Rebuild? Regress?
Hardly. Try restock, reload and continue chasing greatness.
Green Bay traded away future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers in April, 2023, then fielded the NFL’s youngest roster a year ago.
Most believed the Packers — who missed the postseason in 2022 — would take another step back in 2023. Instead, Green Bay reached the playoffs, upset Dallas in the Wild Card round and had eventual NFC champion San Francisco on the ropes before fading in the divisional playoffs.
Now, with the overwhelming majority of that ascending roster back, a gifted quarterback in Jordan Love, and some key offseason additions, the Packers will return as one of the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LIX.
“I’ve been so close so many years and I’ve been a part of some really good teams. Some great teams,” said Kenny Clark, a defensive tackle who has played in three NFC Championship games, but has been on the losing end each time. “But this group is really coming together, really connecting.
“They’ve got a lot of love for each other. It’s built the right way. It’s hard to win in this league, but I think if we take the same approach we took last year, we’ll make some noise and hopefully we can get to that game (the Super Bowl).”
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Green Bay’s first training camp practice is Monday. For nearly a month, I’ve been counting down the ‘30 Most Important Packers’ heading into the 2024 campaign.
At No. 3 is safety Xavier McKinney.
No. 3
Xavier McKinney, S
Last season
The 24-year old McKinney spent his first four seasons with the New York Giants, then signed to a four-year, $67 million deal with Green Bay in March. McKinney was rated the No. 4 safety in football by Pro Football Focus in 2023 with top-10 grades in both coverage and in the box.
In 592 coverage snaps last season, McKinney was targeted 53 times and didn’t allow a touchdown.
McKinney ruffled some feathers by publicly criticizing former Giants’ defensive coordinator Wink Martindale last season. But the Packers clearly believe McKinney will be a terrific fit in new coordinator Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 defensive scheme.
“I just think he's a unique player to come available,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said of McKinney. “He’s 24 years old, one of the top safeties in the game, a guy that can be a game-changing type player. And he really kind of fits a little bit of a criteria we're looking for in a free agent, not only as a player, but as a leader back there.
“Obviously extensively scouted him through college and liked him quite a bit coming out. He's done nothing in his time in the NFL to change that. Again, not a lot of these guys become available, so when they do I think it's important for us always (going) down that road to see if we can acquire.”
Career to date
McKinney was the 36th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
He played in just six games his rookie season due to a fractured foot. But McKinney rebounded with a strong 2021 campaign when he had a career-high five interceptions (including one for a touchdown) and 93 tackles.
McKinney missed eight games in 2022 after an ATV accident in Cabo during the team's bye week, then rebounded with a terrific 2023 season.
Overall, McKinney has appeared in 49 games over his first four NFL seasons and has 279 career tackles, nine interceptions and two forced fumbles.
“Heart, competitiveness and playmaking ability,” McKinney said when describing himself as a player. “Instincts are really high. Just making the guys around me a lot better and pushing them. Just trying to put on a show, really. That’s my goal is to go out there and play as best that I can and be able to help the team and put the team in the best position to be able to win games. That’s why I’m here and that’s what I’m going to be here to do.”
Outlook
Green Bay first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley made it clear from the start how much he values versatile safeties.
“I want a guy who can erase things,” Hafley said. “We got to eliminate explosive plays when we play this defense, so if a run hits up the middle, this guy's gotta come out of the middle field with his hair on fire, he's gotta be able to get a guy down. I also want him to be a guy, when a ball carrier is wrapped up, he goes and he finishes off the pile.
“I want a guy who can go from sideline to sideline and take the ball away. I think that position has to be a guy with high ball production, meaning he's gotta be able to intercept the ball. He's got to be a guy that can communicate and he's got to be a guy that can get guys lined up and make some calls back there and I'd love a guy that can play man, so I guess I'm describing the perfect player to you, but those are some of the traits I'd look for in playing that position.”
Green Bay believes McKinney checks the overwhelming majority of those boxes.
McKinney runs well, is solid in coverage and is a strong tackler. McKinney is also a terrific leader, which Green Bay’s young safety room — which includes three rookies —will definitely need.
“I don’t think any player’s perfect, but I will tell you that I’m striving for that,” McKinney said. “Every day I got out at practice, it’s going to be everything that I’ve got, 100 percent, and same way for the games. I’m just looking forward to being part of the defense and seeing where I can help and try to make plays and help us to be successful and win.”
Comments
“It’s been so nice to have X. What a pro. How hard he works, the communication, the way he is in the meeting rooms, the way he looks out for the younger guys. That’s the stuff you don’t see. But the coolest part about him is, and I told him this the other day, you don’t find out about somebody and who they are and how hard they work until they get here. That’s been the thing that’s probably made us the happiest. Great pro, great attitude, great effort. He’s done a great job so far, so really excited to have him here, continue to have him grow in the scheme and really understand the scheme. I think it’s our job to put him in position to make a lot of things happen. It’s been fun to see everything that he can do and how quickly he can learn. I’m really glad we have him.” — Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley on McKinney
“I recruited (McKinney) for two years, so I guess that would’ve been his sophomore and junior year, and he ended up committing his senior year. But he was the same player in high school that he was in college, and same player he’s been in pro ball. He’s a pro, he works every day, he’s a good leader, very low maintenance. He’s a ball guy 24-7. I don’t think he has a whole lot of hobbies. He’d tell you that. But he’s the same player I knew back in Roswell, Georgia, that he is now.” — Packers defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley, who recruited McKinney at Georgia nearly a decade ago
“It’s critical to have somebody on the back end making sure the communication’s on point, and just what he’s all about. When he came here, when we signed him, when we went out to dinner together, I had a really good feel — just initial gut feel — that this is a dude. And my experience with him up to this point is exactly that. He is a dude, and we’re fortunate to have him here.” — Packers coach Matt LaFleur on McKinney
THE TOP 30
• No. 30 — RB AJ Dillon
• No. 29 — LB Isaiah McDuffie
• No. 28 — CB Carrington Valentine
• No. 27 — TE Tucker Kraft
• No. 26 — LB Edgerrin Cooper
• No. 25 — DE Lukas Van Ness
• No. 24 — Keisean Nixon
• No. 23 — WR Dontayvion Wicks
• No. 22 — OL Jordan Morgan
• No. 21 — DL T.J. Slaton
• No. 20 — OL Sean Rhyan
• No. 19 — DL Devonte Wyatt
• No. 18 — OL Rasheed Walker
• No. 17 — S Javon Bullard
• No. 16 — CB Eric Stokes
• No. 15 — C Josh Myers
• No. 14 — TE Luke Musgrave
• No. 13 — LB Quay Walker
• No. 12 — DE Preston Smith
• No. 11 — WR Christian Watson
• No. 10 — WR Romeo Doubs
• No. 9 — RT Zach Tom
• No. 8 — Elgton Jenkins
• No. 7 — DE Rashan Gary
• No. 6 — CB Jaire Alexander
• No. 5 — RB Josh Jacobs
• No. 4 — WR Jayden Reed
