NFL Draft Slant: Jayden Maiava climbs, KJ Duff shines in 10 Week 1 takeaways

Week 1 of the college football season saw several NFL Draft prospects make strong early impressions and begin moving up draft boards. Leading the way is USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, who entered the season with a fourth-round grade on my board but is quickly moving up after back-to-back impressive performances.

Another prospect who made a strong early statement is Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff. Despite his team’s disastrous performance, Duff showed high-end potential with one of the best individual performances of the weekend. In the first edition of NFL Draft Slant, we highlight those players while also looking at a surprise team that could compete for a national championship, a highly regarded quarterback who struggled in his opener, a potential Seahawks target, and much more.

Jayden Maiava is off to a hot start

USC’s Jayden Maiava has looked extremely impressive through the Trojans’ first two games of the season. That included last week’s dominant 39-0 win over Fresno State, where Maiava completed 92 percent of his passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns after completing 85 percent of his passes for 286 yards in the season opener against San Jose State. Through two games, Maiava has displayed impressive accuracy, poise in the pocket, and a strong understanding of the Trojans’ offense. His first true test will come September 26 when USC takes on Oregon, giving NFL scouts an opportunity to see how he performs against a much tougher opponent. 

KJ Duff gives Rutgers one positive

In what may go down as one of the worst losses in Big Ten history, Rutgers was blown out by UMass, but at least one Scarlet Knight looked like he belonged on the field. That player was wide receiver KJ Duff, who finished the night with nine catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns, including a 78-yard score. His most impressive play, however, may have been his first touchdown, when he adjusted to a poorly thrown ball in traffic and showed impressive physicality and soft hands to come down with it. I currently have a second-round grade on Duff, but if he continues playing at this level, he could push his way into the end of the first round. 

Bear Alexander is one tough son of a gun

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore recently gave some impressive praise to defensive tackle Bear Alexander, calling him the toughest player on the team. After watching Alexander’s film, it is easy to see why Moore feels that way. Alexander routinely handles double teams and possesses an extremely powerful first punch that allows him to control offensive linemen at the point of attack. His combination of strength and size at 6-foot-3 and 316 pounds makes him a formidable run defender and could put him in high demand among teams looking to improve their run defense in the 2027 NFL Draft. 

Iowa may finally have another NFL wide receiver

If you don’t count Kaden Wetjen, who was more of a gadget player for the Hawkeyes, Iowa has not had a wide receiver drafted since 2021, when the Minnesota Vikings selected Ihmir Smith-Marsette in the fifth round. They may finally have their next draft pick in wide receiver Tony Diaz, who began his career at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and looks to be the Hawkeyes’ No. 1 receiver this season after catching seven passes for a touchdown Saturday against Northern Illinois. As a pro prospect, Diaz shows good quickness and the agility to make difficult catches, giving Iowa a legitimate NFL prospect at a position that has rarely produced draft picks for the program. 

Penn State is for real

Penn State could be one of the teams that started the year outside the top 15 and ultimately finds itself competing for a national championship. While the Nittany Lions have only played Marshall so far, they were truly dominant on both sides of the ball. On offense, Koby Howard established himself as a go-to weapon, while quarterback Rocco Becht looked like one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the 2027 NFL Draft. Defensively, Penn State played with great passion, holding Marshall to just 147 yards. Tony Rojas also showed why I have a mid-round grade on him, finishing with seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. 

Western Michigan robbed

The team that got robbed this weekend was Western Michigan, which should have beaten Michigan before one second magically appeared on the clock and allowed the Wolverines to connect on their second Hail Mary attempt. From an NFL Draft perspective, Western Michigan linebacker Dillon Moore was one player who saw his stock rise. His biggest play of the day came late in the second quarter when he intercepted a pass, setting up the Broncos for a field goal. Moore also finished with an impressive 86.7 PFF grade, including an 89.1 coverage grade. I currently have Moore graded as an undrafted free agent, but if he continues playing at this level, look for NFL teams to strongly consider him on Day 3. 

Drew Mestemaker doesn't make a great first impression

Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker did not make a great first impression in the Cowboys’ 24-10 loss to Tulsa. He threw two interceptions, completed just 59 percent of his passes, and earned a disappointing 50.9 PFF passing grade. Things will not get any easier, as the Cowboys’ next game is against Oregon. If Mestemaker does not perform better this season, more evaluators may start to see him similarly to how I do. I currently have just a seventh-round grade on him, while his consensus draft grade is in the first round, according to NFL Mock Draft Database. 

Malachi Toney makes an early case for 2028 NFL Draft's top prospect

A player already making a strong case to be the top prospect in the 2028 NFL Draft is Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney. In the Hurricanes’ season opener against Stanford, Toney delivered one of the best wide receiver performances in recent college football history, catching 12 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns despite playing only three quarters. Toney showcased several high-level NFL traits, especially with his crisp route running, which consistently allowed him to create separation and get open. He also showed impressive power after the catch by breaking four tackles while displaying the physicality and aggression needed to be an effective blocker. If he continues to perform at this level, Toney could quickly establish himself as the top prospects in the 2028 NFL Draft. 

A potential Seahawks draft target emerges

While it is still extremely early when it comes to determining which players are high on NFL teams’ radar, it is intriguing to see where teams are sending their scouts. One situation that stood out was the Seahawks sending three scouts to the Ohio State-Ball State game. One player who could be high on their radar is defensive end Kenyatta Jackson, who could be a potential replacement for DeMarcus Lawrence, who is scheduled to retire after the season. If Jackson is indeed high on Seattle’s list, he made a strong impression, recording eight pressures on just 25 pass-rush opportunities in the Buckeyes’ dominant win. 

Top 10 NFL Draft performances from Week 1

Those were the top performances from Week 1, but with the season just getting started, plenty of 2027 NFL Draft prospects will have an opportunity to make their own statement and start climbing draft boards.

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