NFL Draft Notebook: KJ Duff could be the Eagles’ missing piece, FCS sleeper emerges

Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff has been one of the most productive receivers in the 2027 NFL Draft class through the first two weeks of the season. Duff has topped 130 receiving yards in both games despite playing in a Rutgers passing offense that ranks 36th nationally. That type of production is sure to attract plenty of NFL interest, with the Philadelphia Eagles already standing out as a potential fit.

In this week's NFL Draft Notebook, we take a closer look at Duff's fit in Philadelphia, an FCS offensive tackle who is starting to draw NFL attention, and several other early-season draft storylines.

KJ Duff could give the Eagles something their WR room is missing

The Philadelphia Eagles are ushering in a new era in their wide receiver room after trading A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots for a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick. The Eagles are hoping 2026 first-round pick Makai Lemon can help fill the void left by Brown and form a strong combination with DeVonta Smith.

However, when looking at Philadelphia’s current group of wide receivers, one thing is clear: they lack size after moving on from the 226-pound Brown.

One player the Eagles have already shown interest in who could help fill that void is Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff. While NFL talent may not be the first thing that comes to mind when people hear Rutgers, there is no doubt Duff has the skill set to become a scary target in the NFL passing game.

This season, Duff has been darn near unstoppable, accounting for 17 receptions for 333 yards and five touchdowns in just two games. What may be even more impressive is that this production has come with defenses keying in on him. Duff has been the focal point of the Scarlet Knights' offense, accounting for more than half of their passing yards and five of their six passing touchdowns this season.

In addition to his stellar production, Duff has several other traits working in his favor, starting with his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame, which is exactly what the Eagles need. He uses his size to consistently create matchup problems for opposing defenses, allowing him to make 26 catches in tight coverage over the past year and two games this season.

Another positive is his reliable hands. This season, he has hauled in 63 percent of the passes thrown his way, according to PFF, despite playing in one of the worst passing offenses in college football. He has also dropped just three passes since the start of the 2025 season and has yet to drop one this fall.

In addition to being a good scheme fit and bringing something the Eagles desperately need in the passing game, Duff will likely be available when Philadelphia's second-round pick comes up this year. The main reason for that is the concerns surrounding his speed and ability to consistently create separation at the NFL level.

Scouts would love to see him run a strong 40-yard dash leading up to the NFL Combine, but it is important to remember that his size and strength already allow him to outmuscle defensive backs and make contested catches.

If Duff does indeed fall to the second round, seeing the Eagles select him here would make more sense than using back-to-back first-round picks on wide receivers, especially considering they already took Makai Lemon with the 20th overall pick this year. Duff would give Philadelphia something Lemon and Smith do not: a big-bodied receiver who can win at the catch point and give opposing defenses another matchup problem.

NFL Draft Sleeper of the Week: Desmeal Leigh, OT, Youngstown State

It seems like every year the talent pool of FCS players becomes smaller and smaller, and this year is no different, with only two FCS players making the Senior Bowl watch list heading into the season. However, one of those players is Youngstown State offensive tackle Desmeal Leigh, who offers intriguing potential as an NFL prospect.

When watching the 2025 second-team All-MVFC selection, the first thing that stands out is how well he moves. In the passing game, he shows the quick feet needed to match up against NFL pass rushers, and last season he allowed just one sack. He also shows the mobility to easily get to the second level in the run game, which could make him a great fit in a zone-blocking scheme.

In addition to his impressive mobility, he also has the size NFL scouts look for at 6-foot-7, 325 pounds, making his athleticism even more impressive.

Another thing working in his favor is that he is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential. That is mainly because he played only one year of high school football, with basketball and lacrosse being his primary focus for most of his high school career. After using his freshman season to develop his skills, he has gone on to start 40 consecutive games at left tackle for the Penguins.

While there is plenty to like about Leigh's game, he does have some concerns. The first is that he plays with a high pad level too often, which can hurt his power, especially as a run blocker, and causes him to get knocked backward at times. He also has a tendency to draw penalties, with four last season and already two this season. Both issues could improve with better footwork and more refined technique.

This weekend will be a big test for Leigh as Youngstown State takes on No. 2 South Dakota State. Other than his matchup against Kentucky earlier this season, this will be one of his toughest challenges of the year. If he can perform well in this game and earn an invitation to the Senior Bowl, he could put himself in position to be a mid-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

2027 NFL Draft news and notes

CJ Carr drawing a Drew Brees comparison

Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr is off to another hot start this season after a stellar 2025 campaign in which he threw for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns with just six interceptions. You can be sure NFL coaches and scouts are paying close attention to Carr.

According to The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, one college defensive assistant coach sees some Drew Brees in his game. The comparison makes sense, as Carr shows the high football IQ, accuracy, and crisp throwing motion that Brees was known for. Now the question is whether Carr can hear his name called earlier in the NFL Draft than Brees, who fell to the second round in the 2001 NFL Draft. 

Kemari Copeland could fill a Lions need

One area the Detroit Lions could look to upgrade during the 2027 NFL Draft is defensive tackle. While they have two big bodies in Tyleik Williams and Alim McNeill as their starters, the Lions are looking to get more pass rush out of this unit. One player they could target in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft is Virginia Tech defensive tackle Kemari Copeland, who is one of the most explosive defensive tackles in the draft. Last season, he recorded 7.5 tackles for loss while leading the team with 4.5 sacks. In addition, he has the raw strength to hold up against the run, including an impressive 510-pound bench press and 735-pound squat. Copeland's combination of explosiveness, strength and pass-rush ability could make him an intriguing fit for a Lions defensive line that could use another interior disruptor.

Raiders must get more out of their wide receiver group

While the Raiders looked much improved over last season in their season-opening 27-13 win over the Miami Dolphins, one area that must step up is their wide receiver unit. In the game, none of the Raiders' wideouts finished with more than three catches or 27 receiving yards. While it is likely the Raiders will be drafting too late to take Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith if they continue playing at this level, two players to keep an eye on are Texas' Cam Coleman, a silky-smooth athlete who is a dangerous deep threat, and Indiana's Nick Marsh, who could be a great option if Las Vegas makes a run at the playoffs and ends up picking later in the first round.

John Mateer's NFL Draft stock is falling

While we have talked about numerous players seeing their stock rise this season, one player's draft stock heading in the opposite direction is Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer. In his latest game against Michigan, he completed just 52 percent of his passes and struggled to consistently hit his receivers in stride, becoming a major reason Oklahoma's passing game couldn't find its rhythm. As a private QB coach at Blair Quarterback Academy, one of my biggest concerns with Mateer is his low release point, which can hurt his accuracy, along with his tendency to have happy feet in the pocket. Going into the season, I had a third-round grade on him, but I now see him as more of a late-round prospect who will need to significantly refine his mechanics and footwork to have a long NFL career.

Packers' offensive line could become a major draft priority

The Green Bay Packers' offensive line was downright awful against the Minnesota Vikings in their season-opening loss. The unit earned a 37.7 PFF pass-blocking grade, the worst in the NFL, and allowed 22 pressures on the day. If this unit continues to play at this level, look for the Packers to invest at least a couple of their 11 2027 NFL Draft picks in the offensive line.

While the team does not have a first-round pick this season, they could look to grab Indiana's Carter Smith in the second round or use some of their draft capital to move up and take a player like LSU's Jordan Seaton late in the first round. They will also likely look at the offensive guard position, with Notre Dame's Anthonie Knapp being one prospect to watch who could make sense for the Packers with one of their two third-round picks.

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