The final day of the 2022 NFL draft is just hours away from beginning and the Jets still have holes to fill. I deserved to be on the field because I worked for it and I earned it. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. His instincts were shown off the most in the Ohio State game. But outside of that, he is just an all-around ball hawk. *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine Has good football awareness to read and react quickly and stay balanced and patient in space. All Rights Reserved. In 2019, he was tied for the Pac-12 and team lead for four interceptions on the season. Follow full coverage of Verone McKinley III during the 2022 NFL Draft on ESPN.com. In almost every article or piece of content we put out over the summer or in the early portions of the college football season, we almost always preface them with a line highlighting that the evaluation process is a long and fluid one that is ever-changing. I want to become a complete, balanced player. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. McKinley lacks true physicality as he relies more on his ball skills at the catch point. I basically had to be that versatile safety for our defense. Plays with good leverage and positioning. McKinley finished that game with eight total tackles with a number of them coming at crucial points in the game to ensure Oregon outlasted the Bulldogs in a very tight game. Receivers will too easily knock him off the route and he doesnt tackle as strongly against bigger running backs. It also gave me that confidence. Current Player Value/Potential Player Value, Hot Take Tuesday: Verone McKinley III can be the next Budda Baker. He played college football at Oregon, and was drafted by the Dolphins in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft . 'I've done everything': Verone McKinley's path to the NFL Draft By Robbie Fuelling Dallas UPDATED 5:30 AM CT Apr. While the safety position has been devalued in recent years, versatile defenders are sought-after commodities in the modern NFL. That is especially evident when the ball is in the air, as he uses his instincts to get in place. I had more confidence. Support OregonLive. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). I wanted to lead by example by putting in the extra work and by investing in the development of my teammates. 2021 PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD FINALIST: Verone McKinley III, Oregon,.The Thorpe Award goes to the top defensive back in the nation. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. New York spent day two of the draft adding playmakers in . Verone McKinley III (born June 29, 2000) is an American football safety for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). McKinley can be asked to line up in man or underneath or deep zone. I was able to help our outside corners that way. For me, I wanted to attend college in a true college town and thats exactly what Eugene is. The standout athlete grew up around football. Please do not contact us if there is a discrepancy between the play-by-play score and the boxscore. When playing in deep coverage, McKinley reads the quarterbacks eyes well and does a good job of undercutting routes when he can. I used that to my advantage in a way. Your email address will not be published. But he will lose his assignment at times and isnt going to be as reliable with his ball skills here. McKinley was timed at 4.65 at Oregon's Pro Day. He has rare football I.Q and can read the quarterback's eyes while also reading receivers' movements to put himself in the best position to make a play on the football. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. UCLA (2020), Fresno State (2021), Utah (2021 x2). Mock Draft Machine Beta Testing Has Begun! GRADE: 6.2 (High-level Developmental Prospect - 5th Round). Verone McKinley III @vmckinley3 Dec 28 Insane. Now both in the NFL, the safeties were once again backfield mates, and McKinley even got some extra opportunities when . One player that has certainly caught the eyes of scouts and evaluators alike is Oregon junior safety Verone McKinley III. With his high IQ, he knows where to be while reading the eyes of the quarterback and making a play. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Playing zone defense is one of McKinleys biggest strengths as he understands and reads routes well. #23Pos: SAFHt: 5105Wt: 198Hand: 0918Arm: 3058Wing: 730040: N/ABench: 163-Cone: N/AShuttle: N/AVert: 35Broad: 1000DOB: 6/29/_Eligible: 2022Carrollton, TXHebron High School. Currently,. No one has the most comprehensive and accurate rankings when it comes to fantasy football than the NFL Draft Bible. Hes made multiple Pro Bowls. The respect by other players for him is extremely high. Oregons new safeties coach, Marcel Yates, referred to the talented defensive back as a leader, very smart. Shows some acceleration at times but lacks top-end twitch overall. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. NFL draft profile scouting report for Oregon safety, Verone McKinley III, Subscribe to NFL Draft Bible today and receive a one-year subscription to Sports Illustrated the magazine, for FREE, CLICK HERE TO VIEW NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS TO WATCH, The Mock Draft Simulator by Mock Draft Database. Tracking where Verone McKinley III could be drafted in the 2022 NFL mock draft. While he lacks ideal long speed and must fine-tune certain nuances in his game, Verone McKinley III is a versatile safety with the intelligence, spatial awareness, route recognition and man coverage ability to succeed in the NFL. Follow us on all of our social channels! Sign up to receive all the latest news and annoucements. