Xavier McKinney didn’t just fit in with the Green Bay Packers - he changed the conversation around their secondary.
Two seasons into his run in Green Bay, the safety has climbed all the way to No. 4 in Sports Illustrated’s safety rankings heading into the 2026 season, a clear sign that his game has reached true elite status. The Packers have gotten exactly what they hoped for, while the New York Giants are still catching heat for letting him walk in free agency.
Sports Illustrated pointed directly to that decision when sizing up McKinney’s rise.
“The Giants’ decision not to re-sign McKinney continues to haunt them, as he’s developed into one of the league’s best safeties in Green Bay,” writers from Sports Illustrated remarked.
The numbers back it up. Over two seasons with the Packers, McKinney has piled up 10 interceptions, including eight in 2024, along with 21 pass defenses, 195 tackles and two sacks. That kind of production is why he’s now viewed as one of the NFL’s top defensive backs, not just a good addition to a new team.
He’s been a ball hawk in coverage, but the impact goes beyond takeaways. McKinney’s range, awareness and ability to cover ground have given Green Bay a real difference-maker on the back end and a major boost to the defense as a whole.
His recognition has already been strong - he was a first-team All-Pro selectee in ’24 and made the All-Pro second team in ’25 - and at 27, he may still be climbing. The Alabama star has already established himself as one of the league’s premier safeties, and there’s plenty of room for his best football to arrive next.
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Wyatts new contract sits alongside other recent defensive spending around the NFL, including Miamis deal for Jordyn Brooks, but Green Bays decision stands out because it ties up meaningful money in a player the team clearly views as part of its core. For a Packers defense trying to establish consistency before camp ramps up, it is the kind of bet that will be judged not just in the moment, but over the next few seasons. [Read more 🡒]
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