ESPN analyst makes wild award prediction for Packers' Xavier McKinney

Finally, what Green Bay Packers fans have been waiting for: a blog about the secondary that isn't just complaining about their trade deadline.

It's been a weird year for the Packers' secondary. They have real liabilities at cornerback and, by more than a couple metrics, one of the best safety duos in football.

According to Pro Football Focus's overall grades, Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams have been, respectively, the third- and fourth-best safties in football this season. The only two that are better? Detroit's Brian Branch (second) and, sigh, Detroit's Kerby Joseph. Fun fact: five of the top 10 safeties in the NFL this year all play in the NFC North (Chicago's Kevin Byard comes in ninth).

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For McKinney, it's been as good a first season in Green Bay as you could hope for. It's why, according to ESPN NFL Analyst Matt Bowen, he's in line to win Defensive Player of the Year. Why trade for a cornerback when you can just have your safety cover for everyone?! Turns out GM Brian Gutekunst knew what he was doing this entire time!

ESPN analysts thinks Xavier McKinney's going to win Defensive Player of the Year

"McKinney has been a difference-maker for Green Bay, using his range and ball skills to grab six interceptions," writes Bowen. "And in Jeff Hafley's defensive system, McKinney will have more opportunities to make game-changing plays for a team that should make the playoffs. The Packers hit a home run when they signed McKinney this past offseason, upgrading their safety group."

It's nice to see that at least one aspect of the Packers defense is getting better because of Hafley's system, at least. It does kinda feel like TJ Watt already has Defensive Player of the Year locked up, but there's almost a full half of the season still to be played, so I guess anything's possible.

So next time you're complaining about how the Packers' pass defense is what's going to be their ultimate downfall, just remember that ESPN's Matt Bowen predicted, in early November, that Xavier McKinney is going to be the Defensive Player of the Year. Take that, Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson.

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