5 Xavier McKinney replacements the Giants can target in the NFL Draft

Joe Schoen and the NY Giants front office had a crucial start to free agency, as they were tasked with replacing star running back Saquon Barkley, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, and safety Xavier McKinney, who signed with the Green Bay Packers.

McKinney has spent the last four seasons with the New York Giants after he was selected 36th overall by the team in 2020 out of Alabama. He was impressive at the collegiate level and was a part of the Crimson Tide team that won the National Championship in 2017. He started in 2018 and 2019 for Nick Saban and skipped his senior season to enter the NFL Draft.

In four seasons in the NFL, the 24-year-old safety has played 49 games and has 279 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 27 pass deflections, nine interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a touchdown with Big Blue. His big 2023 season led to him landing a $68 million deal from Green Bay.

With McKinney departing from the Giants, the G-Men will look for replacements for the veteran safety. The Giants did sign former Patriots and Eagles safety Jalen Mills to a one-year deal and currently have Jason Pinnock, Dane Belton, and Gervarrius Owens rostered, but the team needs more help. Here are five safeties the Giants can target in the 2024 NFL Draft:

5. Utah safety Cole Bishop

One option that makes sense for the Giants to pursue in the draft is Cole Bishop out of Utah. The 6-2 safety had 60 tackles, three passes defended, three sacks, one forced fumble, and two interceptions, earning Second-Team All-Pac 12 with the Utes this past season.

The junior led the team in tackles with 83 the previous season and started the final six games of his freshman campaign, where he totaled 54 tackles and three sacks. Now, he'll look to carry that success from the last three seasons with him to the professional level and will look to be one of the top safeties off the board at the NFL Draft in late April.

Bishop demonstrates excellent potential by being able to do whatever is asked of him. He is a big and versatile defensive back who can thrive in the Giants' defense with good coverage. We can expect Bishop to be selected as early as the second round, which would make perfect sense for the Giants, who occupy the 47th pick from the Seattle Seahawks. Keep an eye on him for the G-Men.

4. Washington State safety Jaden Hicks

Jaden Hicks is someone the Giants could explore adding to the NFL Draft because of his unique blend of size, versatility, and movement skills in coverage. The 6-3 safety out of Washington State is coming off back-to-back strong campaigns for the Cougars.

This past season, Hicks played in 12 games and had 76 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two interceptions, and a touchdown. Although Washington State dropped its final game to No. 4 Washington and did not have the best season in the Pac-12 conference, Hicks played exceptionally well. The safety had four tackles, an interception, and a sack against a loaded Huskies offense with plenty of prospects in this draft class.

Multiple mock drafts have Hicks coming off the board in the second round - some of those same mocks have him making his way to East Rutherford. Hicks is a standout defensive back and he could make an immediate impact for the Giants if they bring him to town.

3. Miami safety Kamren Kitchens

Kamren Kitchens would be an excellent fit for the Giants if they select him with the 47th pick in this NFL Draft. The 6-0 defensive back out of Miami excels in man or press coverage and run defense and is excellent at locking down both sides. Kitchens plays with high intensity, displays great athleticism, and has a frame ideal for the safety position.

The former three-star safety played all 12 games, started the final five games, and finished with 44 tackles in his freshman campaign in 2021, but his breakout year came as a sophomore. In 2022, he started every game for Miami and finished with 59 tackles, six interceptions, and one touchdown. He was named a first-team All-American and first-team All-ACC.

Kitchens tied a school record with three interceptions in a 35-14 victory over Georgia Tech. This past season, he had 59 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, five passes defended, five interceptions, and one touchdown, earning First-Team All-ACC honors for the second consecutive season. Pro Football Focus ranked Kitchens as the best safety in this NFL Draft class too.

2. USC safety Calen Bullock

USC safety Calen Bullock will be a great addition to any NFL team's defense next season. The 6-3 defensive back is coming off his best season with the Trojans, where he had 61 tackles, seven passes defended, two interceptions, and a touchdown. His performance earned him First-Team All-Pac-12 honors this year. Bullock also put up impressive numbers the previous season as a sophomore in 2022, totaling 48 tackles, six passes defended, five interceptions, and a touchdown.

Bullock also happens to have connections to the Giants. He is the younger cousin of Big Blue cornerback Darnay Holmes and has already met with the team. Bullock shared with the media that he was also surprised to hear the Giants knew his nickname already. It would be exciting to see both Holmes and Bullock in the same secondary next season - that is if the Giants bring Holmes back.

The G-Men should welcome Bullock and allow him to learn from veteran safeties Mills and Pinnock or even get the opportunity to start next season with the proper development. With Brian Burns recently joining this defense and a new defensive coordinator in Shane Bowen, Giants fans should expect improvements on the defensive side, and with a player like Bullock, that will continue to stay true.

1. Georgia safety Javon Bullard

Georgia safety Javon Bullard makes the most sense for the Giants and would be the perfect fit in New York. The 5-10 defensive back is exceptionally athletic, versatile and plays bigger than his size. He can play deep and physically in the slot and would be a valuable asset to any team's secondary unit in 2024. Bullard is the second-best safety in this class behind Minnesota's Tyler Nubin, and he's expected to be a mid-to-late first-round or early second-round pick.

Bullard was a member of both National Championships that Georgia recently won as a first and second-year student and was the Defensive MVP in 2022 over TCU, recording two interceptions and a fumble recovery before leaving the game with a shoulder injury.

This past season as a junior was his first year starting at safety after starting at nickelback the previous season. Bullard had 55 tackles, a tackle for a loss, two interceptions, five passes defended, and finished with Second-Team All-SEC honors. He'd be a fantastic addition for Brian Daboll and Co.