Xavier McKinney is heading into free agency off the best season of his career, one in which he played every defensive snap for the Giants, finished second on the team in tackles (a career-best 116) and led in interceptions with three.
And, he’s said, he doesn’t think he’s “scratched the surface of who I am as a player.”
Sounds like a terrific entry point into the open market for McKinney, who also has youth on his side – he’s only 24. But what does it all mean for the safety’s potential future in blue? The Giants, obviously, need to keep talent on their roster. But at what cost, especially when they have so many other roster holes to address?
Let’s take a look at whether the Giants should re-sign one of their best players or let him go.
Why McKinney should return
McKinney has made it clear that he believes he’s the most complete safety available and he’s got an argument. He also could be right in his self-assessment that he might get even better.
His first three seasons in the league were solid after the Giants took him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. But he missed time with injury in two of them. In 2023, he was clearly ascending as a player, so much so that Pro Football Focus put him on their All-Breakout Team.
McKinney receives raves for being a complete safety, an excellent, sure tackler who also excels in coverage. He had career-bests in passes defended (11) and fumble recoveries (two) and he and Bobby Okereke were the only two Giants to be on the field for every defensive play. And McKinney’s ability to make big plays was evident in the Giants’ season-ending victory over the Eagles, when he had two picks and three passes defended, along with six tackles.
Of course, he has to prove he can be consistently productive at a similar level and consistently healthy. But his age works in his favor. McKinney does not turn 25 until August, making him younger than the other top safeties in free agency. McKinney is ranked fourth by PFF among available safeties, behind Antoine Winfield Jr. (25 years old), Kyle Dugger (28 in March) and Kamren Curl (25 in March).