5 Takeaways from Mel Kiper, Jr.'s Pre-Combine Conference Call

[Viktor]

Draft season is heating up, which means it is Mel Kiper, Jr.'s time to shine.


The ESPN draft analyst held a conference call with national reporters Wednesday morning, during which he touched on a variety of topics relating to the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine and the 2020 NFL Draft.


Kiper had the Vikings taking a local kid with the 25th overall pick in his most-recent mock draft, as he projected Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. would stay in-state. Winfield, Jr. is the son of former Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield.


Vikings.com was on the call with Kiper and asked the longtime draft expert to give his thoughts on why he projected Winfield, Jr. to Minnesota late in the first round.


"His father was a great player at Ohio State and then in the NFL," Kiper said. "This kid has that 'it factor' and feel for the game, the instincts of game … that's Antoine Winfield, Jr. I have him going to Minnesota … he plays like a first-rounder, put it that way."


Winfield, Jr. was a unanimous All-American in 2019, as he was also an All-Big Ten First-Team selection. The defensive back additionally earned the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year award and was one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.


Kiper said he came away impressed by watching tape of Winfield, Jr.'s senior season with the Golden Gophers in which he tied a single-season record with seven interceptions.


"Well, first of all, he's a great tackler. He led them in tackles, he gets sacks … they put him almost in a linebacker role, but he can play the centerfield role," Kiper said. "I loved, on tape, the versatility. He has the seven interceptions, and I believe he returned one of them for a touchdown.


"He had three or four games with at least 10 tackles … he was dominant in that Penn State game with a couple picks and 10-plus tackles," Kiper added. "He saved the Fresno State game in overtime when he showed great range and hands coming through with that interception in the end zone. He had nine career interceptions."


Kiper did note that he has some reservations about the defensive back's health, as Winfield, Jr. played in just eight combined games his sophomore and junior seasons due to injuries.


"He had the injuries, though, and that's the issue. He has two separate injuries — the hamstring in 2017 and the foot injury in 2018," Kiper said. "So 2016, he's healthy and does a great job … and 2019, does a great job. Two years of great play and two years of injury is the reason why there's some hesitancy about moving him up too far."


Antoine Winfield started 115 games and had 21 career interceptions in nine seasons with the Vikings from 2004-2012.


Here are four other takeaways from Kiper's conference call: