GREEN BAY – When the Packers signed Xavier McKinney earlier this year, they did so in the hope of acquiring an ascending playmaker who also could lead a young secondary.
Five months in, McKinney has come 100% as advertised.
Not only has the 24-year-old safety hastened the development of rookie draft picks Javon Bullard and Evan Williams, but McKinney also has been a dangerous ballhawk on the back end.
One week after picking off quarterback Jordan Love, McKinney was again a master of disguise during Wednesday's practice when he intercepted a tipped ball by Green Bay linebacker Quay Walker to end an 11-on-11 period between the first-team offense and defense.
"Just saw underneath coverage. Quay did a good job of expanding to it," McKinney said. "Originally, I thought it was gonna come straight to me. He tipped it and had to readjust. I was able to get the pick.
"Tips and overthrows, we say we gotta get those. I was able to make that one."
A field general in every sense of the word, McKinney has presented a lot of challenges to Love and Green Bay's offense through the first 2½ weeks of training camp.
McKinney, who turns 25 on Friday, was widely considered one of the top free agents on the market this offseason after catching nine interceptions on 27 passes defensed in 49 games (46 starts) for the New York Giants the past four seasons.
Despite his youth, the 2020 second-round pick was a team captain in New York. During his five months with the Packers, McKinney has already made himself at home in Green Bay's secondary with several breakups to go along with his two INTs.
Asked recently about his experience practicing against McKinney, Love praised the 6-foot, 201-pound safety for testing him and the rest of the Packers' offense on a daily basis.
"He knows where he needs to be, he knows how to kind of hide from the quarterback and disguise stuff," Love said. "'X' is doing a phenomenal job back there. He's a playmaker. He's always around the ball, he's always hunting that ball, so I'm excited to see what he can do this year."
Making McKinney's production even more impressive is the fact the Packers continue to rotate Bullard, Williams and second-year safety Anthony Johnson Jr. alongside him in practice.
But regardless of who's back there, Green Bay's safeties have continued to make plays since the beginning of training camp.
Bullard, who's seen the most playing time next to McKinney as of late, was brilliant during the team's annual Family Night practice on Saturday, charging hard to the football while breaking up a couple passes.
Then, Williams picked off Love during the final period of Wednesday's practice on a 50/50 ball intended for third-year receiver Christian Watson in the end zone.
It was the rookie fourth-round pick's fourth interception in 12 public practices in training camp. Williams feels getting a few pointers from McKinney has helped his game immensely.
"Experience is really the name of the game with him. He's such a cerebral football player," Williams said. "His processing, his ability to notice little things in formations that might give a tell to where he can make a play or put him in a better position. Honestly, I've just tried to listen twice as much as I speak and see exactly what makes him tick."
The Packers made wholesale changes in their secondary this offseason after finishing with just seven interceptions, the second fewest in the NFL last season.
Green Bay is banking on the addition of McKinney, three rookie draft picks at safety and a healthy Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes to elevate the secondary once again.
There are plenty of unknowns about how the 2024 season will play out, but McKinney is certain he made the right choice coming to Green Bay. So far, he's loved everything about defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's scheme and his role in it.
"When you're playing DB, picks are everything. Obviously, that's how you get paid," said McKinney with a smile. "Those are game-changing plays at the end of the day. We try to get as many of those as we can. Being in this scheme, it's amazing. We get to play with our instincts. We get to play freely. We just get to play off the quarterback and really use our eyes and play with a lot of vision."
As of Wednesday afternoon, McKinney wasn't sure whether he'll play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns but is fully on-board with whatever the coaches decide.
If he plays, McKinney wants to maximize whatever reps he takes with Bullard or the other young safeties. If he doesn't, McKinney will be there to support them from the sideline.
Just like he has all summer.
"Right now, I'm just trying to get my mental reps in and make sure I practice hard," McKinney said. "If I don't play, then obviously my job will be just trying to make sure the young guys are prepared and ready, which I've already kind of been doing."
