With The First Pick
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2020 NFL Draft: Xavier McKinney the jack of all trades ready to be king

By Jeremiah Bogan

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 19: Xavier McKinney #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide tackles Tim Jordan #9 of the Tennessee Volunteers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 19: Xavier McKinney #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide tackles Tim Jordan #9 of the Tennessee Volunteers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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TUSCALOOSA, AL – NOVEMBER 10: Xavier McKinney #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide knocks down a pass by Nick Fitzgerald #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL – NOVEMBER 10: Xavier McKinney #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide knocks down a pass by Nick Fitzgerald #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

McKinney’s Strengths

Standing at 6-1 and 200 pounds with a muscular cut slender athletic frame, Xavier McKinney has become the ultimate playmaker due to elite football intelligence which allows him to play multiple roles in the Crimson Tide defense. His mental processing is unbelievable and allows him to play a step ahead on every snap.

He has a very good understanding of how teams are trying to attack him and knows the weaknesses in his team’s coverage. He leverages routes very well as an underneath zone defender while providing really good coverage out of two-high looks and has good coverage abilities when going from hash to sideline as a half field safety. McKinney directs traffic in coverage, calling out crossers and getting guys set up according to motions and condensed formations.

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The Crimson Tide covers tight ends with ease displaying his ability to be a mismatch eraser at the next level which can be crucial in today’s matchup style defenses. McKinney has outstanding click and close ability as a player who aggressively triggers downhill because he trusts what his eyes are seeing develop in front of him.

He consistently plays low which allows him to have good burst out of his breaks while playing balanced and controlled. He has good ball skills that allow him to play through the receiver or track the ball in the air to catch interceptions. His ball skills even extend into his ability to create forced fumbles or dislodge the ball from receivers when meeting them at the same time the ball gets there.

His abilities as an in the box safety are elite due to being a very good blitzer off the edge who times up his blitzes to force instant pressure on QBs and causing them to step up in the pocket. An elite run support defender who diagnoses run and triggers downhill aggressively to fill alleys in a hurry, takes exceptional angles to the football.

McKinney is an astute block shedder who understands when he needs to take on a block and when he needs to slip them in order to maintain his gap integrity and not mess up other teammates’ run fit.  He does not lack as and open field tackler who runs through ballcarriers due to driving through his hips and shooting his arms to wrap up. The 2020 NFL Draft safety prospect tackles by way of knifing through the ballcarriers kneecaps or tackling up top and having the strength to stop ballcarriers dead in their tracks to stop their momentum and limit them from falling forward.

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