This series was created in response to questions about why certain well-known prospects went unselected in NFL drafts. For these articles, I reach out to sources with NFL teams to find out why their organizations passed on drafting a given player, and/or, what were the reasons for other teams to pass on that prospect. The positive response to “Why Undrafted” and questions from readers about why prospects were drafted lower than the media expectations led us to create the parallel series “Why the Slide?”
Both series are back this year. Feel free to email me requests for Why the Slide? and Why Undrafted? at [email protected]. I can’t promise to get to all of them, but I will do my best and definitely will respond to the email.
Over the past three seasons, Vernone McKinley III was one of the most dangerous ballhawking safeties in college football. Across his last two full seasons of play, McKinley totaled 10 interceptions and also had another pick in the COVID-19-shortened Pac-12 season. That history of production caused some analysts to project him as one of the top five safeties for the 2022 NFL Draft, but McKinley slipped all the way to the undrafted ranks.
Team sources say McKinley slid thanks to being very undersized. He is sub-6-foot and under 200 pounds, which is very small for a pro safety. Tackling concerns with running backs at the second and third level along with big receivers and tight ends weighed McKinley down significantly. Some teams had him as a candidate as a late-round pick, but he ended up slipping all the way through the 2022 NFL Draft and end up a free agent.
After going undrafted, McKinley signed with the Miami Dolphins, and that was a mixed landing spot. On the negative side, they have recent second-day draft picks invested in their starting tandem of the future with former Oregon teammate Jevon Holland and 2020 third-round pick Brandon Jones. On the positive side, the Dolphins need some depth behind them, where they only have veteran Eric Rowe as an established player as a backup. McKinley could immediately compete to be the fourth or fifth safety. Showing the ability to be a core special teams player will be vital for McKinley to stick on Miami’s roster. McKinley has a good opportunity to make the roster or practice squad in with the Dolphins.
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