NFL Draft 2025 player profile: Kain Medrano, linebacker, UCLA

NCAA Football: Fresno State at UCLA — Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Carson Schwesinger might be one of the most touted linebackers in this draft, but his UCLA teammate Kain Medrano is also very talented.

One of my favorite times of the year is getting to write NFL Draft player profiles. Some of the eventual Seattle Seahawks picks I’ve nailed down in recent years include Byron Murphy II, Christian Haynes, Tyrice Knight, Devon Witherspoon, Zach Charbonnet, Olu Oluwatimi, Boye Mafe, Kenny McIntosh, Abe Lucas, and Riq Woolen.

With the 2025 NFL Draft just a few days away, we’re wrapping up our closer looks at several intriguing prospects, including expected Round 1 picks all the way to Day 3/UDFA options. This scouting report is on UCLA linebacker Kain Medrano, who’s less heralded than his teammate Carson Schwesinger but still has the talent to be on an NFL roster.

Let’s get to the report!

Prospect Info

Name: Kain Medrano

Jersey #: 20

College: UCLA Bruins

Position: LB

Awards: – Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 (2023);

– Third Team All-Big Ten (2024);

– Team captain

Class: RS Senior

Style: Run Stopper

Comparison: Justin Strnad

Projection: 5th round

Stats

2024: 12 G, 72 tackles, 11 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 2 INTs, 1 Pick Six, 4 PBUs

2023: 13 G, 56 tackles, 7 TFLs, 2 Sacks, 2 PBUs, 1 FF

2022: 9 G, 38 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 INT, 1 FF

2021: 10 G, 26 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU

2020: 5 G, 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 PBUs

2019: Redshirted. 1 G

Combine/Pro Day Results

HT 6’3

WT 222 lbs

Arms: 32’’

Wingspan N/A

Hands 9 1/8’’

40 yds 4.46s

10 yd split 1.52s

Short Shuttle: 4.26s

3 Cone Drill: 6.96s

VJ 38’’

BJ 10’ 5’’

Bench Press N/A

Relative Athletic Score: 9.83

Background

Sixth-year veteran and team captain with two years of starting experience. Medrano’s long, lean frame is more like a safety than a linebacker. He plays with good decision-making to fill gaps against the run before the tackles, but gets pressured when they find him. He has average pursuit speed, but above-average man-to-man coverage ability. His missed tackle total is problematic, so he’ll need to excel on special teams to provide value as he develops.

Evaluating the prospect…

Athletic Ability

We’ll talk about his struggles to get out of tackles later. However, he shows his ability to invade the backfield, with speed and change of direction to wreak havoc on the RB.

It may seem simple, but notice how he changes direction without extra steps, without wasting time. He changes smoothly.

He has the speed and change of direction to cover TEs and RBs. However, not only on short routes, but also on deep routes.

Coverage Skills

Attentive to adjusting to the QB’s eyes. His time playing as a WR probably helped him anticipate certain tendencies.

Drops on the mark and has good peripheral vision of the threat, in addition to reacting well to the QB’s possible pass.

He drops on the mark, simple. However, his highlight comes when he adjusts to the TE’s route when the opponent has already passed him, taking away the QB’s passing option.

This is where he shines and can earn spots on teams. He simply doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t waste time when the WR makes the cut. Reacts quickly and prevents the reception.

Another snap of him covering WRs in the slot. He can be used like this in sub-packages in the NFL too. He is with the WR the whole time, he doesn’t give space for the reception. The QB thought he would have an advantage in the WR versus LB matchup, but Medrano is fantastic at it.

He starts marking his zone, but doesn’t waste time identifying where the ball is. He goes in pursuit, has a great 1 versus 1 chance to tackle, but misses with a bad angle.

Another up-and-down snap. Again, good field awareness. He has his assignment, but quickly realizes where the ball is and goes to tackle the player. He has a terrible tackling technique, going too low and making life easy for the opponent.

Run Defense

Shows his intelligence and athletic ability. There is a larger space than normal between the OLs and he imagines that the run could go that way, or at least it would give him a better chance of getting into the backfield. He quickly destroys the play.

He relies heavily on his speed and change of direction to avoid contact from the OLs. When the OL manages to get his hands on him, it is almost impossible to escape.

He does not have the physicality and frame to fight the blocks. As mentioned above, he is better at avoiding blocks than getting out of them. So, this is something he needs to improve.

Tackling Technique

His biggest red flag is certainly his tackling ability. Here he shows awareness and patience, but he almost goes right up to the RB’s feet to try to tackle. Terrible technique.

If in the previous snap he was low, here he goes too high and lets it slip. His eyes in the backfield are good, he escapes the TE’s block, but he basically sabotages himself with a bad tackle.

The Medrano experience. He reads the zone-read correctly, but goes after the QB at a terrible angle. However, Medrano always fights until the end of the snap. He goes after the QB and forces a turnover with sheer force of will. Incredible.

STRENGTHS:

– Athletic ability;

– Aggressive mentality;

– Good work in man coverage;

– Lots of experience as a special teamer;

WEAKNESSES:

– Will be 24 in his rookie season;

– Missed tackles;

– Bad pursuit angles;

– Difficulty getting out of some blocks;

Final Thoughts

I really like the LB prospects, like Jihaad Campbell and Carson Schwesinger. However, both should go high in the draft, first and second rounds, respectively. Since Seattle re-signed Ernest Jones and Tyrice Knight formed an excellent duo with him, I started looking for players who were in lower rounds, but with potential.

This is the case with Medrano. Despite being 24 years old, he has a lot of potential to be explored. Relatively new to the position, he is a great athlete capable of covering slot WRs with excellent changes of direction. He is also very good at infiltrating the opponent’s backfield and is versatile, being used as a spy and blitzer.

If the coaching staff of the team that drafts him is able to fix his tackling technique and make it at least decent, he could be one of the big steals of this draft. While he is being polished, he boasts vast experience as a special teamer and has good intangibles, such as leadership and mentality, and work ethic.