Is Xavier McKinney the Giants’ most underappreciated player?
The New York Giants have struggled with roster depth for several years now and 2022 will be no exception. While general manager Joe Schoen has made strides to beef things up, the team’s depth remains shallow in several areas.
With lacking talent, it’s difficult to win. But we don’t need to tell Giants fans that — it’s been a long decade of misery.
But beyond just all the checkmarks in the “L” column, the lacking depth tends to result in talented players being overshadowed. One such player is emerging third-year safety Xavier McKinney, who isn’t nearly as well-known outside of New York/New Jersey as he is inside of it.
In breaking down the league’s most underrated player, NFL.com’s Cynthia Frelund recently came to that same conclusion.
Xavier McKinney, S, New York Giants
APY: $2.098 million (rookie contract; 49th among safeties).
McKinney earned PFF’s 12th-best coverage grade (78.4) among 113 qualifying safeties in 2021. Computer vision shows that when the Giants deployed man concepts, he was at his best, decreasing opposing passer ratings by an average of 22.2 points. McKinney, who led the team in interceptions last season (5), improved over the course of the campaign, and it stands to reason that he’ll be asked to do even more in Year 3, especially given the departure of James Bradberry.
With Logan Ryan, Jabrill Peppers and James Bradberry all now gone, McKinney takes over as the veteran and leader of the secondary. And although he’s still somewhat underappreciated right now, we’d be willing to bet that’s not the case a year from now.
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