If the New York Giants change their defensive strategy, they risk losing important free agent Xavier McKinney.
particularly if the safety is lured to reunite with Patrick Graham, the former defensive coordinator of the Giants who
currently plays for the Las Vegas Raiders.
The suggestion that McKinney collaborate with Graham once more comes from Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report.
Reuniting “could be mutually beneficial,” in his opinion.
Ballentine pointed out that McKinney “played for two very different defensive coordinators in Patrick Graham and
Wink Martindale,” demonstrating his versatility. Graham usually relied on a four-man rush to generate pressure in
front of man coverage, whereas Martindale was more interested in blitzing.
In both systems, McKinney was unique because he “thrives as the deep safety.” But he can still work as a moonlighter
in the box. Although McKinney clearly seems like he’s dedicated to testing the free agency market and figuring out
his worth away from the Giants, that degree of flexibility is priceless in the modern NFL. For the Giants’ defense in
2020 and 21 seasons, Graham called plays. It was the latter season that McKinney produced the most.
During Graham’s watch in 2021, he intercepted five passes and grabbed five interceptions. This touchdown was also
scored by McKinney against the Raiders. Such plays demonstrated McKinney’s skill with the Graham playbook.
Graham had called a revamped system with the Miami Dolphins in 2019.
John Schmeelk of Giants.com claims that the plan involved “blitzing and man to man coverage.” In order to disclose
Graham’s “Dolphins played man to man coverage more than 50% of the time,” Schmeelk referenced Pro Football
Focus. They played the second-most often in the NFL (tied with New England at 43%), which is cover one, which
consists of man-to-man defensive and one safety deep.
Graham eased up on the pressure against the Giants, but the man-heavy covering strategy remained the same.
According to Pro Football Reference, his unit blitzed 26.9 percent of the time in 2020, far below than the Baltimore
Ravens’ league-best 44.1 percent. One season later, as McKinney was starting to emerge as a weapon in the back end,
the Giants blitzed on 25% of snaps. The way Martindale described Graham’s approach and how McKinney was
employed closer to the line of scrimmage best illustrates the differences between the two. In two seasons, the 24-
year-old blitzed ten times under Graham, but Martindale placed him on the rush seventy times.
McKinney is aware that he will be useful in Graham’s strategies if he is prepared to move on.
On Friday, February 16, McKinney took to X to express his desire to “be appreciated in every way for what I do and
bring to the table.” both as a leader and a player. For the Giants, acknowledging McKinney’s worth may prove
difficult. According to OverTheCap.com, using the franchise tag for a safety will cost $17.22 million.
According to Spotrac.com, the Giants should have $26,016,449 in salary cap room. However, general manager Joe
Schoen has other demands, including as deciding what will happen to running back Saquon Barkley.
Strangely, Barkley has already pushed for McKinney to stay with the Giants. What the talented defensive back feels
of Shane Bowen taking over as coordinator in place of Martindale might determine a lot.
Bowen’s strategy will probably be more passive, akin to what Graham previously suggested. That might persuade
McKinney to stay put, if the Giants are willing to pay his market value, which is expected to be $10.4 million a year
for the next five years.