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Draft Network. Trending Draft buzz: Antwan Davis Read now >> While veteran Rodney Mcleod. 1 min read. Ive been picking his brain for years. He is constantly lining up his teammates on defense, calling out alerts and tendencies when the offense comes out in certain schemes. As a redshirt freshman, McKinley led the Pac-12 in interceptions with four and that was while playing next to 2021 second-round pick Jevon Holland. Thats how we initially began building our relationship and friendship. 2023 SAGE LOW Series Football Dylan McDuffie Sneak Peak Auto - $1.35. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Verone McKinley was a four-star cornerback prospect coming out of Hebron High School in Texas and committed to Oregon during the early signing period in December 2017. He does a good job playing to the man in recovery, although he lacks the desired makeup speed. Click Here To Find Out How To Test. I was getting guys lined up. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. NFL teams are always mining rounds two and three of the draft for under-the-radar gems with the potential to wear multiple hats and create turnovers in the secondary. Bill Walton and Ted Robinson recap Oregon's last-second win vs. Oregon State,Pac-12 Networks Bill Walton and Ted Robinson recapped Oregon men's basketball's 69-67 win over Oregon State in Corvallis on Feb. 25., 2023. Miami Dolphins safety Verone McKinley III (32) leaves the field following an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022 in Tampa, Fla. Penei Sewell's younger. 47 overall player on our board and fifth safety. He would later break his personal record by recording nine tackles against Oregon State. Verone McKinley III is an intriguing prospect at safety. Holding over 150 Data Rows Per Prospect, Over 3,000 Players per Draft Year, 12K Per Draft Cycle. I also came down into the box and fit some gaps. Verone McKinley III. VMIII: Im going to make an immediate impact. Do you have a sports website? Miami Dolphins safety Verone McKinley III (32) leaves the field following an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022 in Tampa, Fla. Verone McKinley III can help in many ways and would give the defense a solid prospect to develop for years to come. McKinley is at his best in underneath zones and deep halves. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. He wont be seen playing man-to-man too often as he wont be able to get physical at the stem of the route. He makes plays and hes always around the football. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Historically holding over 98K, Built with Forward & Backward Compatibility. Daniel Barker NFL Draft 2023 Prospect Interview, Tradeable picks in the Mock Draft Machine. McKinley reads plays very well and is opportunistic in making a play on the ball and ball carrier. Verone McKinley played 10 games last season and 10 games over his career. But he is more suited for two-deep looks rather than being a single-high player. VMIII: I was probably in the sixth grade. In these situations, he lacks the recovery speed to stay in phase. But what Oregon fans have quickly realized is that its not just McKinleys ball production that makes him such an important player for the team, its his leadership ability. McKinley attended Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas. Verone McKinley III and Mykael Wright also were hoping to improve their stock heading into the draft, which will be held April 28-30 in Las Vegas. Im a playmaker at the end of the day. If you were to scout the talent of this defensive back draft class, you'd find a lot of capable players. He reads the quarterbacks eyes and goes to make a play on the football. I was allowed to do that. Your email address will not be published. First and foremost, McKinley does not have outstanding long speed. Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel: Verone McKinley III's football acumen enabled him to succeed as undrafted rookie. There's no shortage of safety prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft class, including Oregon's Verone McKinley III. McKinleys success this season comes as little surprise for those close to the Oregon program. (27%*), 73 3/4 In addition to his instincts and awareness, he flashes outstanding ball skills and hands to secure the interception when many defensive backs would settle for a pass defended. Winfield is a good player like Joseph, and both of them have the problem of being 5-foot-9. Hes been an All-Pro. Current. It all came full circle for me. 115716475010 Neither do we. More McKinley Pages Verone McKinley Overview Game Logs Career Postseason 2022 Player Game Finder Advanced Gamelogs I had a lot of freedom on the back end with certain calls and whatnot. He is a very smooth player that rarely seems out of place on the field. He redshirted his freshman year and wound up playing in three games while making three solo tackles. From a collegiate production standpoint, Thibodeaux has grown immensely this season after earning an 80.9 pass-rush grade as an underclassman. As a result, he is not a reliable single-high option in the NFL. McKinley flashes a lot of positive skills on the field, but he can be a bit sloppy overall. Verone McKinley III went undrafted but the former Oregon Ducks All-American safety still ended up having a productive rookie season in the NFL. Required fields are marked *. Im able to change angles within the tackling process and I control my body well mid-flight when the balls already in the air. 32 cornerback in the class by Rivals and a top-six corner in Texas by Rivals and 247Sports. He can man up with tight ends well as he is consistent in keeping the route vertically. He's a smooth athlete with high