Green Bay Packers star Xavier McKinney is elite at what he does.
NFL execs, coaches and scouts have ranked Green Bay Packers star Xavier McKinney the third-best safety in the league.
For the Packers last season, McKinney played in 16 games. He recorded two interceptions, 10 passes defended, 54 solo tackles and two QB hits.
"He sees the game very quickly," an AFC coach told ESPN. "Fast processor. He is always in a great position and plays the game in control. He can tackle, he can cover, and he gets the ball."
McKinney is two-time All-Pro. He's the first Packers defensive back since Hall of Famer Charles Woodson to be named All-Pro in consecutive years.
In two seasons since coming to the Packers as a free agent in 2024, McKinney has 10 interceptions and 21 passes defensed while recording 187 total tackles. Last season marked the fourth time in his six-year career that he's reached double digits in passes defended.
McKinney will have to play at a high level to begin next season because the Packers will be without superstar Micah Parsons, who is recovering from the ACL tear he suffered last season. Green Bay didn't win a game after Parsons' injury and lost to the Chicago Bears in the wild-card round of the 2026 playoffs.
The 27-year-old McKinney enters next season with 19 career interceptions with the New York Giants and Packers. He's turned into one of the elite safeties in the NFL.
Bobby Kownack of NFL.com wrote, "McKinney might not have flashed as much in 2025 as he did in his eight-interception first season with Green Bay, but he was just as vital for the Packers. His 10 passes defensed on 29 targets equated to a 34.5% ball hawk rate, a mere 2.2% off his 2024 All-Pro campaign. He also allowed a 40.0 passer rating and 2.6 yards of separation as the nearest defender, both career bests. Teams shouldn't throw his way, and if last year is any indication, they should reconsider running in his direction, too. McKinney's 82.5 PFF run defense grade from the '25 campaign marks his best so far."
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