Xavier McKinney called out ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Todd McShay on Tuesday during Sports Center, and it was epic.
The tape speaks for itself. https://t.co/EiGvnQn16L
— Xavier McKinney (@mckinney15__) April 7, 2020
Here is the conversation:
McKinney: “So, I’ve watched a lot of safeties in this year’s draft. And so for Mel, I just want to ask, how am I not the No. 1 safety in this year’s draft, based solely off of film? Nothing else, just film. And for Todd, I want you to please explain to Mel why I am the No. 1 safety in the draft, based solely off of film because film never lies. Ever.”
Kiper: “He’s the best pure safety. Antoine Winfield is a slot corner/safety with more versatility, ran 4.45. Xavier ran 4.63. But as a pure safety, Xavier McKinney is No. 1 on my board. But as a versatile guy who can do a lot of things and wear a lot of hats, it would be Antoine Winfield Jr. Both are going to go in that 20-25, 20-28 range.”
McShay: “I’ll tell you what, Mel. You were on Winfield earlier, and I admit it — I hadn’t watched the Minnesota tape, but my goodness, he’s good. That Penn State game, that first drive. The ability to get off of a block and then make the tackle and then turn run and go up and get the ball, I mean, he’s special. There’s no question. But he’s not McKinney. I mean, McKinney, to me, is the difference-maker in terms of the safety position this year.
“Now, Grant Delpit coming in from LSU, I thought was going to be a top-10, top-15 pick. But these other two players, Winfield — I agree with you — but also McKinney have outplayed, and I think they’re going to both be somewhere in that top 20. I think Delpit’s going to be a little bit later in the first if not early in the second round.”
Simply put, McKinney isn’t letting anyone undervalue his draft stock, and I admire him for that.
McKinney finished the 2019 season with 95 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions (one of which was returned 81 yards for a TD) 5 pass breakups and 5 QB hurries.
Most NFL Mock Draft have McKinney being drafted towards the end of the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft which will take place from April 23-25.
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