The Washington Commanders added depth to their linebacker room by taking UCLA's Kain Medrano with the 125th overall pick. Here are five things to know about the rookie.
1. He was the top male student-athlete in Colorado.
Medrano was a uniquely talented athlete at Pueblo East High School in Colorado, and he collected his share of accomplishments. He was the 13th-ranked prospect in Colorado and a two-time all-state selection, racking up 1,932 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns in his final two seasons combined. He also played basketball and excelled on the track and field team and even won a state championship in the shot put and discus throw.
But Medrano took it one step further; after setting career highs on offense and playing a major role on defense with 80 tackles and six interceptions, he received the Steinmark Award for being the top male student-athlete in Colorado. The award, which has existed since 1972, is presented to one boy and girl each year for their successes on the field, in the classroom and in their communities.
Clearly, the Commanders didn't just get a high-value player with their sixth-round pick; they also added a quality person to their locker room.
2. He originally committed to UCLA as a wide receiver.
Medrano chose UCLA over Colorado State and Wyoming expecting to be a wide receiver. After all, that's where he had the most impact at the high school level and was one of the better wideout prospects in the country.
Medrano saw little action as a freshman and only played in the 2019 season finale. That's when then-head coach Chip Kelly presented him with an opportunity to play linebacker -- a position that was largely unfamiliar to him.
It took about two seasons for Medrano to develop, but he ended his career as a team captain and one of the most important players for the Bruins' defense. He wrapped up his senior season with 72 tackles, four pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.
The position is still new to Medrano, but if he continues to make progress, he could end up having a similar jump in the NFL.
3. He dominated the combine.
Chalk Medrano up as another Commanders athlete who flaunted his athleticism at the combine.
Medrano, who went to Indianapolis ranked as Mel Kiper Jr.'s 14th-best linebacker prospect helped his case by outperforming almost everyone else at his position. He recorded a 4.46 40-yard dash with a 38-inch vertical and 10-foot-5 broad jump, all of which were in the top five among linebackers.
The results, along with the numbers he put up during his pro day, were among the best the NFL has seen out of a linebacker prospect. He put up a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.83, which ranked 57th out of 3,204 prospects since 1987.
4. Ken Norton Jr. knows him very well.
It normally takes time for an NFL player to get to know his new position coach, but Medrano already has a strong relationship with Commanders linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr.
Prior to joining the Commanders, Norton was UCLA's linebackers coach and oversaw Medrano's development from wide receiver. Medrano saw improvement in each season as one of Norton's players, recording 56 tackles and two sacks in their final collegiate season together.
Medrano was confident he would get to play for Norton again in the NFL, and the two were in steady communication throughout the draft. He had a message for Norton about 10 minutes before the Commanders were on the clock in the sixth round: "Come get me."
"You get to learn from one of the best linebackers that's ever played the game," Medrano said. "He came into our building at UCLA, and we just had a really special connection...and it's just been a really good bond."
5. He's eager to prove himself in Washington.
Medrano doesn't care what his role is with the Commanders, whether it's on special teams or a smaller role on defense. He simply wants to compete and make the team better.
Medrano said he has the versatility to play multiple roles for the Commanders' defense. He particularly highlighted playing the "big nickel" in certain packages and mentioned that he did so with Norton as his coach at UCLA. He also mentioned he "can't wait" to learn from Bobby Wagner and spend every day with the future Hall of Famer.
"I'm excited to get in there and just make plays," Medrano said. "I'm just ready to go headfirst into that. "
