With The First Pick
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2020 NFL Draft: Thanksgiving Prospect Superlatives

By Jeremiah Bogan

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 12: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners wears the Golden Hat trophy after defeating the Texas Longhorns 34-27 during the 2019 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 12, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 12: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners wears the Golden Hat trophy after defeating the Texas Longhorns 34-27 during the 2019 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 12, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Box Score Stuffing:

15

Xavier  McKinney S

Alabama Crimson Tide Football
Alabama Crimson Tide Football /

Scouting Report

Whether it’s stuffing your face, stuffing a turkey, or just plain old eating stuffing. Thanksgiving leaves you stuffed like a Xavier McKinney box score. He plays numerous roles in the Alabama secondary that allows him to make plays all over the field.

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McKinney has flown up draft boards this season with his ability to be used as the nickel, an occasional one-high safety, and even a blitzer off the edge in critical downs. His stat sheet this year is stuffed with a little something in every category for scouts to drool over.

So far this season, McKinney has 77 tackles, 4.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, two sacks, four quarterback hits, three interceptions, four passes broken up, three forced fumbles, one touchdown, and even added a blocked kick just for our viewing pleasure. McKinney has become the ultimate playmaker due to very good football intelligence which allows him to play multiple roles in the Crimson Tide defense.

His aggressive nature to trust what he sees and close immediately leads to him consistently being around the football. He is a very good open field tackler who consistently wraps on tackles to limit yards after contact and yards after the catch. An underrated part of his game is how strong he is, McKinney consistently stops the momentum of ball carriers on his tackles to hinder them from falling forward for extra yards.

Only solid range as a middle of the field safety, you won’t ideally want him playing a ton of snaps there in single-high looks. Xavier McKinney’s elite trait will be his versatility as he is slowly closing the gap on being the best safety prospect in the class.

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