Kamren Kinchens NFL Draft Prospect Profile and Scouting Report
Miami Safety Kamren Kinchens - 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report
By Jack Gerak
Name: Kamren Kinchens
School: University of Miami
Year: Junior
Position: Safety
Measurables: 5’11”, 205 lbs.
Stats:
Courtesy of Sports-Reference.com
General Info:
A three-star safety out of Miami Northwestern Senior High, Kamren Kinchens will soon join Amari Cooper, Teddy Bridgewater, and Lavonte David as the next Northwestern Bull to enter the NFL. Unlike these other athletes, Kamren turned down scholarship offers from high-profile schools to stay home and play for the Miami Hurricanes, where he made an immediate impact.
He played in all 12 of Miami’s games as a true freshman, including a starting role in the final five. Kinchens broke out as a star in his sophomore year with a six-interception season that earned him first-team All-American honors. He followed this up with a stellar senior season where he was named first-team All-ACC. Off the field, Kinchens has earned a reputation as a hard-worker who values his academics and dedicates time to serving his community. After declaring for the NFL Draft following his junior season, he is expected to be a Day 2 selection this April.
Positional Skills:
Strengths
Kinchens’ athleticism is ideal for the safety position. He mostly played center field for the Miami Hurricanes and was excellent at locking down both sides of the field in doing so. This athleticism makes him a dangerous blitzer as well, even when not lined up in the box, as can be seen in his 2023 sack of UNC quarterback Drake Maye.
Kamren plays with a high level of intensity regardless of whether or not the play is schemed his way. This high-motor play style allows him to play clean up when other defenders lose their matchups, a desirable trait in a center fielder.
His frame is advantageous for the position as well. Though it is not his primary alignment, Kinchens is able to line up in the box and play the run effectively. Regardless of his alignment, he is a powerful hitter that does not fear contact.
Weaknesses
Kinchens is a decisive player, which fits his explosive play style, but this causes him to bite on fakes at times and leaves him out of position. This is a dangerous tendency for the last line of defense in a unit.
Though he is an effective clean up tackler due to his motor and willingness to hit, he struggles with his angles of pursuit. Too often, he takes an aggressive angle to the ball that gives the ball carrier a lane. He will need to work on this to excel at the next level.
Kamren struggles at times playing two-high and is easy to confuse with long-developing routes. This may become a bigger issue for him as a professional with the advanced route trees in the NFL.
Fit with the Packers:
The Packers are due for another upheaval at the safety position. They ranked among the worst units in 2018 and made aggressive moves that offseason through free agency and the draft to acquire Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage. This, among other changes, brought the Packers defense from the 22nd ranked unit in 2018 to the 9th overall unit in 2019. This needs to happen again if the Packers want to take the next step as a team.
Along with any personnel changes the Packers may make to their defense, the group will now be led by Jeff Hafley instead of Joe Barry. In 2023, Joe Barry’s defense played two-high shell 75 percent of the time (third in the NFL). Packer fans hope that Hafley will bring this number down and pack the box more often. If this is the case, the Packers will need a true center fielder to be able to cover both sides of the field when an extra safety is brought into the box. Enter Kamren Kinchens.
Another change Packer fans hope Hafley will bring to the defense is added aggression, particularly through the blitz. This would make Kinchens a dangerous weapon regardless of his alignment. The Packers’ personnel needs will shift with their new defensive coordinator’s scheme, and Kamren Kinchens seems to fit the bill.
VIDEO:
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Comments (66)
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 09:44 am
Best free safety in this draft.
LambeauPlain
February 26, 2024 at 09:56 am
That was an enjoyable "highlight" video. (Never see the "lowlight" videos:-)
Can Kinchens handle the heat at the post safety? He has some evident skills that say he may fit. But does apparently have some issues with reads, angles and, while a fearless tackler, doesn't get the finish at times.
However, Hafley says his pass defenders, especially the post S, will be taught on "vision and break" which should alleviate some of Kinchen's issues of getting faked out on long developing routes. In Green Bay he would be reading the QB more, not the receivers' routes.
LLCHESTY
February 26, 2024 at 10:17 am
I like watching a full game or two of players I like or who I think will fit on the Packers but I've noticed it's harder to find than it has been in the past. People used to put up all the offensive or defensive snaps of games of the Power 5 teams up on YouTube but I was looking for some on USC recently and didn't see any. I wonder if the conference networks are blocking them or something. Highlights are nice but you can learn a lot more watching a whole game or two.
TKWorldWide
February 26, 2024 at 11:26 am
All business, all the time.
