4 mid-round sleepers Buccaneers need to target in 2024 NFL Draft
By Brad Smith
Kamren Kinchens, SS/ Miami
Even with the excellent play of All-Pro free safety Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay still allowed 4,342 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns against 64 passes defended and 13 interceptions, all bottom-ten marks. Coupled with the offseason trade of Carlton Davis II to Detroit, and the Buccaneers are stretched thin in the secondary.
Fortunately, this year's draft has one of the deepest cornerback and safety classes in recent memory, with several quality prospects projected to be available toward the end of the third round. Among those prospects is Kinchens, a do-it-all safety that thrived as the Hurricanes' star strong safety.
Don't put the ball in the air around Kamren Kinchens 🤏🔒@PFF_College | @CanesFootball https://t.co/SKvDeiolNE pic.twitter.com/mhDYFJwsiZ
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) April 18, 2024
After playing sparingly as a backup in his freshman season, Kinchens shined in his first season as a starter, compiling 59 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, six passes defended, and six interceptions as a Sophomore.
As a Junior, Kinchens showed notable improvement from 2022 to 2023, finishing last season with 59 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, five passes defended, and five interceptions in ten starts. To top it all of, Kinchens became the first player in Miami school history to lead the ACC in interceptions for two straight seasons.
Similar to Winfield Jr., Kinchens is a phenomenal safety at blitzing the QB, as he accelerates off the snap with little strain and can cover large areas of ground exploding downhill. Coupled with a strong tackling technique and ability to recover on play-action fakes, and Kinchens is an ideal player to use for all-out or delayed blitzes.
Alongside Winfield Jr., Kinchens would form one of the best safety tandems in the league and upgrade the Buccaneers' pass defense significantly.
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