Minkah Fitzpatrick. Eddie Jackson. Landon Collins. Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix. The NFL is overrun with safeties from Alabama, and Xavier McKinney is about to make it one more when he gets drafted on Thursday night. The junior Safety who left Alabama early for the NFL Draft is considered by most talent evaluators to be a top-5 player in this year’s draft. McKinney likely won’t get drafted that high, most safeties don’t, but he will definitely be the first safety taken off the board and most likely a top-20 pick.
McKinney dominated the collegiate level thanks, in large part, to his ability to play in the slot, the free safety position, and in the box. He has a great combination of athleticism and field awareness which help him to be able to play all over the field. The great thing about having a player as versatile as McKinney is that he can play in all different sets which is a major boost for any team’s defense. Much like Isaiah Simmons, he will be highly coveted by many different teams because of his uniquely versatile traits.
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 201lbs
Arms: 30 7/8″
Hands: 8 5/8″
40-Yard Time: 4.63 seconds (unofficial)
Bench Press: 19 reps
Vertical Jump: 36″
Potential Landing Spots: Cowboys, Dolphins, Jaguars