The Kansas City Chiefs put together a Super Bowl-winning defense in 2023 when Trent McDuffie primarily operated in the slot. The team struggled to find reliable nickel options over the past two seasons. General manager Brett Veach needs to target a reliable, playmaking nickel in the 2026 NFL draft.
Miami Hurricanes nickel Keionte Scott primarily played cornerback in 2024 but spent his other seasons in the slot. He lacks ideal size and arm length but is a loose, twitchy defensive back with tremendous instincts and physicality. His contributions in the slot mirror some of the positives Tyann Mathieu and McDuffie offered Kansas City in past seasons.
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Scott’s quick footwork and loose hips help him mirror and smother routes. He is a natural athlete with the agility and speed to blanket receivers. Scott uses leverage to shade passing lanes and either deter throws or bait quarterbacks into risky decisions. His impressive closing burst and top speed make him a threat to undercut short routes or recover and contest deep throws.
Scott is an older defensive back who will enter the NFL in his mid-twenties. Age is a big factor when evaluating defensive backs, but Scott at least made the most of his time in college. His football IQ, instincts and recognition skills rank among the best in the class, as he showed on his pick-six against Ohio State.
Scott’s quick trigger makes him a weapon against screens, swings and all kinds of schemed touches or short passes. He lays some massive hits and battles through blocks to make plays. His athletic traits make him effective in man coverage, but he thrives baiting quarterbacks into throws while operating in zone coverage.
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Scott’s size becomes an issue when matched up against tight ends or large slot receivers. Physical pass catchers re-route and separate from Scott and have the size to play over him at the catch point.
Scott plays with his hair on fire in the run game. He fires downhill and takes on blockers to set the edge. Scott dips his pad level and bends around would-be blockers to make tackles at odd angles. He lacks the play strength and arm length to stack and shed blocks at a reliable level. Missed tackles remain a constant issue for Scott. He whiffs or slides off too many attempts.
Scott is one of the best blitzing defensive backs in the 2026 NFL draft. He recorded five sacks in 2025 and could add more on Monday night.
Miami faces the Indiana Hoosiers tomorrow night in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. CT.
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This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL draft scouting report: Miami Hurricanes CB Keionte Scott