ESPN’s Matt Bowen picked the Green Bay Packers as the “best fit” for free agent safety Xavier McKinney in his review of the site’s top 50 free agents entering the 2024 offseason.
For the Packers, McKinney provides the ideal combination of talent, production and potential at arguably the team’s biggest roster need.
McKinney, 24, was a second-round pick of the New York Giants in 2020. He’s played in 49 career games over the last four seasons, tallying nine interceptions, 27 passes defensed, six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 1.5 sacks. In 2023, McKinney played 100 percent of the defensive snaps for the Giants.
The Packers have to address the safety position this offseason and could see McKinney as the type of young, ascending player worth spending on in free agency.
From Bowen:
This might be a stretch given the Packers’ history in free agency, but McKinney can play both safety spots, with the ability to cover down and create range in the post. He had three interceptions last season with the Giants, and I see him as a good fit for a Packers defense that will change its coverage and pressure tendencies under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
At Pro Football Focus, McKinney ranked fourth in overall grade among safeties in 2023. He missed only seven tackles and was the position’s highest graded player in coverage. McKinney allowed only 8.7 yards per completion, intercepted three passes, didn’t allow a touchdown pass and gave up a passer rating of 53.3 into his coverage last season.
McKinney played snaps at free safety, in the box and in the slot for the Giants defense in 2023. He could represent the ideal single-high safety for Hafley, who is going to need a reliable coverage player and tackler at the backend of the secondary.
Cost will be an issue. McKinney is a talented player at a position lacking difference-makers across the league. Even if interested, the Packers won’t be alone — and Green Bay might not have the kind of salary cap flexibility to pay up for a safety.
Could Brian Gutekunst make a splash in free agency? Adding an ascending talent like McKinney would be one way to attack the team’s biggest roster need.