Darius Rush Complete NFL Draft Profile (Defensive Playmaking Skills Point to Day 2 Selection)

South Carolina's Darius Rush is one of the more intriguing defensive back prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. While he might not be one of the more highly-rated prospects, his talents should help him find a role wherever he lands.

Here's everything you need to know about Darius Rush heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.

Colby Wooden Draft Stock & Mock Draft

Mock draft sources accurate as of 4/24 NFL.com, ESPN, CBS, Walter Football, Sporting News.

Projected Draft Round: Round 3 (4), Round 6 (1), 
Projected Team: Ravens (1), Steelers (1), Buccaneers (1), Broncos (1), Jets (1)

Darius Rush Scouting Report

Darius Rush was up to his usual antics in his final campaign at South Carolina. The Gamecocks defender racked up 38 tackles (28 solo), 7 broken-up passes, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble over 10 games.

Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 198 pounds, Rush is already set with a solid frame. He's an athletic beast as well, possessing blistering speed to match his incredible leaping ability. He knows how to read quarterbacks well, too, helping him be in position for either the perfect hit or to break up a pass.

As is the case with most prospects, Rush does have weaknesses. He doesn't have a ton of experience as a DB due to his being a wide receiver before college. On top of that, he's dealt with shoulder and hamstring injuries over the last two seasons, leaving scouts wondering if that trend will continue at the next level.

Darius Rush NFL Draft Prediction

Four of the five highlighted mock drafts see Darius Rush as a Day 2 pick and it's hard to disagree. Although he isn't the most experienced DB, he's shown flashes of brilliance over the last two seasons. Even if that makes him somewhat of a project, he's worth the risk.

The Baltimore Ravens are one team that should draft multiple DBs to help improve their secondary, which was among the worst in 2022. Rush might not make an immediate impact this fall, but he's the type of player that could be an everyday starter in the next few years with the right coaching.

Even if they have to move up a few spots to get him, the Ravens taking Rush in the third round makes a ton of sense.

Prediction: Baltimore Ravens (Round 3, 86th overall)

Check out more NFL Draft content from The Duel:

Darius Rush NFL Combine Results

Darius Rush South Carolina Stats

Darius Rush South Carolina Highlights

Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.