New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney couldn't have picked a better time to earn his latest postseason honor.
The 24-year-old defensive back, who is preparing to enter free agency this off-season, was named to Pro Football Focus's 2023 All-Breakout List. McKinney, who, along with inside linebacker Bobby Okereke, did not miss a single defensive snap this year for the Giants, set or matched career highs in pass breakups (11), total tackles (116), tackles for loss (2), and forced fumbles (1).
He also added two fumble recoveries, three interceptions, and a half-sack in what is likely his last season in Giants blue.
Noted PFF of their inclusion of the former Alabama star on their breakout list:
McKinney was a capable starter for the first three years of his career with the Giants, but not much more than that. He has always been one of the best tacklers at the position, never earning a tackling grade below 81.0 in his NFL career.
He took his game to new heights in 2023, posting the best coverage grade among safeties (91.2) and an impressive tackling grade (89.1). That resulted in an 87.8 PFF overall grade, placing fourth at the position. He saved his best performance for last, tormenting the Eagles’ offense with two interceptions and three run stops en route to a 95.3 game grade and a 95.5 mark in coverage in Week 18.
McKinney got off to a slow start this season, sometimes looking like he was playing uninspired ball. He dropped string hints before the start of the season about feeling disrespected by the team, likely due to his witnessing teammates Andrew Thomas and Dexter Lawerence receiving contract extensions before their respective rookie deals expired while he did not.
General manager Joe Schoen, who made it clear that he'd wait until after the season to discuss McKinney's future with the team, likely took that route after seeing how the safety missed large chunks of playing time in two of his first three seasons and who in that span, didn't rack up impact plays.
McKinney, who criticized the defensive coaches, and in particular now former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, for not listening to the team's captains, upped his game in the final weeks of the season, recording his three interceptions from Week 12 onward. He also posted two of his five double-digit tackle performances this season over that span and, according to PFF's grading system, played at more of an elite level in those last games grade-wise.
Following the Giants' regular-season finale against the Eagles, McKinney told reporters he felt he could have been even better.
"I didn't really think it was my best year," he said. "To be honest, I don't think I've touched – scratched the surface of who I am as a player. I think I could've been a lot better this year in a lot of different areas, but I think the best is yet to come for me."
That best, however, has a slim chance of happening with the Giants, as McKinney confirmed that he plans to explore the market.
“I mean, I can’t really — I can tell you, but I can’t really control nothing,” McKinney said. “It’s a business at the end of the day, so I just got to be where my feet are, be present, and that’s really about it.”
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