The Green Bay Packers have signed S Xavier McKinney. The transaction was announced Thursday by General Manager Brian Gutekunst.
(ZAY-vier) McKinney (6-0, 201), a fifth-year player out of the University of Alabama, was originally selected in the second round (No. 36 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He played in 49 games with 46 starts for the Giants, recording 277 tackles (179 solo), 27 passes defensed, nine interceptions, six tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one defensive TD (41-yard interception return) and two tackles on special teams. McKinney started both postseason contests he played in, posting 16 tackles (eight solo), a tackle for a loss, a sack, two passes defensed and a forced fumble. From 2021-23, he ranked No. 2 among safeties in passes defensed (26), according to STATS. McKinney was one of only two NFL players (S Jordan Whitehead) to register 250-plus tackles (254), eight-plus INTs and 25-plus passes defensed (26) over the past three seasons (2021-23) according to STATS. Last season, he was one of four NFL players with 100-plus tackles (116), three-plus interceptions (three), 10-plus passes defensed (11), a forced fumble (one) and a fumble recovery (two). In 2023, McKinney set career highs in tackles, solo tackles (78), passes defensed and fumble recoveries.
