Alabama S Xavier McKinney
2019 stats: 13 games, 95 tackles (59 solo), 3.0 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three interceptions, one touchdown, five passes defended
Height / Weight: 6'0" / 201 lbs
Accolades: First-Team All-SEC (2019)
2020 NFL Draft prospect rankings: Daniel Jeremiah's Top 50 - #18
Giants current depth at S: Jabrill Peppers, Sean Chandler
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah: McKinney was an instinctive safety for the Tide and he also spent some time playing nickel linebacker. When aligned deep, he is fluid in his movement and he's quick to key/read and drive on the football. His range is excellent. While he can effectively locate the ball, he will occasionally lose a 50/50 battle down the field. He is a dependable wrap/drag tackler. He has a very good feel as a blitzer, displaying timing and burst. Overall, McKinney is an intelligent, versatile defender and he should be very effective in multiple roles.
View photos of former Alabama S Xavier McKinney.
Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Marvin Gentry)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Andre Nunez (7) is sacked by Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) and linebacker Dylan Moses (32) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) stands next to the MVP trophy for the defensive player of the game during the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Alabama defeated Oklahoma 45-34. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) fumbles the ball as he's hit by Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Xavier McKinney (15) of the Alabama Crimson Tide in action during the College Football Playoff Semifinal game at the Capital One Orange Bowl on December 29, 2018 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (Tom DiPace via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) is congratulated by teammates after returning an interception 30 yards for a touchdown during the second half of their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Oxford, Miss. Alabama won 62-7.(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) struts into the end zone after returning an interception 30-yards for a touchdown during the second half of their NCAA college football game against Mississippi, on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Oxford, Miss. Alabama won 62-7.(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) signals during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Miss, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama defensive backs Xavier McKinney (15) and Jared Mayden (21) hug after the team's 35-13 win over Tennessee in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama defensive backs Xavier McKinney (15) and Jared Mayden (21) drag down Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) attempts to throw to a receiver as he is sacked by Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) waves off a coverage during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) attempts to throw to a receiver as he is pressured by Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Marvin Gentry)
Clemson's Travis Etienne is stopped by Alabama's Xavier McKinney and Mack Wilson during the first half the NCAA college football playoff championship game, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Miss, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama's Xavier McKinney signals a paly during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) fumbles the ball as he's hit by Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
A detail view of Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney's New Era jersey during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AJ Mast via AP Images)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: Ascending safety prospect offering a combination of plus athleticism, field awareness and versatility. McKinney split time equally at slot, free safety and in the box and is accomplished in each. His coverage instincts, athleticism and quick-twitch burst are more cornerback than safety, which is why he's likely to be a coveted toy for teams looking to upgrade and diversify their sub-packages. He can sit in center field all day if needed, and he's an adequate open-field tackler but has room for improvement in that area. McKinney represents the new breed of versatile, matchup safety with high upside as an early starter.
ESPN's Mel Kiper: I have a new No. 1 safety in the 2020 class, and it's McKinney, who was on my preseason Big Board after he outplayed fourth-round pick Deionte Thompson over the second half of 2018. I dropped McKinney out of the top 25 early in the season, but after taking a closer look at his 2019 film, I had to move him back up. He is a gifted all-around safety who can cover the deep half of the field and also stick his nose in the backfield to get a tackle for loss. He finished the season with 95 tackles, three interceptions, three sacks and four forced fumbles. I'm interested in seeing McKinney work out at the combine: How fast will he run the 40-yard dash?
The 2020 Draft Profile series:
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