Tag: Xavier McKinney

4 Giants listed among NFL.com’s top 101 free agents of 2024

4 members of the New York Giants (and one ex-Giant) have made NFL.com’s list of the top 101 free agents of 2024.

The NFL recently released its list of the top 101 free agents of 2024. It’s a fluid list, receiving an update any time a player is signed or tagged. As of this writing, four current members of the New York Giants are on the list.

Saquon Barkley is the Giants’ highest-ranked free agent, which should not surprise anyone. He ranked sixth on the top 101 free agents list, highlighting once again that the Giants need to find a way to keep him.

Barkley performed better last year than his numbers indicated, playing smarter than he did earlier in his career. He has a complete game that could put an offense over the top.

Given everything that has happened over the last year, it won’t shock anyone if Barkley lands elsewhere. But if he does, the Giants will have a huge hole to fill at running back.

Xavier McKinney ranks 14th on the top 101 free agents of 2024 list, and he’s another one the Giants need to find a way to keep.

The amount of quality safeties available shows the NFL’s unfortunate disregard for the position, but McKinney is the most well-rounded option available now that Antoine Winfield received the franchise tag. McKinney can do it all.

As with Barkley, McKinney is likely to hit the open market and be in high demand. He’s stated he wants to be back with the Giants but only if the price is right.

Meanwhile, cornerback Adoree’ Jackson ranks 60th.

A walking example of how cornerback play isn’t consistent year to year, Jackson’s best seasons have been excellent. Just don’t leave him on an island all season like Wink Martindale did last year.

Finally, Tyrod Taylor landed at No. 88.

Tyrod was spinning it when he got the chance with the Giants, taking more shots and hitting more big-time throws than at any point since his arrival as a starter in Buffalo nearly a decade ago. He’s a perfect backup.

These two are unlikely to be back in blue next season for a variety of reasons. Jackson is inconsistent. When he’s on, he’s fantastic, but when he’s off… well, it’s not pretty. The Giants need young players who can contribute consistently and Jackson cannot guarantee that.

Taylor has turned into a career backup. The Giants are already seeking alternate options to sit behind Daniel Jones, so even though he held it together when Jones was out this season, it’s unlikely he will return in 2024.

There is one honorable mention that needs to be discussed. Former Giants defensive end Leonard Williams is a free agent this year and he ranked 10th on the free agent list.

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Xavier McKinney hopeful long-term deal gets done with Giants

Safety Xavier McKinney says he would like to return to the New York Giants and remains hopeful a long-term deal can get done.

Impending free agent safety Xavier McKinney is thankful the New York Giants didn’t place the transition tag on him ahead of free agency but remains hopeful the two sides can work out a long-term deal.

“I didn’t know what the plan was as far as what they wanted to do,” McKinney told Kay Adams on Up & Adams. “I know that something could have happened (with the tag), but it didn’t, so I’m kind of grateful that it didn’t.

McKinney said his representation and the Giants have recently spoken and remain engaged. If an agreement is to be reached in the coming days, it would have to make sense for both sides.

“You know, I’m pretty much being as open as possible. I’m trying to figure it out,” McKinney said. “I’ve expressed as much as I can that I wanted to be back. Still, you know, ultimately, it’s not all up to me, so it’s something that we both have to come to a mutual agreement, and you know, like I said, hopefully, we can get something done. It’s a business, so just have you know to see it like that.

“I do want to be a Giant, but it still has to make sense at the end of the day. The money has to make sense, and everything else has to make sense. We’ve been talking and communicating and trying to figure it out as best we can, so hopefully, it can get done. But as I said, I can only control what I can control, and you know, to see what happens.”

If the Giants and McKinney don’t reach an agreement by March 13, he’s prepared to test the free agent waters and weigh his other options. However, with the safety market being flooded in recent days, it may not pan out the way McKinney had hoped.

Ultimately, none of that will matter if he returns to the Giants.

“I’m big for the Giants right now. That’s where I want to be,” he added.

Time will tell if the Giants and general manager Joe Schoen want the same thing.

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Giants’ reasoning for not tagging Xavier McKinney revealed

The New York Giants opted not to place the transition tag on safety Xavier McKinney and it turns out GM Joe Schoen had good reason for that.

The New York Giants chose not to place the transition tag on impending free agent safety Xavier McKinney, which will allow him to enter the open market next week when free agency begins.

The Giants, of course, can still sign McKinney to a long-term deal before the league new year begins on March 13, but that seems unlikely now. They’ll have to outbid the rest of his potential suitors in the open marketplace.

Even if the decision to not use the tag on McKinney turns out to be a poor one, the Giants won’t walk away empty-handed as CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones reminds us.

Ah…people forget that transition-tagged players are no longer included in the draft pick compensation formula if they are signed away by another team.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen did himself a solid by not tagging either McKinney or running back Saquon Barkley this offseason.

If the team can’t lure either one of them back for the 2024 season, they could be looking at significant picks — possibly third-rounders — being awarded to them in 2025.

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2 Giants among PFF’s top 101 players from the 2023 NFL season

2 New York Giants were ranked among Pro Football Focus’ top 101 players from the 2023 NFL season, but Saquon Barkley was not among them.

Pro Football Focus released their list of the top 101 players from the 2023 NFL season earlier this week and two New York Giants made the cut.

Interestingly, running back Saquon Barkley, who is an impending free agent, was not among them.

The first Giant to crack the rankings was linebacker Bobby Okereke, who dominated in his first season with the team and deserved both Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

Okereke debuted at No. 91 on PFF’s list.

Okereke had an excellent year in Wink Martendale’s aggressive Giants defense. His athleticism and range allowed him to post an 82.5 PFF coverage grade, and he allowed an 89.1 passer rating into his coverage, some 15 points lower than the league average for linebackers.

