The 2025 NFL Draft is upon us, and so is your need to be prepared for all of tomorrow’s stars. Dive into our spotlight on Kevin Winston Jr., featuring his scouting report, strengths and weaknesses, his recent draft projection, and where all the experts predict he could land.
Kevin Winston Jr.’s NFL Draft Scouting Report
When it comes to raw upside, few safeties in the 2025 NFL Draft present more than Kevin Winston Jr. Winston played just three games in 2024 before missing the rest of the campaign with a season-ending injury, but when he was healthy in both 2023 and 2024, he was one of the best run support defenders in all of college football.
At around 6’2″, 215 pounds, with over 32″ arms, he has the size and range to overwhelm outside runs, and he tackles like an apex predator in space. Along with his obvious early-down appeal, Winston has upside in coverage. His brand of mobility lends well to quick transitions and explosive closing reps, but he’s still learning how to manage space, position himself between routes, and use his length at the catch point.
There’s projection involved with Winston, but he’s a borderline elite run wrangler who’s incredibly talented, sharp for his age, and still just 21 years old.
Kevin Winston Jr.’s NFL Draft Projection
In CSN’s 7-Round 2025 NFL Mock Draft from April 12, Winston landed in Round 3 with the 98th overall pick. James Fragoza had this to say:
After losing Jevon Holland to free agency, the Dolphins need reinforcements at safety — enter Kevin Winston Jr. Yes, he missed most of the 2024 season due to injury, but he has the size, traits, and intangibles to mold into a difference-making member of the secondary.
And in CSN’s recent 2025 NFL Mock Draft for Day 2, Bjorn Bergstrom had this to say about Winston’s selection to the Carolina Panthers in Round 3 with the 74th pick:
In need of a safety, Winston Jr. is a perfect match for what Carolina wants to do. An injury that cost him the majority of the 2024 season is the main culprit for the former Nittany Lions’ plummet in the draft, but make no mistake — Winston Jr. is extremely talented. He has a high ceiling as a third-round pick.
2025 NFL Draft Landing Spots for Kevin Winston Jr.
Here are other potential landing spots that have found their way in recent mock drafts:
- Carolina Panthers
- Miami Dolphins
- New Orleans Saints
- Seattle Seahawks
Kevin Winston Jr.’s NFL Draft Profile
- Height: 6014
- Weight: 215 pounds
- Position: Safety
- School: Penn State
- Arm: 3248
- Hand: 948
Note: Winston did not participate in the NFL Combine drills.
Kevin Winston Jr.’s College Stats
Career:
- Games: 28
- Solo Tackles: 53
- Assists: 37
- INTs: 1
- Yards: 0
- IntTD: 0
- PBU: 5
- FR: 2
- FF: 1
2024:
- Games: 3
- Solo Tackles: 8
- Assists: 5
- INTs: 0
- Yards: 0
- IntTD: 0
- PBU: 0
- FR: 0
- FF: 0
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