Xavier McKinney is saving the Green Bay Packers all on his own
Xavier McKinney has emerged as the defensive leader the Green Bay Packers have needed through their first five games of the 2024 NFL season.
In his first five games as a Green Bay Packer, safety Xavier McKinney’s fit in the defense has been nothing short of perfect.
McKinney has emerged as the biggest difference maker for the Packers as they continue to find their way under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. McKinney’s blazing start includes his league-leading five interceptions and his streak of having an interception in each game so far helped him earn a place in the NFL’s record books. McKinney is the first player since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to have an interception in his first five games with a new team. His personal streak stands at six straight games in a row if you count his two interceptions in his finale with the New York Giants in Week 18 last season.
McKinney’s presence has served as a catalyst behind the Packers’ revival as a turnover-generating machine.
Their 14 takeaways (nine interceptions and five fumble recoveries) currently lead the NFL and McKinney has had a hand in six of said takeaways. This comes after the Packers only forced 18 total takeaways for the 2023 regular season. There is more bite to this Packers defense than there was under former defensive coordinator Joe Barry and McKinney is certainly a big reason why.
The fifth-year safety’s ability to patrol the back side of the Packers’ defense has gone a long way in eliminating the middle of the field against the quarterbacks they have faced so far. Per NFL Pro, McKinney has been targeted seven times over his 163 coverage snaps and he’s allowed one reception for 18 yards. With McKinney roaming sideline to sideline and helping out his fellow defensive backs in coverage, opposing quarterbacks are starting to refrain from throwing directly where McKinney is positioned on the field.
Matthew Stafford was certainly well aware of the ‘X’ effect Sunday afternoon as McKinney talked about after the game. It still didn’t stop him from throwing the ball directly into McKinney’s hands as Stafford tried to connect a deep ball to Rams wideout Tutu Atwell on a 3rd and 10 at Green Bay’s 48-yard line midway through the third quarter.
Stafford’s eyes were entirely glued to Atwell on the play design and with McKinney already shaded towards the left side of the field, he did what he’s done to every opposing quarterback this season. The ball met McKinney’s hands, who immediately set up his team in perfect field position. McKinney has stalked all across the field to take away big plays down the field. Per PFF, he’s now the second-highest graded safety and he has the sixth-best coverage grade of all NFL defenders, no matter the snap count.
All of that has helped a secondary that has been banged up with absences for Jaire Alexander and Carrington Valentine and seen struggles for both Eric Stokes and Keisean Nixon. Opposing quarterbacks have an average depth of target of 9.3 yards per passing attempt against the Packers, which ranks only behind the Houston Texans. They have struggled to contain playmakers after the point of catch. The 644 yards the Packers have allowed after catches this season is the sixth-highest in the league, according to NFL Pro.
The only problem the Packers have is being able to have McKinney stationed all over the field.
In a lot of ways, McKinney’s play and influence are no different from a great rim protector in basketball. By either causing turnovers or forcing quarterbacks to target the other parts of the field he isn’t covering, McKinney has been wagging his finger at quarterbacks like he’s the late, great Dikembe Mutombo. Others may be getting beat in coverage, but McKinney isn’t letting that go down on his watch.
Credit to Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst for prioritizing McKinney in free agency last spring by bringing him on a four-year $67 million deal. Incredibly, that didn’t make him the highest-paid player at this position. McKinney’s average annual value of $16.75 million ranks fourth among safeties, according to Over the Cap.
The Packers have rightfully earned their reputation of often sitting out free agency and avoiding getting caught up in the sweepstakes with high-priced players. However, the Packers have been more willing to go big game hunting under Gutekunst if it means adding an elite player to their foundation. It showed in 2019 when the Packers brought in Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Adrian Amos to shore up their defense that caused 25 takeaways, had 17 picks and a +12 turnover differential (third best in the league) in Matt LaFleur’s first year in Green Bay. The Smith brothers combined for 25.5 sacks while Amos locked up the middle of the field defensively.
While McKinney is driving Green Bay’s turnover machine, other aspects of the Packers’ defensive play are lagging behind.
Their eight sacks in their Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans account for half of their 16 sacks for the year so far. Their 33.8 percent pressure rate ranks 14th in the NFL and the other presumed leaders on the defense — Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Quay Walker — have performed below their standard or are missing in action, figuratively. Further, the Packers stand in the middle in defending the run, though they have allowed 100-yard rushers in three of five games so far.
McKinney’s Defensive Player of the Year-type play has helped ease the issues that have troubled the Packers defensively. He won’t be able to save this defense all on his own, but if his historic start to the season is any indication, he’ll go down trying.