Xavier McKinney Wants to Remain a Giant
At the end of the day, New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney just wants to be compensated for what he brings to a football team.
Whether that compensation comes from the Giants (his preference) or another team doesn't matter. But as the 24-year-old McKinney prepares to enter the free agency market in what's suddenly a very deep veteran safety class, McKinney is looking for his piece of the pie.
"I didn't know what the plan was as far as what they wanted to do," McKinney told Up & Adams podcast host Kay Adams when asked about not receiving a franchise or transition tag, both of which would have hampered his quest to seek the type of compensation package he's hoping to land. "I know that something could have happened, but it didn't, so I'm kind of grateful that it didn't."
McKinney confirmed that his agent, David Mulugheta of Athletes First, and the Giants recently discussed keeping the former Alabama product in blue for the foreseeable future, something that McKinney admits to wanting if the circumstances are right.
"You know, I'm pretty much being as open as possible. I'm trying to figure it out," he said. "I've expressed as much as I can that I wanted to be back. Still, you know, ultimately, it's not all up to me, so it's something that we both have to come to a mutual agreement, and you know, like I said, hopefully, we can get something done. It's a business, so just have you know to see it like that.
"I do want to be a Giant, but it still has to make sense at the end of the day. The money has to make sense, and everything else has to make sense. We've been talking and communicating and trying to figure it out as best we can, so hopefully, it can get done. But as I said, I can only control what I can control, and you know, to see what happens."
McKinney likely didn't want to limit his options ahead of the start of free agency by rushing to get a deal done with the Giants. He's expected to draw interest on the open market, where he and Washington safety Kamren Curl are among the youngest of the safeties set to hit the market who had extensive playing experience last season.
“If something can’t get done [with the Giants] then obviously, I have to weigh in my other options and see what else is the best situation,” McKinney said. “I really do want to be a Giant, but if something can’t get figured out, then we have to see what the next step is.”
McKinney, voted a team co-captain in the last two seasons, had arguably his best season last year. In addition to playing every defensive snap, he set new career highs in total tackles (116) and pass breakups (11).
His career, however, has had peaks and valleys. McKinney, who has never been named to a Pro Bowl or voted an All-Pro, missed large chunks of his rookie campaign and his third season due to injuries. And despite his impressive showing last season, he didn't start to pick up his production until about midway through the year.
Still, he's one of the most versatile safeties on the market, a player who can line up in the box, as the deep safety, or in the slot and deliver equally well regardless.
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