(Not to be confused with the song “Business Time” by Flight of the Conchords.)
TKWorldWide
February 26, 2024 at 10:19 am
As of right now, I’d rank post safety as the most glaring need. That does not mean GB should take a safety at 25, but I do hope they get one in round 2 or 3.
Cheezehead72
February 26, 2024 at 10:27 am
It is possible that the Packers could draft him in the second round.
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 11:29 am
He will be gone before #41.
Cheezehead72
February 26, 2024 at 11:52 am
That's why I said it is possible. It is hard to determine where they will go after the combine but before is almost impossible. If that is the case the Packers could trade down in the first and get him in the early second. Right now I am not sure if I want them to spend the first on him.
golfpacker1
February 26, 2024 at 02:01 pm
You are right both ways Cheeze. A trade back is a distinct possibility this year. #25 is no mans land. Maybe no one drops we want and some team wants to throw the farm at us for a player they really want.
And I doubt Kinchens goes before #41. But that's the pick if we want him or Nubin. I will admit his ball skills are impressive. He could be the perfect fit for Hafley.
If we miss in the 2nd on a Safety. all of the top 5 are probably gone before #88. We need to take one @ #41.
TKWorldWide
February 27, 2024 at 07:08 am
It all depends on how the board falls. And THAT depends on other teams’ evaluations. I, myself, am hoping for the 5 or 6 top QB prospects to be selected as early as possible, thus pushing players GB has their eye on to fall to them.
(Williams, Maye, Daniels, Penix, Nix, and McCarthy)
Turophile
February 26, 2024 at 12:57 pm
jannesbjornson
"He will be gone before #41."
I'd say that is 50/50. In the mocks we do, sometimes he is there, sometimes not.
Also I wouldn't call him a definite man at the top of the safety class. Nubin might go before him.
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 01:29 pm
I made the claim, he is the top Free Safety. Nubin, I have watched in person vs Badger and he is the perfect Strong Safety with instinctive play and doesn't seem afraid to tackle. I like Big Ten guys, in general, especially the Illinois crew from 2020-2022. The scouts know their Game. It is already on the Film. Kinchens a 4.4 guy, Nubin around 4.7 in the forty.
golfpacker1
February 26, 2024 at 02:08 pm
Kinchens flies to the ball and his hands are like WR plus. Nubin would be great too. He looked plenty fast against my Hawkeyes last year, but he did make a couple of stupid, over aggressive plays that almost cost Minnesota the game. By the way, that was dubbed the "Bullshit Cooper DeJean and Iowa Get Screwed On A Punt Return TD Gets Called Back Game."
If Nubin runs high 4.5s or low 4.6, he will be fine. The after the season training they do cuts time off their 40s.
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 06:18 pm
Time them in pads.
LLCHESTY
February 26, 2024 at 03:08 pm
Most boards have him going in the 2nd round. PFF just dropped him from 54 to 80 on their big board. If Nubin tests well he'll definitely go before Kinchens.
GregC
February 26, 2024 at 11:49 am
Thanks, it's always helpful to have some idea where a player might be drafted. I hate when the articles don't say anything about that. This article also failed to mention anything at all about his speed. He sounds intriguing, though. The weaknesses that are listed here all sound like they could be addressed through coaching.
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 12:43 pm
He will be a 4.4 guy. . First Team All-American Football (2022,2023). Instinctive and aggressive.
splitpea1
February 26, 2024 at 10:55 am
I've seen him ranked in the overall prospect ratings anywhere between 29 and 60, with the latter being a far outlier; most have him listed as an early second rounder. Knowing how much we need a free safety and knowing Gute's fondness for elite athletes, Kinchens could certainly be on the Packers' radar.
WD
February 26, 2024 at 12:14 pm
I have seen him at 18. If he or, Cooper De Jean are there at 25 they would be good picks. The better they do on the combine or pro day the higher they would go. I agree that safety is a top priority but you do not want to overreach on any player. Drafting the best available does make sense most of the time. But, there are no absolutes.
golfpacker1
February 26, 2024 at 02:12 pm
I have watched a lot of 2024 mocks and there is almost never a Safety picked first round. One is all I have seen and he was mocked to us. #25 is too early. I really think our best 2024 draft will start with O-line.
I would sure take him @ #41 though. He would not have dropped any of the 49er game pics.
stockholder
February 26, 2024 at 11:04 am
Sorry - I'm out. Don't want him.
It's the size that is wrong. We've had Dix and Savage.
