NY Giants DB Xavier McKinney cracks the PFF top safety rankings list

What does the 2023 campaign have in store for NY Giants safety Xavier McKinney? We can't wait to find out, as the stud defensive back is stepping up as the leader of the secondary for defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.

McKinney is going to be motivated to have a bounce-back year, as his 2022 was headlined by him nearly losing three fingers in a scary ATV accident during the bye week. McKinney is still one of the best defensive backs in the division, though.

Matter of fact, Pro Football Focus just came out with its safety rankings, with the Big Blue playmaker checking in at No. 25 on the list.

Pro Football Focus has Xavier McKinney as the No. 25 safety in the NFL

"McKinney’s third year out of Alabama was a bit rough, as he carried just a 61.1 overall grade this past season. He also missed eight games and did not intercept a pass. That stands in contrast to the 2021 version of McKinney, who posted a 75.4 overall grade and picked off five passes that year. The Giants need vast improvement from their secondary if they want to see the postseason again in 2023. A return to form for McKinney would go a long way in achieving that goal."
- PFF's Dalton Wasserman

McKinney, entering the fourth year of his career, was only able to appear in nine games last season due to his serious hand injury. In that time, he posted 45 total tackles, five pass deflections and one forced fumble.

There were no interceptions on the board for the 6-0, 200-pounder, but he'll look to create some magic for Wink and Brian Daboll this fall and winter. With so many changes for the Big Blue secondary in recent seasons, McKinney has been a consistent impact player for this team when healthy.

Everyone is hoping McKinney can return to form in '23, as everyone wants to put the bad memories from '22 behind them. Look for McKinney to ball out this campaign.

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