2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Dane Key

Last Updated: 11/20/2024

Career Stats

Summary

Dane Key came to Kentucky as a four-star recruit according to 247sports, the No. 41 wide receiver in his class. He lived up to the hype as a freshman, topping 500 yards and setting a Kentucky freshman record with 6 touchdowns. Since then, we have seen him steadily improve and refine his game. This season he set a career-high in both receptions and receiving yards, even in what is a down year for Kentucky’s offense.

Dane Key stands on a muscular 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame while offering prototypical perimeter receiver traits. His size and strength are very clear on film, you will see him often absorb contact with ease and shield himself while making tough physical catches in tight windows. He also uses this strength and physicality to battle through press coverage and in the blocking game. His lack of top-end speed and suddenness is a concern heading into the NFL but is something he can overcome.

As a route runner, his lack of twitch limits him, but is a fluid route runner who has a knack for exposing zone coverage. He has displayed an ability to expose defenders’ leverage with ease. With a savvy release package, he creates separation, while stacking defenders on vertical routes. At times he appears a touch stiff and lacks premier deceleration or hip fluidity to crisply snap off hard-breaking routes. We have yet to see an expansive route tree from him, but his limited exposure has been refined.

His lack of elite separation is made up for at the catch point, stemming from his great hand-eye coordination. He marries this with strong hands and body control to make circus catches look routine. At times we do see him bobble the catch as opposed to hauling it in with ease, but for the most part, he is comfortable catching within and outside his frame. Once the ball is in his hands, Key leaves quite a bit to be desired — he will gain what is available but doesn’t make many defenders miss.

Strengths

• Hand-eye coordination
• Smooth mover
• Physicality

Weakness

• Suddenness
• High-end speed
• After-the-catch ability

Honors and awards

• Honorable Mention Freshman All-American (CFN)

Athletic Testing

• 40-yard dash: TBD
• Vertical: TBD
• Broad Jump: TBD
• Three-cone: TBD
• Shuttle: TBD
• Bench: TBD

NFL Role Prediction

• X wide receiver

Fantasy Outlook

With a profile leaning toward an X receiver with limited after-the-catch prowess, Dane Key will be reliant on his landing spot. He is a savvy player who can find a viable home in most offenses but to find fantasy viability he’ll need to be tied to a pass-heavy or target-centric offense. Volume and quality of touches will make or break Key, with an extreme variance in his outcomes. His NFL combine will be critical in forming a full picture, but he is either the next Tee Higgins or… he’s just Justin Watson.

Player Comparisons

• Courtland Sutton
• Tee Higgins
• Jauan Jennings