But we haven't had Derwin James. You know-
(The guy that is 6'2" 215 pounder and can tackle)
I want a guy that is old school. I'll take Nubin first.
TKWorldWide
February 26, 2024 at 11:28 am
I get it! But Ed Reed wasn’t too shabby and was 5-11, 200 IIRC.
LLCHESTY
February 26, 2024 at 12:12 pm
Kinchens is about the same size as Earl Thomas was. I think we all could live with an Earl Thomas.
Not sure why you'd want a hybrid sized safety 15 yards off the LOS but it's Stockholder so🤷
stockholder
February 26, 2024 at 12:33 pm
For the same reason Gutey passed on Brian Branch.
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 01:00 pm
Branch is the same size as Kinchens, but he plays slot S/CB. Kirby Joseph is the free safety. So Branch is another Savage type guy and Detroit plays him correctly, as a CB.
TKWorldWide
February 26, 2024 at 08:42 pm
Did Gutey ever explain why he passed on Branch?
LeotisHarris
February 26, 2024 at 09:35 pm
I don't know, but if he hadn't passed and Branch sent an agent in to negotiate his contract and it was *Lombardi* in the big chair, Branch would have been traded to Philadelphia before you (or anyone for that matter) could have said "Bob's your uncle." Huh? Right?
In fairness to Gutey, quite frankly, the Packers are always looking to get better at every position and sometimes that means stirring and churning the bottom of the roster, and sometimes it means passing and sitting tight. Yet, there are other times when it means moving up or moving down. I guess what I'm saying is it's not an exact science, but, quite frankly, there will always be "whys' that remain unknown and "why nots" that will forever be unspoken, pretty much. It's almost always never easy to remember not to forget that, you know?
Bitternotsour
February 26, 2024 at 11:12 pm
deep.
TKWorldWide
February 27, 2024 at 07:13 am
I was at the doctor recently and had to update my health history information. One of the questions was “Have you ever suffered from memory loss?”, so I wrote “How would I know?”
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 11:56 am
Derwin James is a SS/Small LB and he's been injured. They need a true centerfielder. I watched the Miami secondary the past three years. They are sound, just like the Illinois crew was outstanding. They can look at Oladapo later on as a SS. The pressure will come from the front four. The LBs have to manage the short zones with the CBs closing the perimeter. Kinchens can blitz off the slot. Dix was the end product of a sensational defensive front with top end LBs. Another reason to keep SEC guys away from the secondary. The 'Bama guys were trained by Saban, so they know fundamentals. I do not wish to return to my draft day rant when he moved up for Savage , who was a Slot CB for Maryland's defense which was a swarm/amoeba scheme that could handle Ohio State's WRs somewhat, but were blown off the field trying to stop a running game. No comparison to Kinchens.
stockholder
February 26, 2024 at 12:25 pm
Yes- James was injured.
He's now the FS.
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 01:41 pm
Does he still have 4.47 speed, or do they play him deep as the tackler of last resort? Eight INTs in six years says Strong Safety vs. free. In any case San Diego has a new HC and Harbaugh brought his guy along with him. Jaire was drafted right behind him, so was Gutey targeting the CB, or Derwin James ? Either way, both solid All-Pros.
The Barry clone, Staley probably didn't help his career arc.
golfpacker1
February 26, 2024 at 02:18 pm
Savage was a mistake. Our Safety pick that year should have been Juan Thornhill. The Chiefs screwed us twice getting Creed and Thornhill after we passed.
Everything I have read about Hafley screams DB improvement, especially tackling. Kinchens could be a decent WR with his hand skills.
Oladapo looks like a great pick, Mustapha too.
TKWorldWide
February 26, 2024 at 08:44 pm
I fully endorse any and all great draft picks.
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 12:16 pm
Mach13. Kinchens gone at #26, Nubin at # 33.
#34 Morgan LT
#41 T.Sweat DT
#58 Cole Bishop S
#68 Caelen Carson CB
#88 Jonah Ellis Edge/LB
#93 D.Puni OG
#104 Jalen Ford LB
#168 Mustapha S
#204 M.Liufau LB
#216 Blake Watson RB
#243 Nelson Caesar Edge
#248 Cody Schrader RB
#251 Easton Gibbs LB.
