The NFL’s safety landscape shifted into sharper focus Thursday when ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler released his ranking of the league’s top safeties and placed former New York Giants standout Xavier McKinney at No. 3, with another ex‑Giant, Julian Love, among those receiving votes.
Giants’ eye for safety talent, poor retention
New York’s front office has repeatedly unearthed defensive backfield talent in consecutive drafts — Love at pick No. 108 (2019) and McKinney at pick No. 36 (2020) — players who helped shore up the Giants’ secondary and contributed to a playoff appearance in 2022. But both players departed in free agency or via trade: Love signed with the Seattle Seahawks after the 2022 season, and McKinney left for the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 offseason.
The departures highlight an obvious split between talent evaluation and retention. Each player's next stop has amplified his profile: Love helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl this past February, and McKinney has carved out an elite role in Green Bay.
Why McKinney climbed to No. 3
Fowler’s evaluation cites McKinney’s all‑around skill set and game awareness. An AFC coach told Fowler:
"He sees the game very quickly. Fast processor. He is always in a great position and plays the game in control. He can tackle, he can cover, and he gets the ball."
McKinney’s rise was reflected in his new contract: a four‑year, $67 million deal with Green Bay in 2024. Fowler notes that since signing that contract, McKinney has not allowed a touchdown — a stat that backs up the notion of him as a game‑changing coverage presence. On the list, McKinney finished behind only Kyle Hamilton and Derwin James.
Jevon Holland and the Giants’ current roster picture
The lone present Giant named on Fowler’s list is Jevon Holland, who joined Love among listed safeties. Holland arrived in New York last offseason on a significant free‑agent contract and posted 63 tackles and one interception in his first season with the team.
Comparing salary values cited in the ranking context shows Holland and McKinney occupy similar financial rungs — Holland with an average annual value of $15.1 million and McKinney at $16.75 million — while the on‑field production and long‑term value assessments tilt in McKinney’s favor.
- McKinney: No. 3 on Fowler’s list; four‑year, $67M contract; no touchdowns allowed since 2024 signing.
- Love: Former Giant; received votes; Super Bowl winner with Seattle in February.
- Holland: On list; 63 tackles and one interception in first Giants season; AAV $15.1M.
| Player | Drafted | Current team | Notable stat/contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xavier McKinney | No. 36, 2020 | Green Bay Packers | 4 yrs, $67M; no TDs allowed since 2024 |
| Julian Love | No. 108, 2019 | Seattle Seahawks | Super Bowl winner (Feb.) |
| Jevon Holland | — | New York Giants | 63 tackles, 1 INT (first Giants season); AAV $15.1M |
For the Giants, the recognition of former players on a national top‑10 list is bittersweet. It underscores the franchise’s ability to identify defensive talent in the draft but also raises questions about roster management, contract strategy and the team’s capacity to keep playmakers in New York long enough to build sustained success around them.
Across the league, the ranking reaffirms a trend: safety play has become a premium blend of range, instincts and coverage reliability, and teams that secure those traits — whether by draft or free agency — gain defensive flexibility. For the Giants, the hope will be that current pieces such as Holland can translate recognition into wins on the field before the next round of roster churn reshapes the secondary again.
