NY Giants land Xavier McKinney replacement by taking Tyler Nubin in Round 2

The start of the second round was a bit brutal for NY Giants fans, as they saw Cooper DeJean, Max Melton, Kool-Aid McKinstry and others get taken off the board early on. However, thanks to the defensive back depth for Day 2, you had a feeling Joe Schoen would still land a stud defensive back.

That has turned out to be the case, with the Giants taking Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin with the No. 47 overall pick. With Xavier McKinney leaving in free agency to sign a $68 million deal with the Packers, this defense has needed a new safety to come in and take his spot. Enter Nubin.

The NY Giants used their second-round pick on Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin

A lot of people wanted to see the Giants grab a cornerback in the second round, but the guys we mentioned above were selected before No. 47 arrived. While yes, a CB is still needed, the Giants entered the draft with a safety need, which Schoen was able to address.

Depending on who you asked, Nubin or Washington State safety Jaden Hicks would have been a great safety get for Schoen and the Giants. Nubin is a stud in the middle of the secondary, as the 6-2, 210-pounder is known for being a versatile player.

Over the past three seasons, Nubin posted at least 52 tackles per campaign. In 2023 for Minnesota, the new Giants DB finished with 53 total tackles, four pass deflections and a career-high five interceptions. Over his career with the Gophers, Nubin had 13 INTs.

Now that Nubin will be making his way to town, he joins a safeties group that also includes Jason Pinnock, Dane Belton and more. Nubin will be looked at to arrive in East Rutherford and compete for a starting job from Day 1. He has the tools to do just that. This is a pick Giants fans are pretty dang excited about.