2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Eric Rivers, WR, Georgia Tech

Wide receivers who take nontraditional paths to high-level production often require a different evaluative lens, particularly when their collegiate careers include position changes, transfers, and late breakouts. For these players, projection is driven less by early pedigree and more by role adaptability, efficiency, and functional traits that translate across systems.

We are going to be covering players who are eligible at every position in the upcoming 2026 draft, and not all prospects project as early selections. Receivers who win through effort, alignment versatility, and situational efficiency frequently find their NFL outlook tied to role definition and special teams value rather than immediate volume-based production.

For this report, we will be discussing a wide receiver from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets . Here is my report on Eric Rivers.

Information

Eric Rivers

• Background Tag:Role-based receiver with outside alignment efficiency

• School:Georgia Tech

• Conference:ACC

• Height / Weight:5-11, 180 lbs

• Age when Drafted:24

• Previous School:Florida International (FIU), Memphis

• All-Star Game:Shrine Bowl

• Jersey Number:#3

Background

• Began his collegiate career at Memphis as a walk-on defensive back and special teams contributor

• Missed the 2022 season after suffering a shoulder injury

• Transferred to Florida International and transitioned to wide receiver fully

• Earned a scholarship at FIU after arriving as a walk-on

• Broke out during the 2024 season with an All-American campaign

• Recorded 1,162 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns at FIU in 2024

• Transferred to Georgia Tech for his final collegiate season

• Adjusted to a reduced-volume offensive role in the ACC

• Aligned primarily as an outside receiver with selective slot usage

• Contributed on special teams as a punt returner

Notable Stats

• Career Snapshot

• Games Played: 43

• Starts: 23

• Career Production

• Receptions: 140

• Receiving Yards: 2,200

• Receiving Touchdowns: 16

• Rushing Yards: 56

• Punt Return Yards: 99

• 2025 Season (Georgia Tech)

• Receptions: 46

• Receiving Yards: 658

• Yards per Catch: 14.3

• Receiving Touchdowns: 2

• Longest Reception: 68 yards

PFF Grades & Usage

• Overall Offensive Grade (2025): 71.5

• Receiving Grade (2025): 71.5

• Run Blocking Grade (2025): 61.5

• Slot Alignment Rate: 27.3%

• Career Snaps: 1,618

• Career Pass Snaps: 944

• Rivers’ grading profile reflects a functional, role-based receiver whose value is rooted in situational efficiency rather than consistent volume. His alignment data shows the majority of his snaps come from outside the numbers, with limited but very purposeful slot usage, reinforcing a role built around flexibility rather than specialization.

Receiving Usage & Efficiency

Target-location data from the 2025 season shows Rivers was most effective when aligned outside on intermediate and deeper routes. Quarterback efficiency improved when throwing to Rivers in these areas, particularly along the boundary and between the numbers at depth.

Rivers was not used as a high-volume short-area target, which aligns with his deployment as a spacing-and-matching receiver rather than a primary chain mover. His production profile supports an evaluation focused on maximizing opportunities when targeted, rather than commanding a heavy share of the passing offense.

Skills

• Primarily aligned as an outside receiver with limited slot usage

• Comfortable working with intermediate and vertical route concepts

• Capable of generating explosive plays when given space

• Generally reliable hands with manageable drop volume

• Limited effectiveness in contested catch situations due to size

• Understands spacing and route leverage within the offense

• Offers special teams value as a punt return option

• Run-blocking impact remains limited

Player Summary

Eric Rivers profiles as a late-blooming, role-based wide receiver whose evaluation is built on adaptability, effort, and situational effectiveness rather than elite physical traits. His progression from walk-on defensive back to All-American receiver at FIU, followed by a functional transition year at Georgia Tech, reflects a player who consistently earned opportunities through performance and reliability. A player who could see a bump in draft stock if he has a solid offseason leading up to the draft.

From a projection standpoint, Rivers offers value as a depth receiver capable of filling an outside role in spread or motion-based offenses while contributing on special teams. While he is unlikely to develop into a high-volume target at the next level, his experience across multiple programs, alignment flexibility, and efficiency-based usage give him a realistic path to competing for a roster spot as a rotational receiver, and also as a potential returner at the next level.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: NFL Draft Scouting Report: Eric Rivers, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech