One of Miller’s bolder predictions is that the Las Vegas Raiders go two-for-two on drafting Crimson Tide products in the first round of t…
Bleacher Report’s lead NFL draft analyst Matt Miller released his most recent mock draft with just over two weeks until draft day, and he predicts five Alabama players to be selected in the first round.
One of Miller’s bolder predictions is that the Las Vegas Raiders go two-for-two on drafting Crimson Tide products in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Raiders hold two pick in the first round, picks No. 12 and No. 19.
They are no strangers to selecting Alabama alum in round No. 1, in the 2019 draft they selected former Alabama running back Josh Jacobs at No. 24 overall pick, making him the first running back taken off the board in the draft.
Miller predicts that the Raiders go all-in on creating a pipeline from Tuscaloosa to Las Vegas as they take former Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III at No. 12 overall and safety Xavier McKinney at No. 19 – both of these selections would make them the first player of the board for their respective positions.
The reasoning behind both of these selections is that the Raiders are in need of both a receiver and a safety, and through these picks they would be taking who they feel are the best at their given spots on the field.
The 2020 NFL Draft is quickly approaching and Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on all things Alabama alum in the draft!
The Seattle Seahawks seem fairly well set at safety, but that did not stop Draft Wire from mocking Alabama safety Xavier McKinney to them.
Mock draft season is in full effect, and while most of them have the Seattle Seahawks selecting a pass rusher – their biggest area of need – Luke Easterling of Draft Wire went a different direction, mocking Alabama safety Xavier McKinney to Seattle at No. 27 overall.
“Gone are the days of Earl Thomas roaming the Seattle secondary, but if the Seahawks want to try and recreate that kind of presence for the future, McKinney has all the mental and physical tools to make it happen,” Easterling wrote. “He’s athletic, physical and versatile, three things every NFL team wants in their back-end playmakers.”
While the Seahawks are set at safety at first glance, McKinney does possess elite versatility – able to play both safety spots and nickel corner, with some scouts seeing potential as an outside corner as well.
The versatility is no doubt appealing, and there is a lot of Seahawk-ey traits in McKinney, but the Seahawks have so many other more pressing needs than a rangey safety – especially after they added Quandre Diggs at last year’s trade deadline.
McKinney would be a nice addition, and could start right away at nickel, but it is hard to imagine Seattle using their first round pick on him with all of the other holes on the roster.
Jeff Okudah of Ohio State leads a deep draft class of defensive backs. Xavier McKinney, Antoine Winfield and Trevon Diggs aren’t far behind.
With the 2020 NFL Draft fast approaching, it is time to start finalizing draft boards. Not just for NFL teams, but for the team here at Touchdown Wire. Here is Touchdown Wire’s list of the top 25 defensive prospects in the 2020 draft class.
1. Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
If there’s one thing NFL teams need more than anything else on defense right now, it’s the prototypical lockdown cornerback who can take an opponent’s No. 1 receiver through any route in any coverage. Of the cornerbacks in this draft class, Okudah is the one who raises no questions regarding his ability to do so. After playing 70% of his snaps in man coverage in 2018, per Sports Info Solutions, Okudah dipped down to 54% man coverage last season, upped his zone percentage and still allowed just 21 catches on 54 targets for 280 yards, three interceptions, one touchdown, and an opponent passer rating of 46.8. There may be more physically talented players in this class, but outside of the top quarterbacks, none are more positionally important.
2. Isaiah Simmons, Defense, Clemson
(John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
In his 2019 season, per Pro Football Focus, Simmons played 299 snaps in the box, 262 snaps at slot cornerback, 132 snaps at free safety and 116 snaps at defensive line. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Simmons also played 13 snaps at outside corner, to make his versatility even more impressive. Asked at the scouting combing what his position was, Simmons simply responded, “Defense.” In the modern NFL, a player who can do everything from blitzing, to taking on the run game as a linebacker, to coverage as a slot defender and safety, is of prime value as defenses move to nickel and dime defenses as their base.
3. Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
(Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)
Young has often been compared to fellow Ohio State alums Joey and Nick Bosa, and from a traits perspective, those are pretty good matches. In 2019, Young put up 16.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits and 31 quarterback hurries. And if you’re concerned about his getting shut out in sacks through his last three college games, a cursory look at the tape will tell you that he still had a massive effect on opposing offenses.
Chase Young this week on the three-sack drought: "Being the best defensive end isn't about sacks, it's about being the most disruptive player on the field. You can do that without having a sack… I had a lot of quarterback hits, a lot of pressures."
At 6 feet 6 and 302 pounds, Kinlaw fits the physical profile of the ideal multi-gap defensive lineman who can get nasty everywhere from over the center to outside the offensive tackles. In 2019, he raised his sack total from four in 2018 to six in his final college season, adding seven quarterback hits and 28 quarterback hurries. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Kinlaw’s potential is that he’s turned himself into a wrecking machine without the benefit of advanced hand technique. Once he reaps the benefits of NFL-level coaching, he projects well as an All-Pro-level disruptor.
5. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
(John Reed-USA TODAY Sports)
Brown’s relatively weak combine performance might debit him in the eyes of those who haven’t studied his tape. Similarly, his total of 12.5 sacks over four seasons at Auburn could push him under other defenders in your mind if you’re just box-score scouting. But when you watch Brown do his thing on the field, the perspective is entirely different. At 6-5 and 326 pounds, Brown had 10 quarterback hits and 20 quarterback hurries in 2019, adding four batted passes and two forced fumbles to his statistical arsenal. Brown is an ideal three-down defender who can stop the run as well as he can blast through double teams.
6. Xavier McKinney, DB, Alabama
(Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)
Multi-positional defensive backs are all the rage in today’s NFL, and Nick Saban has been grooming them at Alabama for a while. Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Steelers was an early part of paradigm, and McKinney is ready to follow in Fitzpatrick’s footsteps. Last season, per Pro Football Focus, McKinney played 285 snaps in the box, 271 snaps at free safety and 227 snaps in the slot. The 6-1, 200-pound McKinney also played 38 snaps on the defensive line and five snaps at outside corner. Playing all those positions, he allowed an opponent passer rating of 73.6 and came away with three interceptions, as well as 21 total pressures in just 71 pass-rushing snaps. If you can’t get Isaiah Simmons in your 2020 draft because he goes too early, McKinney is more than an acceptable substitute.
7. Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
(Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)
In 2019, Queen established himself as one of the linchpins of the Tigers’ championship defense after lining up for just 255 total snaps in his first two collegiate seasons. The 6-foot, 229-pound first-year starter proved to be the model of the modern linebacker when he finally got his shot, playing 780 snaps in 2019 and showing the ability to excel everywhere from the box to the slot to the occasional go at outside cornerback. More impressively for Queen’s NFL future is his ability to face up against top running backs and make stops when stops are needed. Not every light linebacker can do that, and once Queen gets the hang of the intricacies of coverage (especially zone coverage), he could be one of the NFL’s best three-down linebackers.
8. Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
(Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports)
Winfield missed all but a total of eight games in his 2017 and 2018 seasons due to injuries, but he came back with a full head of steam in 2019, picking off seven passes and giving up just 11 catches on 22 targets and an opponent passer rating of 45.5. A healthy Winfield has all the athleticism and range you’d want in a deep-third safety, but what really makes him the best in this class at that particular designation is his ability to read offenses and coverages on the fly — as he detailed to me in a recent film session, he learned a lot from his father, who played cornerback for the Bills and Vikings from 1999 through 2012.
Let’s take a look at a 2020 defensive prospect who can do all of the above, Alabama’s Xavier McKinney.
The Panthers have made a couple of solid moves in the secondary this offseason, re-signing Tre Boston to a three-year deal and adding Juston Burris. However, the team also released strong safety Eric Reid and still clearly needs to improve their depth and versatility on the back end of the defense.
Let’s take a look at a promising 2020 NFL draft prospect who can help, Alabama’s Xavier McKinney.
Scouting Report:
McKinney measured in at six-foot, 201 pounds at the NFL combine. He turned in a 4.63 second 40-yard dash, 19 reps on the bench press, a 36 inch vertical and a 122 inch broad jump.
On the field, the things that stick out most about McKinney are his tremendous tackling ability, instincts and his motor. He uses his thick frame to punish and lay the lumber down on ball carriers. This past season, he posted 95 tackles and four forced fumbles. The fact that McKinney was able to put up those numbers lining up at safety is incredible and it speaks to how versatile he is. He can play single high, up in the box, nickel corner and even some off-ball linebacker. The other traits that help him make plays are his instincts and ability to read a QB’s eyes in zone coverage. McKinney is also solid in man coverage and has tremendous hip fluidity considering his build. Alabama often asked him to cover tight ends and slot receivers and he proved he was up to the challenge.
McKinney’s game does not have many weak spots. He is an extremely well-rounded player who presents a ton of versatility for any NFL defense. Because of his brilliant tackling ability and instincts in short/intermediate zone coverage, McKinney will make a Week 1 impact wherever he lands.
Highlights:
McKinney vs. LSU
McKinney vs. South Carolina
McKinney vs. Auburn
Fit with Panthers:
If the Panthers trade back to the mid-late first round to stockpile more picks, they should definitely be looking at McKinney. Trading down means that they are guaranteed to miss out on Clemson’s do-it-all linebacker Isaiah Simmons, but McKinney is another strong defensive prospect with tremendous versatility who should be available later.
McKinney would fit into Phil Snow’s defense as he can matchup and cover tight ends while lined up at safety or linebacker, play as a third safety in cover 3, or be used as an effective blitzer. This would be a very safe pick.
The Dolphins shouldn’t be afraid of drafting another Alabama safety
The Miami Dolphins have done well to address their holes on the defensive side of the football. But there is still another glaring need looming on the depth chart — the vacancy left behind by the trade of defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. Bobby McCain currently holds the free safety role down and 2019 UDFA Nik Needham is presumably the team’s nickel corner. But if Miami were to acquire a free safety or safety hybrid this offseason, that dynamic may change and the Dolphins secondary may look totally different.
There’s a viable candidate in this year’s NFL Draft, a player who is likely to be available when the Dolphins come on the clock with the second of their three 1st-round picks.
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney.
The suggestion of another Alabama safety may understandably cause some concern among Dolphins fans. After all, Fitzpatrick was widely regarded as an A+ character individual with a high football IQ and served as one of former Dolphins coach Nick Saban’s star pupils. Yet all of that versatility and high character couldn’t prevent Fitzpatrick from pouting and demanding a trade last September after a rough start to the 2019 season left the Dolphins staring down a dreadful season.
The rest is history, because Fitzpatrick was traded and Miami may poetically find themselves in a position to draft his replacement with the pick they acquired to earn him in the first place. Should Miami be worried about bad blood or a repeat offense? Not at all. Six months after Minkah Fitzpatrick demanded a trade out of Miami, the Dolphins saw OL Ted Karras take less money to play for the Dolphins than what he was being offered by his old team — the New England Patriots.
The times have changed. The Dolphins are no longer a barren wasteland of bad talent and miserable football. There’s tangible energy around this organization and McKinney would flourish under Flores with his skills. He’s a better tackler than Fitzpatrick. He’s not quite as dynamic in coverage, but he may be just as a smart. There’s enough here to warrant strong consideration if the stars align and he’s on the board when Miami is picking.
The Dolphins could make this pick, add more versatility on the back end and finalize a secondary that anyone would be proud to be apart of. Well, except for maybe Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Latest mock draft from Todd McShay sees Dolphins attack safety early
With us rolling into April and with all other sports currently put on the back burner on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL Draft is the only show in town — and we’ve got nearly the entire month of April ahead of us before it arrives. It can serve as a welcomed distraction for sports fans everywhere, including over the next three weeks as the speculation, rumor mills and insider leaks fly at a mile a minute.
The latest tease comes courtesy of ESPN’s Todd McShay, who released his 2020 Mock Draft 4.0 yesterday to the masses — and he has the Dolphins standing firm with the 5th overall selection to make their pick. As such, Miami was able to make a total of 5 selections for the Dolphins in the two-round exercise; we’re pretty certain that Miami fans will be fairly pleased with the haul afforded to the by McShay.
McShay stayed “on script” with Miami’s first pick to draft QB Tua Tagovailoa and with the team’s final 1st-round pick the team landed Houston OT Josh Jones. That middle pick at 18? Miami used it in this mock exercise to draft Alabama safety Xavier McKinney — a selection that would undoubtedly get some unfair pushback due to the unfortunate ending of Minkah Fitzpatrick’s time here with Miami. Fitzpatrick, of course, whined his way out of Miami last season after just two weeks; prompting the Dolphins to trade him to Pittsburgh where he thrived as a true single high free safety for the first half of the season.
By the end of the year, Fitzpatrick was complaining about his usage in Pittsburgh, too.
But Dolphins fans will surely remember the sour taste of Fitzpatrick’s departure and probably be skeptical about another Alabama safety. It’s understandable. But looking at the film, one thing is already clear — McKinney is more of the player Brian Flores and company wanted Fitzpatrick to be, anyway. There’s a bigger tackling presence. He thrived in the box against LSU this past season. Simply put, he checks the boxes to be Miami’s new Minkah.
So if that indeed materializes, be excited, Dolphins fans. It would give the Dolphins their flex safety back into the cards — but this time around the team has a pair of lockdown corners to go with him.
Vikings go with a skilled wideout and a talented safety in the first round of a Draft Wire mock draft.
After the Vikings reportedly traded Stefon Diggs, there is an opening at wide receiver alongside Adam Thielen.
Minnesota has also acknowledged to teams that safety Anthony Harris is a potential tag-and-trade candidate.
That means there could be two openings at wide receiver and safety. Our friends at Draft Wire thinks the Vikings should fill those openings in the first round.
Minnesota selected TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor with pick No. 22 of the Draft Wire mock draft. Here’s what Draft Wire said about the choice:
“In trading away Stefon Diggs, the Vikings lost a polished route-runner and explosive playmaker from their passing game. It only makes sense for them to use one of their first-round picks to fill that void with a similar player, and Reagor has the skill set to be the perfect fit.”
Minnesota selected Alabama safety Xavier McKinney with the 25th pick. Here’s what Draft Wire said:
“There are bigger needs on both sides of the ball for Minnesota, but the value just isn’t there at corner or offensive tackle. Instead, they opt for the best safety in this year’s class, grabbing a smart, athletic and punishing defender in McKinney. The Vikings would have one of the league’s most talented safety groups if this is the pick.”
Personally, I’d love for the Vikings to keep Harris and even if they don’t, the team could probably find value at safety a little later in the draft. But McKinney would still be a talented player, so he might be worth using a first-round pick on.
In Touchdown Wire’s mock draft 4.0, trades alter the strategy of several teams, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the heart of the action.
NFL mock drafts can take on a variety of forms. You can see a predictive mock draft, where the author assembles selections based on what he or she expects to see happen. You can see a what I would do mock, where the author makes selections based on what they would do with each pick.
Touchdown Wire’s 2020 Mock Draft 4.0 for blends the predictive with the suggestive. While the majority of positions for each team are predictive, there are some suggestive elements based on scheme fit and potential usages for each player upon arrival in the league.
So sit back, pour your #QuarantineLife drink of choice, and enjoy.
