NFL.Com Draft Expert ranks Kamren Kinchens among Top 5 safeties

Miami safety Kamren Kinchens remains high on many 2024 NFL Draft boards, despite a disappointing showing at the Combine in Indianapolis in early March. Kinchens somewhat atoned for those numbers at Miami Pro Day on Monday. After running a 4.65 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Kinchens ran a 4.56 40 on Monday.

Bucky Brooks of NFL.com ranks Kinchens as his fourth-best safety prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft. Kinchens' potential is based more on his high football IQ than on the numbers he produced at the NFL Combine. Kinchens has been the focus of a great deal of discussion this week among NFL Draft prospects.

Pro Football Focus named Miami defensive tackle Leonard Taylor, guard Javion Cohen and Kinchens among their "2024 NFL Draft: Top prospects who underperformed in 2023." Kinchens was the only Miami player projected by PFF to be selected in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft earlier this week.

Kinchens finished his Miami career adding to the Hurricanes' legacy at safety. After being named a 2022 first-team All-American, Kinchens earned his name up in the rafters of the Soffer Indoor Practice Facility. Kinchens leaves Miami tied for eighth all-time with 11 interceptions.

"The Miami standout forces opposing quarterbacks to think twice before attacking down the field... Kitchens (Sic) is a big-play eraser in the back end as a natural center fielder with sticky hands and range that belies his disappointing 40-yard dash at the combine (4.65 seconds). The Miami standout forces opposing quarterbacks to think twice before attacking down the field. "

- Bucky Brooks, NFL.Com

KInchens' grades from PFF went down in 2023 from 2022. Despite missing three games, Kinchens still finished third on Miami with 59 tackles, added 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, led the team with five interceptions, tied for the team high with five passes defended and added a fumble recovery.

Whichever team drafts Kinchens should have an NFL ready player. Kinchens started the final 27 games of his Miami career after earning a starting position for the last five games of his freshman year. In addition to being an All-American in 2022, Kinchens was first-team All-ACC in 2022 and 2023.

Kinchens is currently projected as the 69th overall prospect on the NFL Mock Draft Database big board. Expect Kinchens to continue being a polarizing prospect over the next month. The team drafts Kinchens will value his college production over the numbers he ran at the Combine and on Pro Day.