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3 ambitious expectations for NY Giants’ Xavier McKinney in 2022

By Reese Nasser

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 03: Xavier McKinney #29 of the New York Giants in action against the New Orleans Saints during a game at the Caesars Superdome on October 03, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 03: Xavier McKinney #29 of the New York Giants in action against the New Orleans Saints during a game at the Caesars Superdome on October 03, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Xavier McKinney, NY Giants
Xavier McKinney #29 of the New York Giants (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) /

1. Make the Pro Bowl

A trip to the Pro Bowl would prove that everything went to plan for McKinney from a production standpoint. While the NFC is loaded with talent at the safety position, there’s no reason to think that McKinney can’t be just as good as the biggest names.

McKinney has had a fairly short career up to this point. He has started 20 career games and has played in just 23. At this time, he has already proven to be one of the most exciting young defenders in the league. He has recorded 118 total tackles, 11 passes defended, and six interceptions in this stretch. A season like he had in 2021 could be just enough for him to earn a nod to the game.

Last season, the safeties representing the NFC in the Pro Bowl were Quandre Diggs, Antoine Winfield Jr, Budda Baker, and Harrison Smith. McKinney could find himself on par with any of those four players and could be playing right alongside them in this game.

For a player who will be 23 years old when the season starts, a trip to this game would show the leap that McKinney was able to take. Going from an underrated player in the Giants secondary to one of the game’s premier safeties would be a huge, but possible, jump for him.

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