New England Patriots Possible Target in the 2015 NFL Draft – Benadrick McKinney, ILB Mississippi State
 Benadrick McKinney is a strong, physical middle linebacker who is a down-hill run stuffer who may be of interest to a linebacker thin Patriots defense.(USA TODAY Images) |
As the 2015 NFL Draft draws closer we’ll profile some of the players that may be on the Patriots radar. Some of these players have already been linked to New England as possible targets others, we feel would be a great fit.
Check out our earlier 2015 NFL Draft profiles on PatsFans.com:
DE/OLB Nate Orchard from Utah
WR Tyrell Williams from Western Oregon
DT Jordan Phillips from Oklahoma
DT Carl Davis from Iowa
RB David Johnson from Northern Iowa
CB Steven Nelson from Oregon State
OLB Zack Hodges from Harvard
CB Ronald Darby from FSU
WR Devin Funchess from Michigan
OG A.J. Cann from South Carolina
RB Mike Davis from South Carolina
The Patriots need at linebacker remains an issue with the NFL Draft coming up on April 30. Jerod Mayo missed the final 10 games of 2013 and 2014 and Dont’a Hightower played down the stretch with a hurt shoulder that required surgery right after the Super Bowl. Other than Jamie Collins, the roster is full of players with potential but little NFL experience.
The team brought in LB Rolando McClain for a visit, but the free agent from Dallas decided to re-sign with the Cowboys for the same money the Patriots offered. It seems that he used the Patriots as leverage to get what he wanted from Dallas.
There are a few free agent possibilities out there including two former Patriots ILBs, Brandon Spikes and Dane Fletcher. Considering the way Spikes left town last year and some of his not-so-veiled jibes against Bill Belichick, I’d consider that remote. Fletcher performed well here and wouldn’t break the bank so that will bear watching.
They could use some help there considering Hightower may not be ready for the season opener and Mayo has to be considered a question mark now after two consecutive years of season ending injuries in Week 6.
Benadrick McKinney from Mississippi State is one of the top inside linebacker prospects in the country. He has some impressive stats leading a 10-win Bulldog team that for a while was the top team in the nation.
Big at 6’4, 247 with decent straight line speed, McKinney ran a 4.66 at the NFL Combine, "I think I'm a football player," McKinney said. "You've got to do those workouts to stay healthy and stay on top of your game, but I'm a better football player than a track star."
McKinney is at his best as a down-hill, two-down run thumper. He’s physical in taking on blocks and is aggressive in getting after ball carriers. He’s a solid wrap-up tackler and has decent lateral agility to get after runners with the acceleration to trip them up from behind. He’d be a good fit as a 4-3 MLB or a 3-4 ILB.
With his long arms and a nice burst, he’s able to blitz effectively from the A-gap and at the edges. Where McKinney is limited is in coverage. NFL scouts still view him as something of a two-down backer who will be limited in coverage because he lacks elite athleticism.
Pros:
- Aggressive down-hill player in run defense
- Physical taking on blocks, good wrap-up tackler
- Can blitz off the edge or the A-gap, versatile enough to be a MLB or 3-4 ILB
Cons:
- Lacks elite athleticism, likely a liability in coverage
- Range is lacking, will make most plays in the box
- Likely a two-down linebacker
Where Can the Patriots get him?:
McKinney is generally thought to be a first round talent and in that case the Patriots would most undoubtedly pass on him. But with some questions of his ability in coverage in the pass happy NFL, if he were to somehow fall to the 2nd round, he may become a much more desirable pick for the Patriots who have needs elsewhere.
With Hightower on the mend, he could be that thumper in the middle especially on early downs with Jamie Collins and Mayo on the outside in the Patriots base defense alignment.
If they choose to blitz him up the A-gap, his ability to get to the QB and his long arms will be present a good opportunity to disrupt the play or bat the ball down at the line.
McKinney would be a safe pick in terms of he should be a solid player for years to come, but will he be a star in the making? That remains to be seen.
With the Patriots current situation at ILB/MLB in terms of injuries and experience, McKinney, if he is around when the Patriots pick after the first round, may be an interesting choice for the defense.
Here are some of McKinney’s highlights from Miss. State:
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