New York Giants second-year safety Xavier McKinney entered the 2021 season with great expectations. He had missed the first half of his rookie year with a broken foot, so 2021 was his first full season of action.
McKinney ended up playing in all 17 games, with 16 starts, leading the team with five interceptions and his 10 passes defensed were second on the team to James Bradberry (17). He finished third on the club with 93 tackles (59 solo) and his name was heard repeatedly throughout the year as he became one of the Giants’ mainstays on defense.
The former Alabama star, who was a second-round selection by the Giants in the 2020 NFL draft, recently reflected on his dedication to the craft and also spoke about how the secondary stuck together through a very trying season. He sees the unit as a strength the Giants can build around.
“We had a very good bond this year as a team and as a secondary. That’s going help a lot (going forward),” McKinney said.
McKinney’s emergence likely means the Giants won’t be re-signing Jabrill Peppers, who is an unrestricted free agent come March.
The Giants are currently cap-strapped and with McKinney, Logan Ryan and Julian love under contract, they’ll likely fill the fourth safety spot with a cheaper free agent or a rookie.
