Three Duke football standouts selected on Day 3 of the NFL Draft
Three Duke football players heard their names called at the NFL Draft this weekend, equaling the number the Blue Devils heard in 2024. Two of the players are defenders, the other a versatile lineman who impressed at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Duke’s Wesley Williams, the first to hear his name Saturday, will get his chance to play in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jags took the Blue Devils edge rusher in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday with the 119th overall pick — a pick acquired in a draft-day trade with the Carolina Panthers.
Cornerback Chandler Rivers was taken by the Baltimore Ravens with the 22nd pick of the fifth round, No. 162 overall, and offensive lineman Brian Parker II went to the Cincinnati Bengals with the eighth pick (No. 189) in the sixth round.
Defensive end Vincent Anthony Jr. went undrafted but later Saturday was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. Defensive lineman Aaron Hall was signed by the Panthers, wide receiver Andrel Anthony by Atlanta, offensive lineman Justin Pickett by the Raiders. and running back Anderson Castle by the Colts.
Williams is Duke’s first NFL Draft selection since Graham Barton (first round), 26th overall), DeWayne Carter (third round, 95th overall) and Jacob Monk (fifth round, 163rd overall) went in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Williams started 14 games as a redshirt junior for the Blue Devils last season as they captured the school’s first outright ACC football championship since 1962. He had 44 tackles, with two sacks and nine total tackles for losses.
Williams had a breakout season in 2024, notching 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss while also blocking two kicks on special teams. In 41 career games at Duke, including 29 starts, Williams had 131 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, four pass breakups, 28 quarterback pressures and five blocked kicks. On the Duke record chart, Williams finished tied for third in quarterback pressures.
Williams’ quickness off the snap and ability to shed blocks and get into the offensive backfield were strengths. One concern for the 6-4, 256-pounder was his strength at the point of attack.
“Williams plays every snap with a red-hot motor and intensity,” NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein said.
Ravens get shutdown corner in Rivers
Rivers was one of those cornerbacks opposing teams rarely tested. In four seasons with the Blue Devils, he started 45 games and was known for his quickness and competitiveness, challenging everyone and everything thrown his way despite being undersized at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds.
Rivers ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, had a 39-inch vertical jump and was rated ninth among corners at the combine.
Rivers, a Duke co-captain last season, was named second-team All-ACC. He had a pair of interceptions and broke up a team-high eight passes while finishing with 59 total tackles.
NFL scouts liked his ability to play man or zone coverages and his closing speed as a shutdown corner. Noted strengths were his footwork and ability to quickly change directions.
“Rivers is football smart and rarely stacks mistakes,” said Zierlein of NFL.com.
There were questions about his ability to defend against the run in the NFL, given his size.
Parker could switch positions in the NFL
Parker II was a stalwart at offensive tackle last season. He’ll now get his chance in the NFL in his hometown — and at a new position.
Parker, listed at 6-foot-5 and 309 pounds, lined up at right tackle last season on an offense that had a 3,000-yard passer in quarterback Darian Mensah, 1,000-yard receiver in Cooper Bargate and 1,000-yard rusher in freshman Nate Sheppard. He was named first-team All-ACC by the AP.
Invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas, he was moved to center for the Jan. 27 game, was voted the top practice player and impressed NFL types with his play.
He was generally listed among the top five center prospects in mock drafts leading up to the draft, which began Thursday in Pittsburgh.
“I want to show my versatility,” Parker said in an interview with allaccessfootball.com at the Shrine Bowl “I’ve got 2,500 snaps at tackle, so they know I can play out there. I want to show I can play inside, too. Originally I was recruited to Duke to play center and feel comfortable there.”
Asked why an NFL team should draft him, Parker said: “I’m a smart guy, can play all five positions and I’m going to win.”
Parker started 13 games at right tackle last season and NFL scouts liked his technique and footwork and his ability to sustain blocks. There were questions about his drive power and his recovery speed against good edge rushers.
This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 1:37 PM with the headline "Three Duke football standouts selected on Day 3 of the NFL Draft."
