2026 Duke Draft Watch: Converted RB Catches NFL Scouts Attention At Safety

Find out which rising senior could become the first ever NFL Draft pick of the Manny Diaz Era in Durham. Plus, a look at the top draft-eligible Blue Devils for the 2026 NFL Draft.

All Access Football NFL Draft Watch Presented By Sports Management Worldwide. Don’t miss out on the SMWW ‘Doc Talk Podcast’ on how to become a football scout with NFL pro scouting director Dane Vandernat - Friday, September 5th, 2025 at 2:30 pm PST / 5:30 pm EST / 9:30 pm GMT.

TOP DUKE DRAFT-ELIGIBLE PROSPECTS FOR 2026

Location: Durham, NC || Conference: ACC || Head Coach: Manny Diaz (1 year: 9-4; Overall: 30-19) || NFL Draft Picks Under Diaz: 0 || NFL First Round Picks Under Diaz: 0 || Blue Devils in NFL: 16

The Duke Blue Devils finished tied for a school record with nine wins a year ago under first-year head coach Manny Diaz. Entering 2025, the Blue Devils seek to reach 10 victories for the first time in the history of the football program. While Duke was shut out of the 2025 NFL Draft, they have several prominent prospects on the radar for the 2026 NFL Draft, led by an explosive, playmaking safety. The defensive-minded Diaz has stockpiled a load of talent on the defensive side of the ball, which is where most of the NFL scout’s attention will be focused. Duke is also noticeably bigger in the trenches as well, with several offensive lineman expected to have an opportunity to play at the next level.

Keep reading for the All Access Football Draft Watch for Duke, provided by the NFL Draft Bible scouting department. It includes insider intel, scouting reports, verified measurements, projections and more. All Access Football Annual subscribers also receive a copy of the Official 2026 NFL Draft Bible (published in April), featuring 500+ in-depth scouting reports.