2020 NFL Draft: 5 biggest surprises from first round on Day 1
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Xavier McKinney Dropping into Day 2
In every NFL Draft, there are players who many think are bona fide Round 1 picks. Yet for whatever the reasons, they slip into Round 2.
Xavier McKinney is a perfect example, and it was quite the shock to see him not being called at any point between pick Nos. 1 and 32 on day one.
McKinney was widely viewed as the top safety prospect in this year’s NFL Draft class. Not only was he a tremendous safety for the Crimson Tide last year, but he’s also a versatile defensive back capable of playing a number of positions within the secondary.
It’s hard to imagine teams passing up on that kind of flexibility.
Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons was the first safety taken, although he’s more of a hybrid linebacker, which is fine. But McKinney was the next best pure safety. Instead, there were other moves aimed at addressing cornerback, pushing McKinney into Round 2.
Granted, this will make some safety-needing team very happy when day two of the draft kicks off. While that team won’t have the benefit of a fifth-year option for a first-round NFL Draft choice, the maximizing value here makes the inevitable McKinney selection an absolute steal.