Here’s a refined 300‑word piece on the surprising exclusion:
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Duke Football Standout Shockingly Snubbed from ESPN’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft
It was a moment of jaw-dropping disbelief for Duke devotees when ESPN unveiled its early 2026 NFL mock draft—without a single mention of Chandler Rivers. Rivers, a rising senior cornerback from Duke, has spent the past three seasons establishing himself as one of the top defensive backs in college football. He’s led the Blue Devils’ secondary with consistent lockdown coverage, notable interception figures, and a physical edge that makes opposing wideouts think twice. Yet in ESPN’s first round simulation, compiled by NFL draft analyst Matt Miller, Rivers was notably absent from the first‑round lineup .
To contextualize just how high ESPN rated Rivers, CBS Sports placed him 11th overall in its own June 2026 mock draft—linking him to a first‑round selection by the Los Angeles Rams . This stark difference highlights the disconnect between analytics‑driven projections and on‑film scout evaluations. Rivers earned acclaim for his balanced productivity—combining pass breakups with agile tackling—and is routinely praised by NFL scouts as a versatile option in man or zone schemes. Many believed such a well‑rounded skill set would cement a first‑round placement.
ESPN’s decision to exclude Rivers from its top 32 seems to stem from the heavy emphasis on high‑visibility positions in their evaluation this early in the cycle. The early focus leans toward quarterbacks like Cade Klubnik, Peter Woods, and LaNorris Sellers—names that dominate ESPN’s first‑round spotlights . Meanwhile, top defensive back rankings remain relatively under‑represented in these previews.
For Duke fans and draft-watchers, Rivers’ omission is not just surprising—it’s a snub. With the 2025 college season looming, all eyes will be on Rivers to deliver the kind of standout performances that force analysts to amend their early boards. Following that, ESPN’s next mock could look a lot different—with Rivers firmly back in the conversation.
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