Could Winston wind up being one of the steals of the draft?
Penn State safety Kevin Winston Jr. is going to have a very interesting draft process.
He missed most of the 2024 season with a partially torn ACL suffered back in the second week of the season. His recovery will obviously have a huge influence on his draft stock, but losing almost all of the season also forces scouts to go back to his 2023 tape.
How all that impacts his draft stock is anyone’s guess.
At his best, Winston is one of the best safeties in the country, but how NFL teams don’t like questions. Could his draft stock take enough of a hit that he could be a good value pick for the New York Giants?
The Giants might find themselves in need of another long-term answer at safety, but whether Winston’s value aligns with one of their picks remains to be seen.
Prospect: Kevin Winston Jr. (2)
Games Watched: vs. West Virginia (2023), vs. Ohio State (2023), vs. Michigan (2023), vs. Rutgers (2023)
Red Flags: Partially torn ACL (2024)
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-1 (estimated)
Weight: 208 pounds (estimated)
Strengths
Best traits
- Size
- Range
- Versatility
- Competitive toughness
- Football IQ
Winston Jr. is a versatile safety prospect who could fill a variety of roles at the NFL level.
He has a good build for the position, listed at 6-foot-1, 208 pounds, with long arms, and solid all-around athleticism. Winston has good-enough feet and hips to run with tight ends and running backs in coverage, as well as the speed to cover significant ground at the second and third level. Penn State used him all over their secondary, from deep center field or half-field coverage zones, to the slot and tackle box. He was also frequently used in coverage rotations at the snap, usually rotating from a deep half to the slot or even boundary corner position.
Winston shows plenty of evidence of high football IQ throughout his game. He’s an active communicator before the snap and clearly understands his role in coverage schemes. He works to maintain the integrity of the scheme and doesn’t freelance, as well as picking up and passing off receivers as they pass through his zone.
He’s a physical defensive back who’s willing in run support. He generally takes smart – if aggressive – angles to the ball. Winston is a willing hitter, and doesn’t shy away from taking on blockers.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Instincts
- Elite athletic traits
The biggest question for Winston will be his health. Teams will want to make sure that his long-term prognosis is good, that he will regain his athleticism, and won’t have an outsized risk of reinjury.
Beyond that, teams will want to investigate the slight hesitation he shows at the start of plays.
Winston appears to be the kind of player who needs to see the play develop before launching in motion. He plays hard and fast once he commits, but often needs to see where the ball is going before he commits to a course of action. That does keep him from biting too hard on misdirection as he isn’t relying on instincts or guessing, but it could slow his play speed at the NFL level.
Winston appears to lack truly elite athletic traits for the position, with good-but-not-great quickness, agility, and long speed. Swift mental processing would help his play speed keep up with the speed of the NFL.
Game Tape
(Winston Jr. is the Penn State safety wearing No. 21)
Projection
Winston Jr. projects as a starting safety at the NFL level
He might need to spend a year as a rotational third safety as he gets used to the speed of the NFL. However, if he can minimize his hesitation before committing, he should be a good starter who can play in a variety of schemes at the pro level.
Winston might never be a truly instinctive player, or an elite athlete at the position. However, he makes up for that by being a “safe” player who isn’t going to take himself out of position. Likewise, his football IQ helps to maintain the integrity of the defense and communicate with his teammates. He’ll need to make sure his play speed can keep up with the speed of the pro game, but if it does, he should be a valuable piece for most defenses.
Teams will obviously have to do their due diligence on his medicals during the pre-draft process. Assuming that checks out, he shouldn’t have to wait long to hear his name called on drat weekend.
Does he fit the Giants?
Potentially, though the value may not warrant the pick
Final Word: A day 2 value
