The "Dragon-to-Pro" football pipeline continues to flow as former Southlake Carroll High School standout R.J. Maryland has reached an agreement to join the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent.
Following the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft, the SMU tight end didn’t have to wait long to find his professional home, choosing a franchise where his family name already holds a place in history: R.J.'s father, Russell Maryland — the 1991 No. 1 overall pick and three-time Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys — actually finished his own illustrious NFL career playing for the Packers in 2000.
At 6'4" and 240 lbs, Maryland brings a specialized skill set that the modern NFL craves:
- He turned heads at the NFL Combine with a blistering 4.51-second 40-yard dash, ranking among the fastest for his position.
- He leaves SMU as the program's all-time leader in receiving yards for a tight end (1,495 yards) and hauled in 19 touchdowns during his collegiate career.
- After battling back from a torn ACL in 2024, Maryland proved his health and explosiveness during his senior season in the ACC.