Xavier McKinney is everything the Green Bay Packers hoped he would be, and more.
A perfect fit for Jeff Hafley's system, McKinney is on track for his first All-Pro selection this season. He leads the league with seven interceptions, including making Packers history by recording one pick in each of his first five games with the team.
Packers fans pounded the table for the team to sign McKinney in the offseason. We wrote about it a lot with hopes of talking it into existence. The Packers made our wishes come true, but even the most optimistic fans couldn't have predicted McKinney to make such a significant impact so quickly.
The Packers signed McKinney to a four-year deal worth $68 million in the offseason. They were willing to pay top price for a player they believed could become an All-Pro, and it already looks like a bargain.
Budda Baker's massive new deal makes the Packers look even better for Xavier McKinney signing
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Arizona Cardinals are signing star safety Budda Baker to a three-year extension worth $54 million, with $30 million guaranteed.
Baker is among the best players in the league at the position, but it makes the Packers' deal with McKinney look even better. The Cardinals are paying $18 million per year, which is comfortably more than McKinney's $16.75 million. Baker's contract also includes $7 million more in guarantees.
McKinney is 26 and entering the best years of his career, and while Baker is still an excellent player, he is now on his third contract and turns 29 in January. McKinney will be 28 at the end of his current contract in Green Bay.
And McKinney is having a better season. Through 14 games, he has made 75 tackles, nine pass defenses, and a league-best seven interceptions. Baker has 142 tackles, two pass defenses, and no picks. McKinney has an elite PFF grade of 87.4, which ranks third among safeties. Baker has a solid 76.7 grade, ranking 16th.
General manager Brian Gutekunst doesn't always spend big money in free agency (which was partly due to salary cap limitations), but when he does, he rarely misses. Gutekunst got it right when he signed Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Adrian Amos, and Billy Turner. He was right when he picked up De'Vondre Campbell and Rasul Douglas.
His two big signings this offseason? McKinney and Josh Jacobs. Those decisions are looking pretty good, too. And after Baker's new deal with the Cardinals, McKinney's contract looks like a bargain for the Packers.