NFL world confirms suspicion about Packers elite defender after revealing new update
Safety Xavier McKinney is unquestionably amongst the very best at his position in the entire NFL.
Xavier McKinney is one of the best safeties in football, and the rest of the NFL knows it. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler released his position rankings on Thursday after polling coaches, executives, and scouts around the league. The Green Bay Packers safety landed at No. 3 overall at his position, trailing only Kyle Hamilton and Derwin James. That makes McKinney the best safety in the NFC, a distinction that reflects just how much he has elevated Green Bay’s defense since signing with the team two years ago.
An AFC coach offered a telling assessment of McKinney’s game when speaking to Fowler.
“Fast processor,” the coach said. “He is always in great position and plays the game in control. He can tackle, he can cover, and he gets the ball.”
What makes McKinney so valuable
McKinney had a magical 2024 season, recording eight interceptions and earning first-team All-Pro honors. He followed that with a second-team All-Pro selection in 2025, cementing himself as one of the most impactful defensive players in the NFL.
The production dip in interceptions last season wasn’t a reflection of regression. Teams simply stopped throwing in his direction because of how disruptive he proved in 2024. The Packers played Cover 3 on 33% of their defensive snaps under former defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley last season, and McKinney thrived as a center fielder in that scheme. He covered massive amounts of ground and kept the secondary functioning at a decent level, even though Green Bay didn’t have a particularly strong cornerback group.
That combination of range, intelligence, and ball skills is what separates McKinney from most safeties in the league. He wasn’t a spectacular athlete coming out of the draft. His Relative Athletic Score (RAS) was average (5.82) when the New York Giants selected him in the second round. But the Packers signed him in free agency because his on-field production told a different story. McKinney is athletic enough to cover the field and smart enough to consistently put himself in position to make plays.
This season brings a schematic shift under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. The Packers are expected to operate in more two-high shells, which would place McKinney alongside Evan Williams and potentially Javon Bullard in a different capacity than the single-high center field role he occupied under Hafley.
McKinney’s versatility and processing speed make that transition viable. His ability to read and react quickly means Green Bay can ask him to do more without sacrificing coverage integrity. That football intelligence is also what should help him age well. Players who rely on their minds rather than pure athleticism tend to sustain production deeper into their careers.
Contract outlook
McKinney still has two years remaining on the four-year deal he signed in free agency in 2024. The Packers typically avoid giving third NFL contracts to players, but McKinney’s style of play and importance to the defense could make him an exception. A contract extension wouldn’t be out of the equation given his sustained elite production and the role he plays in Green Bay’s defensive structure.
The Packers have built their roster around young, cost-controlled talent, but McKinney represents the type of player who warrants deviation from that pattern. His football brain and consistent production give Green Bay confidence that the investment would hold up over time.