Steelers Scout Ike Taylor Runs Drills for Miami DBs at Pro Day

Pittsburgh Steelers scout and former cornerback Ike Taylor worked out players during the Miami Pro Day on Monday. Taylor, who is in his second season working as a scouting intern for the team, was also at the Miami Pro Day in 2023. This year, he once again worked out the defensive backs, and there’s once again a prime potential early-round Steelers target among the participating Hurricanes.

Safety Kam Kinchens is currently perceived as a Day Two pick, with his current NFL Mock Draft Database average putting him between the Steelers’ first and second picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The 5-foot-11, 203-pound Kinchens figured to be drafted higher than that based on his tape with the ‘Canes, but his pre-draft testing has not gone well.

Kinchens ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash at the 2024 NFL Combine — in the third percentile for free safeties according to Relative Athletic Score — and his 9-foot-2 broad jump was historically poor. 

Kinchens did slightly better at the pro day, running a 4.57-second 40-yard dash, but that time is unlikely to stop his draft-board slide from one-time first-round pick to his current location at the end of the second.

The Steelers likely have interest in a couple other Miami defenders, as well. James Williams is a hybrid strong safety/linebacker that turned heads with his performance at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. earlier this offseason. Williams is a likely Day Three pick.

Defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III will likely slot in at the end of the third round, where the Steelers just acquired pick No. 98 from the Philadelphia Eagles.