Draft Profile: Kevin Winston, Jr.
Safety, Penn State
6’2, 215 lbs.
Projected: Second-Third Round
There were two main positions of need for the Steelers at the start of free agency. The first being wide receiver- which for now seems to be rectified by the trade for DK Metcalf. The other is defensive line, which Mike Tomlin and co. have spent an awful lot of time on scouting. The smart approach is to always take a wide look at all positions though. Every year there is a prospect that falls farther than expected.
At first glance, the safety position isn’t one that you would consider a need. Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott are the current starters, and the Steelers just signed Juan Thornhill to a one-year deal. At closer inspection though, is this really the case? The Steelers secondary isn’t the turnover machine it once was. Minkah and Elliott combined for just 2 total interceptions- 1 apiece- in 2024. The run defense was atrocious this past season as well. Yes, the defensive line gets most of that criticism but who is backing them up?
Kevin Winston, Jr. is one of my favorite prospects this year. I am much higher on him than a lot of draft analysts, but I think 5 years down the road he could end up being one of the better safeties in the NFL. He is an excellent run defender and a sure tackler. He is exciting to watch and has a very high ceiling. Would the Steelers pull the trigger if he falls?
Strengths:
At 6’2 and 215 ls., Kevin Winston, Jr. is an ideal size for a safety. He is an elite tackler who attacks and sheds blocks to get after the ball carrier. Winson is an enforcer on the field and likes to hit- hard. He also has the discipline to wrap up and not just throw his shoulder. Winston plays downhill and closes quickly so he is excellent in run support. Critics downplay his coverage ability, but I feel that his coverage skills are underrated. Winston was elected Team Captain at Penn State- which as we know Mike Tomlin loves in a prospect.
Weaknesses:
Winston needs to improve his footwork and can be a little tight hipped at times. He has limited production and doesn’t always play the ball in the air. Due to an early season knee injury, Winston also has limited experience as a starter and his medicals will need to check out. The injury also kept him out of performing at the Combine. He can be over-aggressive and will need to improve his discipline. Winston makes some tackles too high and will need to be wary of his pad levels against large NFL running backs.
How he fits:
Kevin Winston, Jr. would be a fantastic strong safety compliment to Minkah Fitzpatrick. His skillset enables him to cover tight ends and he’s a perfect “in the box” type safety. This would allow Minkah to play more of a natural free safety, center field type role and hopefully rack up some more INT’s. Winston would help improve the run game as well. He is flying under the radar due to his experience but could eventually turn into a very high-level player. His experience as a team captain would bring some much-needed leadership to the locker room as well.
Player Comp:
Finding an exact player comp for Kevin Winston Jr. was difficult. I see some John Lynch combined with some Brian Dawkins in him. Winston can be a downhill thumper like Lynch was but has more athleticism. Some of his intangibles and energy in which he plays the game reminds me a little of Dawkins. While he may not hit as hard as Lynch did, and Dawkins was larger than life and an all-time great I think there are similar parts from each of their games.
Conclusion:
As I mentioned previously, I don’t know that the Steelers are looking at drafting a safety as high as Winston Jr. may go. He is a very exciting strong safety prospect, and I am very excited to see how his NFL career unfolds. Am I too enamored with the limited amount of tape that he has? Could the knee injury be something that lingers? Maybe. However, if Kevin Winston Jr. turns out to be the player that I think he can be, just remember you heard it first from Steel City Blitz.
