Kain Medrano has been half of one of the most effective LB duos in the country, but how does his full NFL scouting report look?
Overview, Film Analysis, And 2025 Scouting Report Of UCLA LB Kain Medrano
Measurables:
- 6’3”
- 222 lbs
Player Background:
A Colorado native, Kain Medrano committed to UCLA as a three-star athlete out of East HS in 2019. He was ranked among the top 150 athletes in the country and a top 20 prospect in the state. His only action during 2019 was in the final game of the season on special teams. He worked on the field for five games in 2020, posting four tackles and two pass deflections in limited time.
Medrano played in 10 contests during 2021, increasing his tackle total to 24 and breaking up another pass. 2022 was another step forward, with 38 tackles, a PBU, a forced fumble, and an interception. He continued his upward trend into 2023, eclipsing 50 tackles with two sacks, one FF, and two PBUs. His collegiate career finished with his best season in 2024, making 72 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three FFs, two INTs, and four PBUs.
Accolades:
- Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 (2023)
- Third Team All-Big Ten (2024)
Strengths/Pros:
Medrano’s sub-4.50-second 40-yard dash tells the whole story when it comes to his speed and burst. He can cover a ton of ground, and he wins a lot of straight-line races with ball carriers, especially laterally. He smoothly drifts into lateral movements and can substantially rotate on the fly, covering multiple assignments. His athleticism is notable, as he operates cleanly through compact movements and quick transitions. He has a fantastic burst, flying into the backfield and launching himself toward the quarterback.
He’s as versatile as anyone, with the movement skills to play all over the field and line up in multiple schemes. Medrano plays with fire, flying back into plays after missing, and is violent at the point of attack. He quickly identifies options and quarterback keepers and can follow them well, with great extension to laterally close off rushing lanes. He’s decently nuanced with his swim move to work past blockers while staying in his base. His special-teams resume is also great, allowing teams to immediately plug him in.
Weaknesses/Cons:
Medrano is definitely undersized, and it shows in his play-to-play processes. He struggles with holding his ground, and his anchor is too weak to consistently rely on. He gets too high in his shoulders when tackling and doesn’t have the size to bring rushers down efficiently. Drifting into blockers is a big issue for him, getting swallowed up too easily. He doesn’t have the grip strength to reliably finish tackles when he’s not sinking into his base, showing up in his high collegiate missed tackle rate.
He needs to be more violent as a blocker after his first move, locking out his arms too much. Medrano keeps his eyes too far downfield and tends to miss some blockers in front of him, getting blindsided. He’s far too reliant on his athleticism to save him from early overadjusting mistakes, and needs to keep his arms more active to prevent them. He tries to get too lateral in underneath zones and can open up lanes for intermediate throws, also getting his head turned around too much.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Medrano’s teammate, Carson Schwesinger, gets most of the NFL Draft media love, but he’s more than deserving of some hype of his own. His athleticism and special-teams ability alone gives him a usable floor as a prospect, but he also brings a decent amount of defensive upside to the table. He can cover the majority of tight ends and running backs, as well as some receivers, and can fly all around the field against the run. He likely won’t be a true starter, but he has enough tools to impact the game in smaller doses.
Prospect Grade:
- Late 4th Round to Early 5th Round
Film Exposures:
- 2024 vs. USC
- 2024 vs. Iowa
- 2024 vs. Penn State
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
