Feb 28, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (DB52) speaks to the media during the 2020 NFL Combine in the Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
With the 36th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, the Giants elected to take Xavier McKinney out of Alabama.
The safety is a reliable tackler and a plus athletic player. The Giants have struggled at the free safety position in recent years, with Antoine Bethea featuring in 2019. Before him,Big Blue tossed out Curtis Riley, who was rightfully cut after missing tackles frequently in the 2018 campaign.
However, McKinney is known for his high football IQ and toughness. His versatility to match up with all personnel groupings makes him extremely handy and adaptable on defense. He can line up in the slot, against corners, but he is a quality free safety who can run up and make tackles.
McKinney is adequate at ball tracking and can get underneath plays too shorten the field. His athletic ability makes him extremely fit for the free safety with the Giants, who struggle to keep receivers from getting big chunks of yardage. He will help a defense that desperately needs to lock up their secondary and solidify a quality bunch in the backfield.
This post was published on 2020-04-24 19:31
