The Green Bay Packers defense has been effective throughout the first five weeks of the 2024 NFL season. One of the reasons why the Packers defense has been much better this year than last season is because of safety Xavier McKinney.
McKinney through the first five games of the season already has five interceptions and could very well have double-digit interceptions before the end of the season. He played with the New York Giants last season before signing with them in free agency.
Hall Of Famer LeRoy Butler Makes Bold Statement About Green Bay Packers Safety Xavier McKinney
LeRoy Butler is a Hall of Fame safety and had a 12-year NFL career. Very recently, he appeared on Matt Lombardo’s Between the Hashmarks Podcast. Butler said about Xavier McKinney’s start to the 2024 season for the Green Bay Packers:
“What he’s meant to this organization is somebody that’s reliable. But, Darren Sharper played with me … I’m just talking in a Packers uniform … Darren Sharper had the best range I’ve ever seen, from the middle of the field, sprint over, intercept it, or cause a fumble, Darren Sharper was mazing. Eugene Robinson had the best instincts I’ve ever seen; from reading tendencies, knowing what they were doing out of different formations, Eugene Robinson was the smartest safety to ever play the game. X is both of those guys.”
This is some high praise for McKinney. He is only 25 years old and has room to grow as a safety. There is a reason why the Packers gave him a lot of money this offseason.
An NFL General Manager Praises Him
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Brian Gutekunst, the Packers general manager deserves his flowers for signing McKinney this offseason. Many New York Giants fans were not thrilled when general manager Joe Schoen did not re-sign him in the offseason. An NFL general manager said to Matt Lombardo of substack.com on Sunday night:
“He has great instincts back there. And ball skills to match. He’s having a hell of a year, so far.”
It will be interesting to see what Xavier McKinney could do for an encore in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals. They can not afford to lose him at any point this season. The Green Bay Packers defense feels different this season because of McKinney’s presence.
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