Kamren Kinchens NFL Draft Overview
Position: Safety
Height: 5′-11″
Weight: 203 pounds
School: Miami
2024 NFL Draft: Kamren Kinchens Scouting Report
After spending the past three seasons at Miami, safety Kamren Kinchens has decided to forego his remaining eligibility and declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. The free safety is coming off yet another remarkable season, recording five interceptions and five passes defended in 10 games.
Kamren Kitchens originally debuted for the Hurricanes as a true freshman back in 2021. While he began the year as a backup, he quickly earned a full-time role in the back half of the season. In total, he finished his inaugural campaign with 44 tackles and four passes defended.
Kitchens built on this promising debut and became the full-time starter entering the 2022 season. The defensive back justified this confidence by recording six interceptions, six passes defended, and 59 tackles.
Strengths
- Elite anticipation – knows how to diagnose a play and break as early as possible;
- Was a starter as a true freshman – shouldn’t need long to adjust to NFL life;
- Plays contested passes like a wide receiver – impressive ball skills led to 11 interceptions since 2022;
- Doesn’t shy away from contact;
- How potential to be a key contributor on special teams.
Weaknesses
- Slow – 18th percentile 40-yard dash time is terrible news for a free safety;
- Below-average athlete across the board – he’ll need to use his instincts to compensate for his subpar physical gifts;
- Nothing special in the run games – a willing tackler, but misses too many thanks to his smaller frame;
- Limited to just free safety in the NFL – shouldn’t handle multiple roles;
- Takes poor angles to pursue the ball carrier.
NFL Comparison: Duron Harmon
Teams With Need At Position: Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions
Projection: Round 3
Bottom Line on Kamren Kinchens
Kamren Kinchens enters the 2024 NFL Draft as a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect. The Miami product’s best trait is easily his ability to play over the top and take away the deep passing game. Blessed with incredible instincts, Kinchens can diagnose plays and break early on downfield passes. Once the ball is in the air, he uses his receiver-like ability to track the ball and either break up the pass or record an interception. In today’s pass-heavy NFL, having a player capable of taking away the deep part of the field is an invaluable resource.
Kinchens earned a starting job in the back half of his true freshman season, and he did it without elite physical traits. This implies that his football IQ is off the charts, and he’ll need every last brain cell to compensate for his pedestrian athleticism. Kinchens was born to play free safety, but he doesn’t have the speed to break up outside passes by reaction alone – he needs to break as the quarterback is throwing the ball. Additionally, he lacks the size to survive in the box, so there isn’t much positional versatility here.
Ultimately, Kamren Kitchens will be a good player if selected by the right team in the NFL Draft. When utilized properly, the free safety can cripple an opposing offense and limit them to underneath routes. However, if used out of position, he could become a liability.
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