Xavier McKinney to the Green Bay Packers made so much sense that it had to happen.
Safety sat at the top of the Packers' offseason priority list, and a shift to Jeff Hafley's scheme perfectly lined up with McKinney's strengths. General manager Brian Gutekunst understood this and spent big to bring McKinney to Green Bay.
The rest is history.
McKinney started all 17 games for the Packers, intercepting eight passes, more than the entire team managed in 2023. Only the Detroit Lions' Kerby Joseph has more picks this season. McKinney is a leader and has helped transform the Packers' defense.
Now, he gets the rewards he deserves.
Xavier McKinney is Packers' only first-team All-Pro selection in 2024
The Packers signed McKinney because they believed he was an ascending young player who could become a superstar in their system. They were correct.
McKinney has been named a first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press, which he can add to the Pro Bowl honor he has already received. Packers fans knew from Week 1 that he was a special player, and McKinney has maintained that elite level of play all season.
He intercepted a pass in his first six games, making some NFL history, and has since taken that tally to eight.
The New York Giants look the worst here. The two key free agents they let get away — McKinney and Saquon Barkley — became All-Pros and will meet in Sunday's NFC Wild Card Round. Letting McKinney go made zero sense for the Giants. He was 25 years old and had already shown All-Pro potential. He is a player to build a defense around.
The Packers have done that, and his arrival has transformed a unit that finished the regular season ranked sixth in total defense, seventh against the run, and sixth in scoring.
McKinney is the Packers' only All-Pro this season, but others also deserve praise. According to Wed Hodkiewicz of the team's official website, Elgton Jenkins, Zach Tom, Keisean Nixon, and Edgerrin Cooper received votes.