Latest Lions contract news makes the Packers look even smarter one year after signing All-Pro defensive player
It was a surprise when the Green Bay Packers decided to give safety Xavier McKinney a four-year, $67 million contract in free agency last offseason. For the most part, market projections had indicated he would get something around $13 million per season, so it could be considered an overpay.One year later, all those doubts are […]
It was a surprise when the Green Bay Packers decided to give safety Xavier McKinney a four-year, $67 million contract in free agency last offseason. For the most part, market projections had indicated he would get something around $13 million per season, so it could be considered an overpay.
One year later, all those doubts are over.
On Wednesday, the Detroit Lions signed safety Kerby Joseph to a record four-year, $86 million contract, with $21.5 million in yearly average. Joseph is also a great player and made the First-Team All-Pro alongside McKinney in 2024, but the Packers' decision to give the former Giants defensive back that contract looks even smarter now based on the difference of salaries among these two players.
McKinney finished his first season in Green Bay with eight interceptions, right behind Kerby Joseph, who had nine. And the Packers' player is only the seventh-highest safety in the NFL on yearly average.
"That's what I came here to do," McKinney said during the season. "That's why I was brought in, to be able to make big-time plays when we really need it."
McKinney was a second-round pick by the New York Giants in 2020. Four years later, general manager Joe Schoen allowed him to hit free agency based on a perceived low value of the safety position. The Packers took advantage of a unique circumstance.
"Obviously, we extensively scouted him through college and liked him quite a bit coming out," general manager Brian Gutekunst said after signing him. "He's done nothing in his time in the NFL to change that. Again, not a lot of these guys become available. So when they do, I think it’s important for us always to go down that road to see if we can acquire him."
Kerby Joseph was a third-round pick in 2022.
Xavier McKinney will be 27 years old by Week 1 is still under contract with the Packers for three more seasons. The defensive back is slated to earn $11.85 million in 2025, $13.35 million in 2026, and $16.75 million in 2027—all impressive affordable amounts of money for a player of his caliber and the impact he had last season.
Highest-paid safety (APY)
- Kerby Joseph (Detroit Lions): $21.5 million
- Antoine Winfield Jr. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): $21.025 million
- Derwin James (Los Angeles Chargers): $19 million
- Minkah Fitzpatrick (Pittsburgh Steelers): $18.247 million
- Budda Baker (Arizona Cardinals): $18 million
- Trevon Moehrig (Carolina Panthers): $17 million
- Xavier McKinney (Green Bay Packers): $16.75 million
- Jessie Bates III (Atlanta Falcons): $16.005 million
- Jevon Holland (New York Giants): $15.1 million
- Cam Bynum (Indianapolis Colts): $15 million
Xavier McKinney’s social media activity fuels Packers fans’ hopes that Jaire Alexander could stick around longer
Defensive backs are working out together
