| Age: 22.9 DOB: 10/17/2003 | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
|
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
|
| Overall Rating: | 84.6 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
|
73% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 79.1 | |
| Tackling: |
|
76% |
| Run Defense: |
|
78% |
| Coverage: |
|
89% |
| Zone: |
|
84% |
| Man/Press: |
|
86% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#101
Position rank:
#22 (DB)
|
||
| College Games: 51 College Snaps: 3113 | ||
ESPN RATING: 79/100
|
||
|
247 RATING: 86/100
|
||
|
RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
|
||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Asante Samuel Jr. - Florida State |
|
91% |
| Garrett Williams - Syracuse |
|
90% |
| Max Melton - Rutgers |
|
85% |
Drafted: ROUND: 5 - Pick Number: 162 (BAL)
Draft Profile: Bio
Second in the state in the long jump, a 5A basketball state championship in 2021, and a three-star football recruit all out of Beaumont United in Texas. Chandler Rivers was that kind of athlete. He enrolled early at Duke in January 2022.Rivers contributed immediately as a true freshman, appearing in all 13 games with six starts and earning Freshman All-America honors. He was named Birmingham Bowl MVP after his sophomore season, then turned in a breakout 2024 junior year: 54 tackles, three interceptions in three consecutive games, 7.5 tackles for loss, First Team All-ACC, and multiple All-America selections.
He returned as a senior and helped Duke win its first ACC Championship since 1962, posting eight tackles in the title game win over Virginia. Rivers finished the year with 59 tackles, two picks, and eight pass breakups before opting out of the Sun Bowl. Over four seasons he recorded 223 tackles, seven interceptions, and 29 pass breakups across 51 games. He was invited to the Senior Bowl and tested well at the Combine, posting the third-fastest forty among cornerbacks and finishing in the top ten in both the vertical and broad jumps.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Fluid hips and quick feet let him stay in phase through receiver stems and breaks
- Combine speed tested among the best at the position and shows up as recovery ability on tape
- Zone eyes are advanced; reads the quarterback while staying disciplined in his landmarks
- Plays bigger than his frame at the catch point thanks to real vertical pop and good timing
- Downhill trigger against screens is fast, and he takes clean angles to the ball
- Held receivers to roughly half their targets completed during his best coverage season in 2024
- Smooth communicator in zone exchanges who passes off routes without confusion
- Effective as a slot blitzer with a knack for timing the snap and affecting the pocket
- Four years as a starter in the ACC, with his biggest games often coming in the biggest moments
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Short arms and a narrow frame make press reps against bigger receivers a problem
- Tackling got worse as a senior; the missed tackle rate climbed to its highest mark
- Eyes drift into the backfield in man coverage, which opens up separation underneath
- Senior year coverage numbers took a noticeable step back from his excellent 2024 tape
- Overcommits to his initial read on occasion and gets burned by double moves
- Run defense has been average throughout his career and the size limits his impact there
Scouting Report: Summary
Rivers fits best as an inside cornerback at the next level. His frame and arm length will make it tough to hold up consistently on the boundary against NFL receivers, but his short-area quickness, route recognition, and ability to handle zone exchanges all translate well to the slot. The Combine confirmed what the tape showed: he is twitchy and explosive, able to change direction and close on the ball in a hurry. He showed in 2024 that he can play at a high level when everything clicks, and the interception streak against Florida State, SMU, and Miami was not a product of luck. He anticipated throws, positioned himself correctly, and finished. The question is whether 2024 was the ceiling or 2025 was the floor.The senior year tape is uneven. His coverage numbers regressed, missed tackles ticked up, and the overall defense grade came back down after that strong junior season. Some of that may reflect Duke's defense stepping back as a unit, but evaluators will have to weigh how much was individual. He still showed the same instincts and competitive edge that have defined his career, and his willingness to come downhill has never been in question even if his size limits his impact.
The fit is a defense that values versatility in its secondary and runs zone or pattern-match concepts. He can handle man responsibilities in the slot, but asking him to do it snap after snap on the boundary is not playing to his strengths. His special teams background and four years of ACC production give him a solid floor as a contributing nickel who can grow into a larger role if the scheme suits him.
Chandler Rivers percentiles vs other Cornerbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Chandler Rivers (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
83.6
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
23.0
*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.