Getty Xavier McKinney, formerly of the New York Giants.
The New York Giants lost another significant piece of their defense when safety Xavier McKinney agreed to terms with the Green Bay Packers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the four-year, $68 million deal makes him among the highest-paid safeties in the league.
Schefter reported the deal was for four years and $68 million, or an average annual salary of $17 million, which would put him among the highest-paid safeties in the league. Only Derwin James ($19 million) of the Los Angeles Chargers, Minkah Fitzpatrick ($18.2 million) of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Antoine Winfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would make more than McKinney.
More Packers moves: Free-agent safety Xavier McKinney is signing a four-year, $68 million deal – a $17M per year average – with the Green Bay Packers. Agent David Mulugheta confirmed the deal.
McKinney’s departure leaves a hole in the secondary that new Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen must overcome, with James Pinnock, Dane Belton and Gervarrius Owens remaining on the depth chart.
The Giants were interested in bringing back McKinney, according to The New York Post.
The Giants “thought they were in a good place with him after they agreed, as a show of good faith, to not put the transition tag on him as the two sides talked about a new deal,” Paul Schwartz wrote on March 11. “The Giants knew they were unlikely to keep McKinney off the open market and expected to get the chance to match any offer he received. McKinney did circle back to the Giants, but in keeping with their beliefs regarding positional value, they deemed the price was too high for a safety.”
His departure comes after the Giants lost running back Saquon Barkley to the rival Eagles.
How Xavier McKinney’s Departure Affects the Giants’ Defense
Pro Football Focus rated McKinney as the top-rated cover safety and ended the year as the fourth-highest-rated safety in the NFL. When lined up as a free safety, McKinney may have been the best in the business.
Since entering the league, new Packers safety Xavier McKinney has the No. 1 PFF coverage grade when lined up at free safety (92.0)
New York drafted McKinney in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. At just 24 years old, the young ascending player had the Giants on a roller coaster with his availability. He played in only six games as a rookie after breaking his foot before his rookie season began.
He went on to play in 16 of 17 available games in his sophomore season.
In his third year, McKinney played in only nine games after hurting his hand in an ATV accident during the team’s bye week. He returned to play in the final game of the season.
He returned with a vengeance posting his best PFF grade (87.8) of his career. His 1,129 defensive snaps leave the Giants short on experience. Pinnock (1,011), Belton (295), and Owens (0) combined for 177 more snaps than McKinney in 2023.
Which Safeties Remains on the Free Agent Market?
McKinney was one of five safeties off the board in the first hours of free agency yet the list of available players that could replace him.
Former Broncos safety Justin Simmons was a salary cap casualty in Denver and sits atop the list of best available players. The 30-year-old and two-time Pro Bowl safety had been listed as a potential player who could end up in New York.
Simmons was named second-team All-Pro in each of his last three seasons.
Perhaps the Giants opt for a more inexpensive move yet keep a player in the same state. Buffalo cut starting safety Micah Hyde in a salary cap-related move. The 33-year-old safety would bring a veteran presence to a young group.
The McKinney departure is a big loss but a loaded safety market gives New York a chance to replace him with a more cost-effective solution.
The NFL opened the free agency legal tampering period at noon Eastern time on Monday, March 11, meaning agents and teams may negotiate the terms of a new contract. Any agreements cannot be officially signed until Wednesday, March 13 at 4 p.m. Eastern time. Players may still communicate with other teams and can alter their decisions.