3 Potential Cleveland Browns safety targets in the 2022 NFL Draft
By Jacob Roach
Cleveland Browns safety target No. 2: Verone McKinley III, Oregon
Verone McKinley of Oregon is another center field type of safety that has really great ball skills. This past season for Oregon he finished with six interceptions, six passes defended, and one forced fumble.
He is the kind of player that seems to always be in the right place at the right time and makes a play of the ball. McKinley also has great closing speed and covers a ton of ground from his safety position.
If there is a downside, it has to be that McKinley is listed under 200-pounds and tends to have a tough time shedding blocks, but his speed helps him avoid those from time to time. McKinley is not afraid of contact and is willing to stick his head on the ball to break up passes. High football IQ and reaction speed, are two qualities that this Browns’ front office tends to like in players and McKinley has that to spare.
McKinley is a player that may go somewhere Day two or fall to Day three but would be really well suited to play the third safety role in Cleveland. Plainly put he finds the ball and he makes plays on the ball consistently.