The Green Bay Packers landed the top safety on the free-agent market this offseason, signing former New York Giants star Xavier McKinney.
While McKinney should absolutely shore up the Packers’ secondary, not everyone is in love with the lucrative contract he received.
Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler wrote a piece detailing the worst contracts at every position in the NFL, and while Justin Reid’s three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs topped the safety position, McKinney’s four-year, $67 million pact was Fowler’s runner-up.
“McKinney’s instincts (nine interceptions in four years) should showcase well in Green Bay, but his ability to remain healthy (played just six games in his rookie season and nine in 2022) will hold the key to him proving why GM Brian Gutekunst is paying him so handsomely,” Fowler wrote.
To be fair, Fowler does give credit to McKinney. He clearly thinks McKinney is a productive player, but he isn’t so sure the Packers should have given him $16.8 million annually when he has never made a Pro Bowl nor earn an All-Pro selection. Durability is also a concern for McKinney.
McKinney, who played his collegiate football at the University of Alabama, was originally selected by the Giants in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Injuries limited him to just six games during his rookie campaign, but the following year, McKinney broke out, appearing in every contest and racking up 93 tackles, five interceptions, 10 passes defended and a defensive touchdown.
The 26-year-old would once again see injuries inhibit him in 2022, as he participated in nine games that season. But last year, McKinney was able to play in every game and finish with 116 tackles, a half of a sack, three picks, a forced fumble, a couple of fumble recoveries and 11 passes defended.
Clearly, staying healthy has been an issue for McKinney, which is certainly a reason to be skeptical about the deal the Packers gave him.
However, Green Bay badly needed help at safety, especially after losing Darnell Savage to free agency. The Packers responded by landing the top safety available, and even if they overpaid for him, the move should be viewed favorably.
We’ll see if McKinney can remain on the field and a play a pivotal role in a potentially successful Green Bay Packers season in 2024.
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