DJ McKinney CB Notre Dame |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #8 ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/28/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.41 seconds (81%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.7 DOB: 02/09/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #8 | |
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 09/28/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.41 seconds (81%*) | |
| Age: 22.7 DOB: 02/09/2004 | |
| Overall Rating: |
83.1 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 72.0 | |
| Tackling: |
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74% |
| Run Defense: |
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78% |
| Coverage: |
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75% |
| Zone: |
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73% |
| Man/Press: |
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72% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#134
Position rank:
#31 (DB)
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| College Games: 43 College Snaps: 2226 | ||
ESPN RATING: 79/100
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247 RATING: 86/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shyheim Battle - NC State |
|
82% |
| Al Blades Jr. - Duke |
|
82% |
| Eric Scott Jr. - Southern Miss |
|
79% |
Draft Profile: Bio
McKinney has been a college starter at three stops, beginning at Oklahoma State in 2022 and 2023 before two seasons at Colorado, where he banked interceptions and pass breakups as a long, ball-hawking boundary corner.An injury cut his 2025 short after nine games, but not before he picked off a pass against Georgia Tech, and he entered the portal with three years of starting experience.
He transferred to Notre Dame for 2026, stepping in at field corner opposite All-American Leonard Moore in an elite Irish secondary, healthy again and out to prove his boundary coverage travels.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Track-level speed and length at 74 inches to match outside receivers
- Intercepted a pass against Georgia Tech and broke up four before the injury
- Run defense is solid, a willing force on the edge
- Carries vertical routes with the burst to stay in phase
- Two years of outside starting reps, a season of it opposite an elite corner
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Injury cost him the final three games of the season
- Slight at 180 pounds, a frame bigger receivers can test
- Tackling finish is shaky, with nine misses on the year
- Disruption output is light beyond the two interceptions
- Press-man coverage trails the run-game work on tape
Scouting Report: Summary
McKinney is a long, fast boundary corner who pairs elite timed speed with 74-inch length and a willing run defense, snaring an interception against Georgia Tech before an injury cut his season short, and he carries vertical routes and supports the run on the edge. However, an injury cost him the final games, at 180 pounds he is light enough for bigger receivers to test, his tackling finish is shaky, and his man technique trails the run-game work.Overall, McKinney is a long, lean press corner whose speed and competitiveness fit a press-man scheme, but the frame, the finishing and the durability all need development. He projects as a developmental Day 3 boundary corner, with the ceiling of a starter if the man technique and health hold up and the floor of an outside depth corner and special-teamer.
How other scouting services rate DJ McKinney (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
104.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
27.0
*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.