Safety is obviously the biggest need for the Green Bay Packers this offseason. The room was already mediocre at best in 2023, and to get things worse, Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford, and Jonathan Owens are slated to hit free agency. Even general manager Brian Gutekunst admitted that the team will need to acquire players at the position.

“We’re going to have to add numbers there, for sure,” Gutekunst said after the season. “And I think more and more in the National Football League, those positions — along with the nickel position — are becoming interchangeable positions. You ask a lot of those guys. And I also think you have to have depth because, again, defensive backs get injured and you have to be able to adjust and be able to keep playing high-level football, no matter who’s in there. So, certainly, that has our attention.”

And ESPN’ staff writer Matt Bowen has an interesting option for the Packers. In his piece with perfect landing spots for the top free agents, he mentions Green Bay as an ideal fit for New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney.

^{“This might be a stretch given the Packers' history in free agency, but McKinney can play both safety spots, with the ability to cover down and create range in the post. He had three interceptions last season with the Giants, and I see him as a good fit for a Packers defense that will change its coverage and pressure tendencies under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.”}

Career

Xavier McKinney was available for the Packers in the 2020 draft, but Brian Gutekunst traded up from 30 to 26 to select quarterback Jordan Love — a justifiable move. McKinney ended up going to the New York Giants with the 36th overall pick, at the beginning of the second round.

While McKinney has been a star in the NFL, he would be a significant improvement over what the Packers have had at safety. The defensive back is coming from his best season in the league, with an 87.8 PFF grade — including a 91.2 coverage grade and 89.1 tackle grade.

He allowed a 53.0 passer rating when targeted, with 8.7 yards per reception. McKinney has 94 solo tackles, one forced fumble and three interceptions in 2023, according to PFF.

McKinney is a versatile secondary piece. Last season, he had 464 snaps as a free safety, 388 snaps in the box, 167 snaps in the slot, 82 close to the line of scrimmage, and 27 as an outside corner.

McKinney is the 30th ranked player on A to Z Sports' list of top 105 free agents. His contract projection is pretty feasible for the Packers, with a reasonable $6.5 million projected cap hit in year 1.

• Franchise Tag Likelihood: Medium
• Projected Contract: 3 yrs, $34.95M, $11.65M APY, $22.5M GTD
• Year One Cap Hit: $6.5M

Need

The Packers' situation at safety is concerning. Right now, the team has only three players under contract at the position: last year's seventh-round pick Anthony Jonhson Jr., former undrafted player Benny Sapp III, and special teamer Zayne Anderson. Green Bay has also signed Tyler Coyle to a futures contract.

Free agent market offers several options for the Packers to add to key position

Green Bay needs to add players to the room