CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
XAVIER MCKINNEY
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-0
200 pounds
20-21 years old (date undisclosed)
BIG PICTURE
Xavier McKinney is a gifted All-SEC playmaker that packed the stat sheet for the Crimson Tide. Over the last two seasons, McKinney tabulated 169 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, six forced fumbles, five interceptions and two pick sixes. Able to cover, tackle and blitz, McKinney could easily go in the first round as a versatile defensive back in some team’s secondary.
COMBINE NOTABLES
4.63 40-yard dash (5th worst)
19 bench reps (8th)
36-inch vertical (T-7th)
122-inch broad jump (T-5th worst)
VIKINGS COMPATIBILITY RANKING
2 out of 5. The Vikings haven’t so much as sniffed a safety before Day 3 since they took Harrison Smith in the first round back in 2012, but this could be the year to do it if they trade Anthony Harris.
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Ascending safety prospect offering a combination of plus athleticism, field awareness and versatility. McKinney split time equally at slot, free safety and in the box and is accomplished in each. His coverage instincts, athleticism and quick-twitch burst are more cornerback than safety, which is why he’s likely to be a coveted toy for teams looking to upgrade and diversify their sub-packages. He can sit in center field all day if needed, and he’s an adequate open-field tackler but has room for improvement in that area. McKinney represents the new breed of versatile, matchup safety with high upside as an early starter.”
Kyle Crabbs, Draft Network: “Xavier McKinney can be a game changing defender for an NFL defense. With plus tackling skills in space, strong football IQ and a knack for hunting the football in all phases, McKinney projects as a difference maker and explosive play creator. McKinney’s versatility should keep him on the field at all times and he’s shown ability to thrive as a deep third or half safety, in the nickel, blitzing as a pressure player, keying the run and more. Do it all defender and plug/play starter.”
WHAT PFF SAYS
Only 2 first downs allowed coverage last two seasons
21 pressures in 71 pass-rush snaps since 2018
15 coverage stops (T-3rd)
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