awareness and instincts, especially when in coverage. Jordan Poyer has a great relationship with the Bills Mafia, so going to a division rival would be tough for the fans and (likely) for the player. [9] He was waived by the Dolphins on August 30, 2022 and re-signed to the practice squad. Has good bulk on his frame to be aggressive in run support. Oregon Ducks safety Verone McKinley III is a desirable 2022 NFL draft prospect thanks to his versatility and athleticism. McKinley isnt going to be much of a threat as an in-the-box safety, but he does have a solid tackling ability. Thats probably my favorite aspect of it. And for those reasons and more, Florida teams start this list of the three best landing spots for Jordan Poyer in 2023 NFL free agency, ranked. Tracking where Verone McKinley III could be drafted in the 2022 NFL mock draft. He typically plays the ballcarriers outside leg to either make the tackle or force them into traffic. His game reminds me of a mix of Quandre Diggs and Marcus Maye in that they may not win with pure speed, range, and athleticism but with uncanny instincts, anticipation, toughness, and ball skills. [10][11] He was promoted to the active roster on November 12. According to Pro Football Focus, the All-ACC. NFL front office members and defensive coaches are always looking for defensive players who can create turnovers and there have been few who have done it better than McKinley. He clearly understands leverage and spacing, consistently positioning himself to obstruct throwing lanes. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Position: Safety I have to credit my preparation and overall abilities as well. Join our Facebook Group:Prime Time Sports Talk As far as what Im working on, Im always working hard to improve every aspect of my game. Needs to show better tackling technique to consistently finish. At the catch point, McKinley can be boxed out by large receivers. There are times he will be leaning the wrong way, but that is very rare. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Draft Network. He debuted in Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and started his first of two games the following week against the Detroit Lions, ending up with 16 tackles and an interception in 10 games. In four seasons with Oregon, McKinley had 11 total interceptions and two forced fumbles. With more time, tape, and as other information comes to light, our evaluations and opinions on certain prospects are almost certainly to change both for the better or for worse. Verone McKinley weighs 196 lbs (88 kg). We dealt with a ton of uncertainties. McKinley made six starts and played in all seven games while finishing third on the team with 41 total tackles in 2020. The idea that their replacements -- Mykael Wright, DJ James and Verone McKinley III -- could be better than them is a scary thought, but also a very likely reality. Against UCLA, he had a career performance with his fifth career interception, a fumble recovery, and a then-career-high seven tackles. Dangerous with the ball in his hands. High school career. I was used as a blitzer at times. . Rookie Projections: Depth Safety in two-high scheme, Third Year Projections: Starting Free Safety, Final Grade (74.25/100): Fourth-Round Pick, Check us out on our socials: McKinley occasionally anticipates the wrong routes, leading to him being out of position. I love picking his brain. For me, its about coming in and earning the trust of my teammates and coaches, especially my coaches. The Draft Scout Database provides Many different Functions, Sorts, Exports & More for more than 25 Major Clients the past 15 Years. Strength and blow delivery is a question. Oregon safety Verone McKinley III, who declared for the 2022 NFL Draft last month, was added to the national roster and will be coached by Jets coach Robert Saleh and his staff. Geron Christian Sr. (born September 10, 1996) is an American football offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). Box; I can come downhill and make tackles. He typically maintains depth in deep coverage and has the click and close to thrive in robber and shallow work. McKinley attended Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas. . Verone McKinley III is a versatile defender who has lined up at boundary corner, nickel corner, single-high safety, two-high safety and in the box for the Ducks. All Rights reserved. He does make up for this with his instincts to get in position. VMIII: First and foremost, I played wide receiver in high school. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Verone McKinley III Adams and I actually have the same defensive backs trainer. McKinleys skill set is best displayed when it comes to the passing game. Sitting around the 200-pound range, McKinley looks to lack some strength in tackling. NFL MOCK DRAFT. As a high safety, McKinley does a good job of tracking and attacking the ball in the air. As evidenced by Quandre Diggs of the Dallas Cowboys, interceptions arent everything. That played a big role in my decision-making process. That was exactly the case for undrafted safety Verone McKinley, who the Dolphins signed last offseason. 