The Green Bay Packers are expected to sign free agent safety Xavier McKinney to a four-year, $68 million deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The new deal, as reported, will average $17 million per year and would make McKinney one of the highest paid safeties in the NFL. It will become official at the start of the new league year on Wednesday.
In adding McKinney, general manager Brian Gutekunst aggressively filled one of the team’s biggest roster holes and provided new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley with exactly the kind of weapon he needs at the safety position.
McKinney was the fourth-highest graded safety at Pro Football Focus last season. McKinney can cover from multiple alignments, tackle in space and play the run.
The Packers entered the offseason in need of an upgrade at safety, where Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford and Jonathan Owens were all set to be free agents. Savage is signing in Jacksonville. His replacement? One of the best all-around safeties in football.
Say cheese ! 🧀
— Xavier McKinney (@mckinney15__) March 11, 2024
McKinney is the second big-name signing by Gutekunst and the Packers to start Monday, joining running back Josh Jacobs.