Officially, one of the best choices to cover the gap became accessible.According to Mike Garafolo, the New York Giants decided not to use the franchise tag before the deadline, listing safety Xavier McKinney—who is represented by the same agent as Packers quarterback Jordan Love—for sale.
Though a deal will not be cheap, on paper, McKinney, who is only 24 years old, fits all the boxes for the safety the Packers front office is seeking in a free agency.
Why the Packers Should Consider Signing Xavier McKinney
Rebuilding the Packers’ safety room will take a lot of effort, according to general manager Brian Gutekunst. Would he think about filling this huge void by using his free agency, as he did in 2019?
Given the team’s young and pressing need for safety talent, McKinney stands out as the right combination of talent, shown performance, and unrealized potential. This makes him a fantastic fit for the Packers.
McKinney, who was selected by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, has had a stellar career over the last four seasons, having played in 49 games.
In 2023, McKinney played every defensive action for the Giants, demonstrating his greatest skill (availability). In addition to 11 passes defensed, 3 interceptions, 2 TFLs, a forced fumble, and 0.5 sacks, he totaled 116 tackles. These figures highlight his value in pass coverage and run defense.
Given his youth and upward trajectory, he is a desirable free agent potential.Pro Football Focus reports that McKinney finished the 2023 season as the fourth-best safety overall. Surprisingly, he only missed seven tackles in his final elite tackling grade of 89.1, making him the highest-graded player in coverage at his position.
Another plus is McKinney’s flexibility; in 2023, he played snaps for the Giants defense at free safety, in the box, and in the slot. This versatility fits Hafley’s needs for a single-high safety; he wants a tackler who can move throughout the secondary and provide dependable coverage.
Still, there could be a financial hitch in acquiring McKinney. Due to restrictions on salary cap flexibility, the organization may have some difficulty obtaining McKinney’s services despite his exceptional play in a position where difference-makers are hard to come by in the league.
An Update Is Necessary for the Packers Safety Room
The Green Bay Packers decided to roll with a group of safeties led by Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, and Rudy Ford heading into the 2023 season, with varied degrees of success.
It will be crucial for the front management to commit resources this offseason to upgrade that area, whether through the draft or free agency, as all three of those players are moving on.
Maybe Gutekunst will go all in, use one of his five top 100 selections to draft a player, and sign a big name like Giants prospect McKinney, who ESPN’s Matt Bown believes is the “best fit” for the Packers.
On February 20, Bowen wrote, “Given the Packers’ history in free agency, this might be a stretch, but McKinney can play both safety spots, with the ability to cover down and create range in the post.” “I think he’s a good fit for the Packers defense, which will adjust its coverage and pressure tendencies under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. He had three interceptions with the Giants last season.”
If the Packers need extra cap room, they can do so in a number of ways, including by renegotiating contracts or cutting older players. It won’t be an option to ignore the spot, so we’ll soon enough discover how aggressive they intend to be.
