2020 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Xavier McKinney





  • Xavier McKinney, 6-1/200

  • Safety

  • Alabama


  • Xavier McKinney Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Instinctive
  • Tremendous coverage safety
  • Can play single high safety
  • Covers a lot of ground
  • Keeps plays in front of him
  • Steady at covering receivers over the top
  • Good vision, eye discipline
  • Man-coverage ability on tight ends
  • Man-coverage ability on slot receivers
  • Asset to defend big receivers
  • Asset to defend speed receivers downfield
  • Fluid; can flip his hips and run
  • Always around the ball
  • Solid run defender
  • Very tough
  • Willing tackler
  • Interchangeable to play free or strong safety
  • Should be able to play quickly
  • Experienced and successful against good college talent
  • Versatile
  • Experience against quality competition




  • Weaknesses:
  • Thinner frame
  • Needs to get stronger to tackle
  • Could stand to improve his ability to make plays on the ball


  • Summary: Alabama has been a factory for first-round defensive backs under Nick Saban, and McKinney will continue the tradition in 2020. McKinney broke out in 2018 as Alabama’s best defensive back. He totaled 73 tackles with 10 breakups, two interceptions and one forced fumble on the year. He was even better in 2019 and was the best defender on Alabama’s defense while totaling 95 tackles with three interceptions, three sacks, five passes defended and four forced fumbles.

    In pass coverage, McKinney is a do-it-all safety who it tailor made for today’s NFL. He can do anything and everything that pro teams ask of their safeties. McKinney has the man-coverage skills to play cornerback against slot receivers and also play man-to-man on receiving tight ends. With his speed, athleticism and instincts, McKinney does a superb job of running with them and preventing separation. He also can play free safety in the deep part of the field, covering a lot of ground and keeping offenses from getting receivers open deep over the top. McKinney additionally has the ability to cover in zone in the short part of the field, something typically reserved for strong safeties. Defensive coordinators are going to love having McKinney in their secondary because he can be a problem solver.

    In the ground game, McKinney is tough and can tackle. While he doesn’t have a lot of size or bulk to him, he is a willing tackler and not afraid of taking on backs. McKinney showed real toughness at Alabama and was a solid run defender for the Crimson Tide. It will be interesting to see if McKinney is able to avoid injury in the NFL given his size and the physicality.

    McKinney has Pro Bowl potential at the next level and could end up being one of the top free safeties in the league. He could be a plug-and-play starter who quickly emerges as an asset for his defense. Multiple team sources say McKinney is worthy of being a top-20 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.



    Player Comparison: Tyrann Mathieu. Some team sources said McKinney reminded them of Mathieu except McKinney is bigger, taller, and did not make as many splash plays as Mathieu in college. Both, however, are dynamic in coverage with ability to play a variety of positions and techniques to erase mismatches and solve coverage problems.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2020 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2020 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2020 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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