Ravens snag talented Duke cornerback Chandler Rivers late in the draft. His versatility and feisty play make him a valuable addition to the AFC powerhouse.
ESPN's Mel Kiper named Duke cornerback Chandler Rivers as one of his favorite cornerbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft, calling him a "spunky" athlete.
Rivers recorded 59 total tackles, one forced fumble, two interceptions, and eight passes defensed in 2025, helping the Blue Devils win the ACC championship.
It took until Day 3 for Rivers to come off the board, but he's landing in a solid system for the upcoming season.
The Baltimore Ravens took Rivers in the fifth round of the draft on Saturday. He'll play under first-year head coach Jesse Minter.
Scouting Report
Zierlein thought Rivers could go in the third or fourth round of the draft. So the Ravens might have gotten great value by adding the cornerback in the fifth round.
Rivers is a versatile athlete that can help in whatever scheme Minter wants to run and can be used as a nickelback.
"Rivers was a productive, 45-game starter over his four seasons at Duke," Zierlein wrote. "He competed hard when lined up outside but figures to scoot inside in the NFL due to his lack of size and length.
"He’s capable in zone or man coverages, utilizing good anticipation and short-area quickness, but he could struggle to contest big slot matchups. He’s willing in run support but might be too small to finish tackles at a pro rate. Rivers is football smart and rarely stacks mistakes."
How Chandler Rivers can help the Ravens
Rivers isn't set on playing one position in the secondary. He likes playing different roles.
"I showed it a lot on film when I was in college, coming in the third down package, or even the first, second down, if I needed to play nickel, I was able to play nickel, and I mean that's what I pride myself on, honestly, being versatile," Rivers said, via the Panthers.
"I feel like I'm one of the most versatile DBs in the country, and I mean, I feel like it shows on film, and I feel like that's why teams want to see me everywhere…Honestly, I like playing all of it. I just like being able to move around."
The Ravens are getting value for Rivers in Day 3. The former Duke cornerback will be able to compete for a starting spot this fall, but he'll likely be a backup in the secondary who will be asked to contribute on special teams this fall.