The next Giant on the list was ranked much higher with safety Xavier McKinney checking in at No. 57.

The high points we saw from McKinney this year in Wink Martindale’s aggressive defense were spectacular, with none better than his final game of the season, in which he brought in two interceptions against the Eagles. McKinney has become a do-it-all threat in the secondary.

Both Okereke and McKinney were among the best defenders in the league under Martindale, which is even more significant for McKinney because he played in a role that may not have been designed for his strengths.

Like Barkley, McKinney was not tagged by the Giants at the deadline and is expected to become an unrestricted free agent next week.

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Xavier McKinney post cryptic message on Twitter that could excite Eagles fans

Xavier McKinney says he’s now looking at life from a Birds Eye View ahead of 2024 NFL free agency

Learning to view life from a bird’ s-eye view is essential for success in all areas of life.

Whether in sports, business, relationships, or self-development, having a higher perspective allows us to see the bigger picture and make better decisions based on that understanding.

Xavier McKinney made his first public comment since the Giants decided not to use the franchise tag on the talented safety.

A pending free agent and one of the best safeties in the NFL, McKinney is approaching life from a different perspective, which could benefit the Eagles.

The league’s teams with bird mascots are the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Seattle Seahawks, and McKinney obviously could have been talking about any of them.

Philadelphia will be in the market for a free-agent safety, and McKinney is among the hybrid and versatile defenders who could flourish with Vic Fangio.

McKinney fits the profile of the new age of NFL safety play.

The 2020 second-round NFL Draft pick is just 24 and has been a captain for the past two seasons.

McKinney was sidelined for the first ten games of his rookie season with a broken foot but showed his durability by playing all 1,128 defensive snaps this season.

McKinney can play deep as a free safety, run in the box, and cover tight ends in man coverage.

Giants don’t tag safety Xavier McKinney

The New York Giants opted not to franchise or transition tag safety Xavier McKinney, who will become a free agent.

The New York Giants chose not to use the franchise and transition tags on their two eligible free agents — star running back Saquon Barkley and safety Xavier McKinney — as the deadline passed on Tuesday afternoon.

McKinney would have earned a guaranteed $13.815 million under the transition tag this season. He will now enter free agency when the league new year begins on March 13. He can begin negotiating with teams come March 11 — the ‘legal tampering’ window.

Reports have surfaced suggesting the Giants and McKinney could still strike a deal before free agency begins.

McKinney, 24, was a second-round pick (36th overall) of the Giants back in 2020 out of Alabama. He played every defensive snap for the Giants in 2023, registering career highs in tackles, tackles for a loss, and fumble recoveries.

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Potential Eagles FA target Xavier McKinney won’t get franchise tag

The Eagles goal of landing a safety received a big boost when the New York Giant declined to place the franchise tag on Xavier McKinney

As potential free-agent targets have come off the board for the Eagles this offseason because of franchise tags, one of the top safeties available will hit the open market.

On Tuesday, several reports revealed that the New York Giants won’t place the franchise tag on any player, which means free safety Xavier McKinney won’t be tagged.

Philadelphia will be in the market for a free-agent safety, and McKinney sits at the top of the hybrid and versatile defenders that could flourish with Vic Fangio.

McKinney fits the profile of the new age of NFL safety play.

The 2020 second-round NFL Draft pick is just 24 and has been a captain for the past two seasons.

McKinney was sidelined for the first ten games of his rookie season with a broken foot but showed his durability by playing all 1,128 defensive snaps this season.

McKinney can play deep as a free safety, run in the box, and cover tight ends in man coverage.

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1 pending free agent the Eagles could target from each NFC team

We’re looking at one pending free agent from each NFC team that the Philadelphia Eagles could target

Free agency is about two weeks away, and the Philadelphia Eagles have several players set to hit the open market. General manager Howie Roseman has to make critical decisions to fill roster holes.

While Roseman will likely look to the free agent market for answers, several in-house free agents are candidates to sign an extension ahead of free agency.

The Birds are set to have 20 pending free agents, and with another likely retool schedule on defense, the organization could conjure up a scheme for more flexibility.

According to Over the Cap’s potential transaction chart, the Eagles can easily create $35.4 million in cap space by making these five moves.

With the new league year fast approaching, we’re looking at one pending free agent from each NFC team that could interest Philadelphia.

5 Giants among PFF’s top 200 impending free agents

Pro Football Focus has released their list of the top 200 impending free agents and 5 current (and 2 former) New York Giants made the cut.

The new league year and the official start of free agency are just around the corner. On March 13, the NFL’s wildest off-field season begins as teams scramble to find talent on the open market.

The New York Giants will certainly be among the most active given their abundance of roster needs. They also have a large number of their own players hitting free agency, which will create additional turnover.

Recently, Pro Football Focus released their ranking of the top 200 impending free agents and five Giants made the cut. Several former Giants also did.

Defensive lineman Leonard Williams was ranked 16th overall and guard Kevin Zeitler was ranked 32nd overall.

Here’s where the current Giants landed:

9 questions Giants GM Joe Schoen must answer at NFL Combine

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen will meet with reporters at the 2024 NFL Combine and these are 9 questions he must answer.

The 2024 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana gets underway on Tuesday, February 27 as teams and prospects begin to arrive for the “Underwear Olympics.”

Although on-field drills don’t officially begin until Thursday, press conferences are lined up to start the week. 26 of the league’s 32 general managers will speak, including New York Giants GM Joe Schoen.

Schoen will take the podium on Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. ET and he’ll have a boatload of questions that need answering.

Here’s a look at nine topics Schoen must address.

Note: Giants head coach Brian Daboll is one of 12 coaches who is not slated to conduct a formal interview.