The Green Bay Packers have put their fans through a rollercoaster of emotions on the opening day of free agency, from the awful lows of losing Aaron Jones and David Bakhtiari to the highs of making two blockbuster signings.
The latest is a move for New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney. Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Packers are signing McKinney to a four-year deal worth $68 million.
Green Bay had to spend big to fend off reported interest from the Philadephia Eagles.
It's a blockbuster move. McKinney was our top-rated safety free-agent target for the Packers. He has everything they need for the post-safety role in Jeff Hafley's defense—McKinney can play deep or in the box, adding versatility to the back end of the defense.
Full details and grade after Packers make blockbuster deal for Xavier McKinney
The Packers paid big money to get McKinney, but he's worth it.
McKinney lands a four-year deal worth an average of $17 million annually, making him the fourth-highest-paid safety in the NFL. But it makes sense considering the importance of the position in Green Bay's new scheme. McKinney has All-Pro potential in this defense.
And he is only 24 years old. For comparison, that's the same age as Anthony Johnson Jr., who the Packers drafted in the seventh round last year.
What can the Packers expect from McKinney?
"I really wanted him to come back to the Giants. He's only 24, is coming off his best year and he's a stud. Great, great deal to land him for Green Bay," said GMEN HQ editor Braulio Perez.
Hafley needs a player who can play deep as the post-safety—McKinney is the answer. He is phenomenal in coverage. According to Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus, McKinney has PFF's No. 1 coverage grade at free safety since entering the league.
McKinney intercepted three passes and broke up 11 in his final season with the Giants. He has the range in coverage to dominate as the single-high safety, but he can also line up closer to the line of scrimmage.
The Packers are paying McKinney to be a game-changing addition to their defense, and that's exactly what we should expect.
Grade: A+