The Dallas Cowboys have been linked to Alabama safety Xavier McKinney over much of the draft process. Over the last month and a half, other names have bumped him out of the limelight as ideas of other defensive players bubbled up, or thoughts the team could augment their wideout corps with one of the draft’s elite names.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. has steadfastly refused to budge off of the connection though, and on the day of the draft, his final mock remains consistent, sending the Crimson Tide’s secondary star to the Lone Star state.
17. Dallas Cowboys
Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
The Cowboys’ secondary has been depleted this offseason, and McKinney is the best pure safety in this draft. If one of the top wide receivers falls to No. 17, could Dallas pass?
Here, Kiper has Dallas passing on wideout Henry Ruggs III, also of Alabama, and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw of South Carolina.
This offseason, Dallas nabbed former Mike McCarthy first-round pick Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on a one-year deal to be the quarterback of Mike Nolan’s defense. He’s expected to line up next to Xavier Woods, who’s started the last two years for Dallas at free safety, with both players sharing centerfield duties.
McKinney has experience playing everywhere in Alabama’s secondary, including the box and the slot, and sometimes out wide. He landed as the No. 20 overall prospect on our Cowboys-specific Big Board and the top safety in the class, barely edging out LSU’s Grant Delpit and Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield, Jr.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler calls McKinney the best safety prospect as well.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Alabama, McKinney played free safety in Nick Saban’s 3-4 base scheme, lining up two-high, single-high and dropping into the box in nickel/dime situations. He had a wide array of responsibilities in the secondary and created 10 turnover-worthy plays (five interceptions, five forced fumbles) the last two years. McKinney is explosive downhill and a reliable open-field tackler, finding his center and dropping ball carriers.
He does a nice job in coverage vs. backs and tight ends with solid ball skills, although he doesn’t always play to his athletic profile when matched up with receivers. Overall, McKinney is an instinctive, full-speed ahead defender with the functional range and diagnose skills to put himself in position to make plays, projecting as an interchangeable safety who should start from Day 1.
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Film vs LSU (2019)
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