The Washington Commanders believe Kain Medrano's athletic intangibles can be molded into a productive performer over time. That wasn't an opinion shared by a former head coach.
Medrano came highly recommended. He worked with linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. at UCLA. He tested well at the NFL Scouting Combine. Adam Peters also praised the player's work ethic and ongoing commitment to improving. That brings optimism, but the doubts are obvious upon further examination of his game tape.
Jay Gruden believes Commanders could switch Kain Medrano's position quickly
These were highlighted by Jay Gruden during a scathing assessment of Medrano. The ex-Washington coach claimed there was no chance Medrano could stand up against the run in the pros. He even went as far as to say the incoming draft pick has the scope to make a transition to the safety position when push comes to shove.
This guy is more of a sideline to sideline runner. He’s not a thumper at all. He’s only 220 pounds. If you are playing him against the run to stop Saquon Barkley between the tackles, get him out! If it’s 3&12 a passing situation, you can put him in there; he can cover a lot of ground. He could play some kickoff coverage. He’s not a very physical guy. He looks more like a safety to me. He gets overpowered in the run and is a drag down tackler.Jay Gruden
That's a little harsh in terms of criticism. However, Gruden might have a point regarding switching Medrano to the backend at some stage.
The Commanders let Jeremy Chinn walk in free agency, deciding that the money he got offered by the Las Vegas Raiders was too rich. Will Harris came into the fold, who's cheaper with similar physical attributes. Whether he'll have the same impact remains to be seen.
Washington's safety depth isn't great, either. There's hope that last season's undrafted free agent, Tyler Owens, can flourish with another offseason to develop, but there's just no telling for sure. Percy Butler has limitations, and Jeremy Reaves is a special-teams player who can be vulnerable on the rotation.
If none of the backup progress or Harris struggled to adapt, the Commanders could do a lot worse than try Medrano as the box safety to see how he fares in the preseason. In an ideal world, he'll carve out a successful career for himself at the defensive second level. If not, Washington's coaches must pivot accordingly.
It's something they did last year with Dominique Hampton, who moved from safety to linebacker. Gruden believes Medrano would benefit from going in a different direction, but the only opinions that matter are within the building.
Medrano has an opportunity to impress. Taking advantage of it is crucial.