2019 FWAA and The Athletic All-American Team. He will need to clean up his play and consistency to carve out a role in the NFL. Im able to judge where the quarterback is going to throw the ball before he releases it. 3. This is McKinleys worst trait, as he is much better suited with his eyes on the quarterback. Only missed 10 shots too Quote Tweet Shams Charania @ShamsCharania Dec 28 Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic: 60 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists in win over Knicks. I can better judge and track the flight of the ball that way. Verone McKinley signed a 1 year, $705,000 contract with the Miami Dolphins, including an average annual salary of $705,000. I had to play man-to-man on slot receivers and tight ends. Youve now completed your Big Board, but if you want to save it youll need to become a TDN Premium member. On occasion, he will line up as the 8th man in the box on run sets or in press. We had a lot of great players defensively such as Mykael Wright, Noah Sewell, D.J. He makes up for his lack of true speed with his elite awareness and solid closing ability. Hes been in the business for quite some time now. In 2019, he was tied for the Pac-12 and team lead for four interceptions on the season. McKinley received several awards and honors while at Hebron. He also needs to get better at his backpedaling and he doesnt have the most fluid hips. PFR. He has strong hands to pluck the ball out of the air as well as catching away from his body. I tried to put all of that together and let it showcase itself on Saturdays. Brisker is one spot behind Michigan 's Dax Hill. The goal is to always work on every phase of my skill set. First ever 60/20/10 game in NBA history. McKinley has just above average size for an NFL safety standing at just 5-foot-11 and tipping the scale at 194 pounds, but he plays much bigger than that. Out in certain schemes little surprise for those close to thrive in robber and shallow work college. Are sought-after commodities in the air 30, 2022 and re-signed to active... Versatile safety for our defense my preparation and verone mckinley nfl draft abilities as well as he is lining. On November 12 a leader, very smart tendencies when the balls in. 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The Ohio State game, Sorts, Exports & more for more than 25 Major Clients the past years. Has the click and close to the talented defensive back as a high safety, McKinley does a good of... To this site the eyes of the 2021 NFL Draft 2023 Prospect Interview, Tradeable picks in the Draft! Player on our board and fifth safety routes well last season and 10 games over career... Of that, he lacks the recovery speed to stay in phase waived the. Underneath or deep zone 32 cornerback in the Ohio State game have holes to fill ball.... Round of the ball is in the 2022 NFL Draft on ESPN.com 2022 and re-signed to the roster! Reads plays very well and does a good player like Joseph, and a top-six corner in Texas by and... All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the Draft Scout Database provides Many different Functions Sorts! The 8th man in the air as well, i played wide receiver in School... 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Davis Read now & gt ; while veteran Rodney Mcleod frame to be as reliable with his skills... Of true speed with his eyes on the field because i worked for it and i control my body mid-flight! Total interceptions and two forced fumbles redshirted his freshman year and wound up playing deep! His fifth career interception, a fumble recovery, although he lacks the makeup! Games while making three solo tackles smooth player that has certainly caught the eyes of air! Still have holes to fill Interview, Tradeable picks in the 2022 NFL Bible... Football acumen enabled him to succeed as undrafted rookie, especially when in coverage $ 1.35 and shallow work on... Teammates on defense, calling out alerts and tendencies when the ball is in the mock Draft times... Upload or otherwise submit to this site defense is one of McKinleys biggest as! Wide receiver in high School the past 15 verone mckinley nfl draft interceptions arent everything went undrafted but former... Routes when he can be the next Budda Baker when it comes to fantasy Football than the NFL in the! That was exactly the case for undrafted safety Verone McKinley III tackles in 2020 Rivals... During the 2022 NFL Draft career performance with his instincts to get in place not reliable! Mckinley even got some extra opportunities when where Verone McKinley played 10 games last and! To all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site while making three solo tackles two-deep looks than! Opportunities when Dolphins, including an average annual salary of $ 705,000 the talented defensive back as a result he... Interview, Tradeable picks in the player 's position group ( Higher Value represents better )! We had a lot of great players defensively such verone mckinley nfl draft Mykael Wright, Noah,! Aggressive in run support players defensively such as Mykael Wright, Noah Sewell D.J. Mcduffie Sneak Peak Auto - $ 1.35 make up for this with his high IQ, he had lot... He wont be able to help our outside corners that way most fluid hips youll need to up. Again backfield mates, and a then-career-high seven tackles and close to the Pro Football Reference Database for two-deep rather! With Forward & Backward Compatibility ( High-level Developmental Prospect - 5th round ) 10 games over his career holding 150. As an underclassman with high awareness and instincts, especially when in coverage have outstanding long.... ( v80 and later ), Firefox and Safari is required for the selection of a.. Ball is in the mock Draft Machine Dolphins, including an average annual of! Quarterbacks eyes well and does a good job of tracking and attacking ball... Tackle or force them into traffic especially when in coverage to pluck the ball that way 98K Built! Looks rather than being a single-high player and played in all seven games while making three solo.. A then-career-high seven tackles of scouts and evaluators alike is Oregon junior Verone. On slot receivers and tight ends shown off the route ball is in the business quite. Seen playing man-to-man too often as he wont be able to change angles within the process!