DJ McKinney
Notre Dame#142 overallDraft Movement
Down 9 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
DJ McKinney is a long, fluid press cornerback whose draft stock has swung widely, from a projected top-50 pick to a deep-board flier, after a 2024 breakout at Colorado and a transfer to Notre Dame for 2026. Listed at 6-2, 180 pounds, the Colleyville, Texas native and former three-star (Class of 2022) began at Oklahoma State, redshirting then playing all 14 games in 2023, before transferring to Boulder and starting all 13 games opposite Travis Hunter in 2024. That season was his lone year of real ball production: 62 tackles (44 solo), nine pass breakups, three interceptions including a pick-six against his former Oklahoma State team, and a forced fumble, earning Honorable Mention All-Big 12. Sam Teets of Sports Talk graded him a second-round, top-five-CB prospect, praising a smothering soft-shoe press game, fluid hips rare for his height, advanced zone processing, and recovery burst to undercut routes. NFL Draft Buzz hands him an 80.1 player rating. But the arrow turned: Pro Football Network dropped him toward Day 3 after coverage and ball-tracking lapses late in 2025 and suggested a transfer, and NFL Mock Draft Database now lists him at Notre Dame with a UDFA-range consensus rank. Evaluators agree on the tools, length and speed, and on the flaws: weak, mistimed jams in press, grabby hands on in-breakers, and three interceptions that were largely quarterback gifts. A clean season in South Bend would restore his early-round case.
Strengths
- Prototype 6-2 length with arms that meet NFL thresholds for the catch point and contested throws
- Fluid hips and nimble footwork rare for a taller corner, mirrors through breaks without getting rigid
- Smothering soft-shoe press technique that compresses outside releases toward the sideline
- Recovery burst and long speed to carry receivers vertically and undercut out routes
- Advanced zone processing, passing off layered routes and threats without ball-watching
- Tracks pre-snap motion to eliminate free releases and early leverage
- Productive 2024 with 62 tackles, nine PBUs and three INTs opposite Travis Hunter
- NFL Draft Buzz 80.1 player rating and Sam Teets second-round, top-five-CB grade
Weaknesses
- Thin, wiry frame with limited play strength and weak, mistimed jams that receivers slip
- Overextends in press and gets crossed up by savvy releases when his balance fails
- Grabby and late to trigger on slants and in-breakers, inviting penalties (flagged four times in 2024)
- Fails to locate the ball on fades, hurting his timing at the catch point
- Three career interceptions were largely gifts rather than created with elite ball skills
- Inconsistent run-support effort and shaky one-on-one open-field tackling per PFN
- Stock has slid from top-50 to UDFA-range consensus amid late-2025 coverage lapses
- Only one season of significant ball production to anchor the projection
NFL Comparison
Roger McCreary (press-mirror corner with length questions but sticky coverage); Cam Smith (toolsy, fluid boundary CB whose technique outran his consistency); Kris Boyd (wiry, athletic outside corner needing play strength and ball-skill refinement)
College Stats
2022 Oklahoma State (RS): 4 G, 2 tackles. 2023 OK State: 14 G, 38 tackles, 5 PBU. 2024 Colorado: 13 starts, 62 tackles (44 solo), 9 PBU, 3 INT (1 TD), 3 TFL, 1 FF, team-high 840 snaps; 4th in Big 12 in PBUs and passes defended.
Measurables
Awards & Honors
2024 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 (coaches); College Football News recognition; NFL Draft Buzz 80.1 rating, DB39; Sam Teets second-round grade, top-five 2026 CB; PFN ranked as high as No. 84 before sliding; Class of 2022 3-star recruit