Move on Kendall Fuller as the free agent CB. Get a Journeyman O lineman. Maybe they keep Runyan.
stockholder
February 26, 2024 at 12:22 pm
25 Nubin. - S Minn
41 Ed Cooper- LB - Texas A& M
58 Callen Bullock. - FS USC
88 Kylee Jackson -CB/DB Ore
91 Christian Jones RT. Texas
126. Cedric Soloman Edge Troy
166. Mason McCormick OL SD st
203. Nathaniel Watson ILB Miss SU
215. Denatre Prince. CB. Ole Mis
242. Jackson Sirmon. ILB. CA
250. Jase McClellan. RB Albama
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 01:17 pm
I think McClellan will be a good Pro, same for Guerendo, the ex-Badger. Rds6-7, or the UDFA priorities. Bullock cannot tackle. Oregon corners usually can play the position. He has the size. I like Carson, from Wake Forest, better. He has the smarts to go along with his coverage skills. 4.5-4.8 guy who will come up and stone the RB.
stockholder
February 26, 2024 at 01:41 pm
Bullock isn't going to be savage. He's faster.
He will get the Ints. and can't be worst than savage.
I was only concerned if his body held up.
Pff has dropped your guys. CBS hasn't.
I still have to see some 40 times per positioning.
The Texas Rt is climbing. Think who he went against.
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 01:53 pm
Never viewed PFF in my lifetime. PFN and Tony Pauline with a dose of the CBS crew once in a while. If you spend a day watching College Football when October turns, you can SEE the best Players. They will be highlighted by the television coverage crew. The Combine is for T.V. dollars now. They just look for Injuries.
stockholder
February 26, 2024 at 05:28 pm
You can't watch every college team.
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 06:28 pm
ACC 11:00 AM Central through the PAC-12 ending around Midnight. Keep the remote control moving and avoiding commercials. Very few of the draft chat people have even played football. Joel Buchsbaum typically out-performed the so-called experts from the Personnel Departments on an annual basis until his death. It ain't rocket science...Gil Brandt was the man, RIP.
CJBauckham
February 26, 2024 at 03:02 pm
Body type is a concern of mine, too. You pined for a Derwin James; Bullock is a Kevin King
golfpacker1
February 26, 2024 at 08:39 pm
Wow Stock, what happened to the monstrous need of O-line? This is exactly what will happen if we shove lesser needs to the top over the real needs. Then we miss out on the best players @ PON. This draft sets up really good if we take O-line or CB @ #25, because whichever we don't pick will be available @ #58.
Nubin is overdrafted @ #25. He falls perfectly @ #41. In this draft we miss out on the whole damn RB class. Not good.
golfpacker1
February 26, 2024 at 02:26 pm
We can't miss on a good RB this year. I would have taken one @ #104. Watson has skills but he is a 3rd down back in the NFL. Cody Schrader is a tough nut to crack. I don't think you can discount 1600 yards rushing in the SEC. He looks quick and can catch. Sleeper. Or how about Isaac Guerendo-Louisville instead of Watson? Power and speed. 220 lbs and runs 4.3s.
Sorry jannes, but you can't sell me on Sweat. He was the 2nd best DT on their team. Hicks would have been a good pick there @ #41.
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 06:33 pm
The second best guy won the Outland Trophy. He will have the same 40 time as Murphy who will be consumed by the Bigs the offenses like inside. He knocked the Washington O line on their asses backwards. This is a guy to jam the run on every down and crash on the passing downs to free the others. They already have the three techs, Clark etc. How did they fair against the run in crunch time? Back to Basics.
golfpacker1
February 26, 2024 at 08:41 pm
Just like Stockholders draft above, sliding lesser needs ahead of the real needs blows up the draft for GB.
jannesbjornson
February 27, 2024 at 10:16 am
Needs: 1. Stop the Run.
2. Protect Love
3. Get a free safety, or two.
4. The #2 LB.
BuckyBadger
February 26, 2024 at 12:10 pm
Everyone likes to blitz a lot until the blitz doesn't get home and you have WRs running free on the backside of your defense. With the resources they have put in at edge they need to find a defense that allows those top draft picks to generate pressure. If you blitz a lot you will get picked apart vs the best QBs. Will get you past the bad ones but you will make toast out of your DBs when you face a Mahomes.
GregC
February 26, 2024 at 12:21 pm
I'm reminded of the Packers' last game against the Vikings. Flores called a lot of blitzes as usual, and Jordan Love absolutely torched them. Receivers were running uncovered on several occasions.
LLCHESTY
February 26, 2024 at 03:19 pm
He was doing it because of a serious lack of talent in the backend though. It's different when your outside guys can hold up for a click longer.
jannesbjornson
February 26, 2024 at 12:29 pm
Spags dialed them up vs. Josh Allen and Purdy. He was not burned. Play design and execution with Players who have the fire.
LeotisHarris
February 26, 2024 at 09:42 pm
Truth. Can't recall if it was seven or nine Chefs who came clean with Purdy in their sites. Perfectly times and executed blitzes.
T7Steve
February 26, 2024 at 01:13 pm
What I like on the replays is that he actually tackled correctly (for the most part) with his head in front of the ball carrier. He just didn't try to hit him, he tackled him. Make the runner go through you to get up field. Also gives a better chance of getting a hat on the ball (as seen in some of his plays). It seems if the guys don't have tackling skills coming in, the NFL bargaining agreement doesn't give them the chance to learn it.
golfpacker1
February 26, 2024 at 02:30 pm
I liked how well he tracks the ball and just plucks it out of the air. Impressive highlights. I haven't seen Nubin's highlights yet, but he had a lot of INTs too.
TKWorldWide
February 26, 2024 at 08:48 pm
Totally agree on the tackling things!
LLCHESTY
February 26, 2024 at 03:32 pm
I love Kinchens instincts and range but Bullock is starting to really grow on me. We'll see this week but I have a feeling Bullock is going to blow up the testing. It could come down to whether Hafley thinks he can clean up his tackling but some of that was due to DC craziness.
https://twitter.com/JacobMorley/status/1750546028888051917?t=m_-uJ8qO15d...
golfpacker1
February 27, 2024 at 09:28 am
I have like Bullock for quite awhile. He needs to put on 20lbs as he is super skinny for 6'3.
He had impressive highlights against Washington when he ran down Dillon Johnson twice from behind. And Johnson runs 4.5. Bullock is as fast as advertised and had WR ball skills.
I also like Jaden Hicks-Wash State. He is just as big but tackles better.
I would hate to miss out on Kinchen or Nubin and I am afraid that's what will happen if we don't pick one of them @ #41. Bullock & Hicks would be decent fallback options. The biggest obstacle to getting Bullock or Hicks is that both of our 3rd rounders are late in the round, and that spells trouble for us getting a Top 5 Safety if we don't move on one @#41.
If some other position group such as Dline gets selected in the first 2 rounds, we could whiff completely on the Top 10 Safeties this draft.
golfpacker1
February 26, 2024 at 08:47 pm
Just read an article on Acme Packing about lesser priced options @ FA safety for GB. I was encouraged to see Jeremy Chinn is projected to get a $3million prove contract. I would take 3 years @ $3 million each. Really good tackler that has been playing out of position the last 2 years. For that kind of money he would even be a huge backup upgrade.
Jordan Whitehead is projected @ 2 years $6 million per year. Also very affordable.
LeotisHarris
February 26, 2024 at 09:54 pm
Never underestimate the power of alliteration.
TKWorldWide
February 27, 2024 at 07:20 am
Yes! If anything, I overestimate it!
But its mere mention makes it mighty moot to me and mine!
LeotisHarris
February 27, 2024 at 08:36 am
Someone had a good breakfast today!
I'm going to use your response to the memory loss question. Just for fun, I like to twitch and yelp "WHY DO YOU ASK?" when they ask me if I feel safe at home.
TKWorldWide
February 27, 2024 at 08:48 am
Heh heh, yes! Same page, as usual!
WD
February 27, 2024 at 06:40 am
Kitchens I believe would be a reach at 25; but a steal at 41. That is the dilemma. One way to solve the problem would be to seriously consider a free agent Safety. That would allow the Packers more firepower in the draft to address other serious needs e.g CB, O-line, LB.
TKWorldWide
February 27, 2024 at 07:24 am
Do they have the $ for a top FA safety? Or, they could trade from 25 to like 35 and pick up a pick later. That later pick could be a running back or IOL prospect; two positions that seem to have a higher success rate than other ones in the mid to late rounds.
golfpacker1
February 27, 2024 at 09:40 am
With the biggest needs GB has this year, the 2024 draft is super strong in rounds 2 & 3. So we are in a great spot to sit still @ #25 if a player at the top of our board falls, I hope its Suamataia.
Or if we trade back and end up with extra 2nd and 3rd rounders, we will score that way too. Plenty of choices with starter potential @ O-line, CB, Safety, and RB.
An extra premium pick lets us double up @ O-line or Safety, and grab a LB. Cooper will be gone by the early 3rd, but Colson, Wilson, and Gray should still be around.
2 good later LBs are Trevin Wallace and Tyrice Knight.
TKWorldWide
February 27, 2024 at 10:14 am
All adds up to a very intriguing 3 days!