Xavier McKinney is entering free agency off the best season of his career, in which he played every defensive action for the Giants, finished second on the team in tackles (a career-high 116) and led the team in interceptions with three.
He has also stated that he believes he has only “scratched the surface of who I am as a player.”
This appears to be an excellent entrance point into the open market for McKinney, who is also young at only 24 years old. But what does it all signify for the safety’s possible future in blue? The Giants, of course, need to keep talent on their roster. But at what cost, especially because they have so many other roster openings to fill?
Let’s see if the Giants should re-sign or release one of their top players.
Why McKinney Should Return
McKinney has stated unequivocally that he believes he is the best comprehensive safety available, and he has a compelling point. He may also be correct in his opinion that he has the potential to improve even further.
His first three seasons in the league were successful after the Giants selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. However, he was forced to miss two of them due to injury. In 2023, he was definitely advancing as a player, so much so that Pro Football Focus named him to their All-Breakout Team.
McKinney is praised for being a complete safety, an excellent, sure tackler who also excels at coverage. He had career highs in passes defended (11) and fumble recoveries (two), and he and Bobby Okereke were the only Giants to be on the field for each defensive play. And McKinney’s ability to make big plays was on display in the Giants’ season-ending triumph over the Eagles, where he had two interceptions, three passes deflected, and six tackles.
Of course, he must demonstrate his ability to be continuously productive at a comparable level while also remaining consistently healthy. But his age works to his advantage. McKinney will not be 25 until August, making him younger than the other top safeties in free agency. PFF ranks McKinney fourth among available safeties, trailing Antoine Winfield Jr. (25 years old), Kyle Dugger (28 in March), and Kamren Curl (25 in March).
Why McKinney should not be back.
The only thing preventing McKinney from returning should be the price. He’s talented and young, which is exactly what the Giants need. Still, they have a long list of tasks to complete this offseason, including completing the Sisyphean work of repairing their leaky offensive line, improving the pass rush, deciding whether to keep Saquon Barkley, and more.
Coming off such a successful season, and at this point in his career, it’s difficult to blame McKinney for wanting to cash in. The market will tell him just how much he is worth, but here’s a brief glance at what the top safeties earn.
Derwin James of the Chargers is the highest-paid safety in football right now, earning $19 million per year on a four-year, $76 million contract. Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Steelers ranks second on that list, earning $18.24 million per year on a four-year, $72.98 million contract. The top six safeties each earn at least $15.25 million, according to overthecap.com.
The Giants may use McKinney’s franchise tag, which is expected to cost more than $16 million for safeties.
Whatever happens, the money and how it affects the rest of the roster work Big Blue needs to accomplish will determine McKinney’s future with the Giants. Anything else should be considered noise, such as when McKinney ruffled blue feathers last season by claiming after a blowout loss that he believed the coaching staff was not listening to the players’ leadership. Wink Martindale, the defensive coordinator at the time, stated that he was hurt, and everyone agreed that they smoothed things over. Martindale is no longer with us.
Verdict
The Giants must commit their resources to a variety of areas this winter, and an expensive safety, no matter how talented he is, is unlikely to be at the top of the priority list. They’ll get a new defensive coordinator at some point, and their safety options are Jason Pinnock and Dane Belton, both of whom are promising. Pinnock ranked fourth on the team with 85 tackles and intercepted two passes, including a pick-six.
McKinney’s talent makes it difficult to let him go. But if he becomes too expensive, that is precisely what will happen. This Giants organization has already allowed a top safety to leave in free agency: Julian Love signed with Seattle after 2022 and made the Pro Bowl in his first season.
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