The New York Giants’ loss of Xavier McKinney has been the Green Bay Packers‘ gain.
McKinney shot up to No. 3 on ESPN’s list of the best safeties in the NFL as voted on by coaches, scouts and executives.
McKinney, who the Giants chose with the 36th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, signed a four-year, $68 million contract with the Packers during the 2024 off-season.
He had a dominant first season in Green Bay, posting eight interceptions, 88 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery while playing all 17 games and earning first-team All-Pro honors. He finished eighth in voting for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
He helped the Packers go 11-6 and advance to the playoffs before they fell in the NFC Wild Card round to the eventual-Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
What Did ESPN’s List Of NFL Executives Say About Xavier McKinney?
Even though he was ranked third overall, McKinney received the second-most first-place votes behind only top-ranked Kyle Hamilton of the Baltimore Ravens. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, who compiled the list, reported McKinney was one of four safeties identified on every talent evaluator’s list.
He shot up the rankings after being picked as the No. 10 safety in the NFL on ESPN’s list a year ago. Fowler cited McKinney’s impressive 11 breakups on 30 targets, a 36.6 percent ball-hawking rate, which was his second straight season with 11 breakups and third double-digit-breakup season in his five-year career.
“Multidimensional traits, high football IQ, range over the top with the ability to play man coverage over slot receivers,” Fowler quoted an unidentified NFL personnel evaluator saying. “Has the playmaking element to his game.”
Fowler also referenced McKinney’s ability to rise his level of play while playing for the perennial playoff-contending Packers. McKinney ranked sixth on Pro-Football Focus’ safeties ranking, with an 84.8 grade, and was third among safeties in coverage grade, earning a 90.0.
“That guy’s a player,” an NFL coordinator said according to ESPN, “one of the first safeties that can do it all.”
What Safeties Were Ranked Ahead of Xavier McKinney On ESPN’s List?
Fowler is compiling a top-10 list of every position in the game as judged by the aforementioned executives.
As referenced above, Hamilton was the top-ranked safety since he is the “all-around best player: Size instincts, production, blitz ability,” according to an unidentified personnel director.
The only other safety listed ahead of McKinney was Brian Branch of the Packers’ divisional-rival Detroit Lions.
Branch’s teammate Kerby Joseph was also ranked fifth on the list. McKinney’s former Giants teammate Julian Love, now of the Seattle Seahawks, rounded out the list at No. 10.
Here is the full top-10 list and honorable mention of NFL safeties as judged by ESPN’s panel of executives.
- Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens
- Brian Branch, Detroit Lions
- Xavier McKinney, Packers
- Jesse Bates III, Atlanta Falcons
- Kerby Joseph, Detroit Lions
- Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
- Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals
- Minkah Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins
- Julian Love, Seattle Seahawks
Honorable Mention: Brandon Jones, Denver Broncos; Calen Bullock, Houston Texans; C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Houston Texans; Jevon Holland, New York Giants; Tre’Von Moehrig, Carolina Panthers.
