Packers sign Xavier McKinney

[APB]

Now THIS makes me excited for this defense!

[CWIMM]

Quite frankly I am good for FA. I will be okay with bottom dwellers or bargain shopping but really my only real priority this FA was Xavier McKinney.

We NEVER get the guy I actually want in FA. I think this might actually be the first time as we didn't even talk too much about Preston or Z'darius in March 2019 before it happened.

Great move by Gutekunst to sign the best free agent at a position of dire need. I don't believe the Packers are done in free agency with that move though, they still desperately need to add another veteran inside linebacker in my opinion.

[Madcity_matt]

I liked Spofford's response this morning on II. They didn't just sign an experienced vet to fill the hole at safety, they found a playmaker at possibly the most important position on Hafley's defense.

[Labrev]

I like the idea of bringing back Jonathan Owens. I thought he was playing pretty good 'ball for us down the stretch. It just seemed like it was starting to click for him, and he may be on the cusp of taking that next step. He was poor as one of the two-high safeties but when we played him in the box, as we did when we needed to change things up to stop the run, he was actually quite good.

I like having him for his ST value, as a box safety, and as an emergency option as a LB.

In any case, we should add one more guy at S, even if it is "just" a bargain bin purchase.

[Yoop]

I like the idea of bringing back Jonathan Owens. I thought he was playing pretty good 'ball for us down the stretch. It just seemed like it was starting to click for him, and he may be on the cusp of taking that next step. He was poor as one of the two-high safeties but when we played him in the box, as we did when we needed to change things up to stop the run, he was actually quite good.

I like having him for his ST value, as a box safety, and as an emergency option as a LB.

In any case, we should add one more guy at S, even if it is "just" a bargain bin purchase.

2 dn plus ST's players are fine in limited quantity, Owen lacks the ability to track the ball, he's fine against the run, but poor in coverage, imo that makes him back up talent, so we absolutely need to improve the SS position if at all possible.

and we should be able to do so in this draft class, might be thin at the top, but there some decent prospects later from just brousing some positional draft boards.

[Pugger]

McKinney goes for $10 more than Savage, per year.

Addition by subtraction.

[Acrobat]

I like the idea of bringing back Jonathan Owens. I thought he was playing pretty good 'ball for us down the stretch. It just seemed like it was starting to click for him, and he may be on the cusp of taking that next step. He was poor as one of the two-high safeties but when we played him in the box, as we did when we needed to change things up to stop the run, he was actually quite good.

I like having him for his ST value, as a box safety, and as an emergency option as a LB.

In any case, we should add one more guy at S, even if it is "just" a bargain bin purchase.

I'm good with this too. We also have Johnson and could still draft someone in Day 1 or 2 to complete the Safety position.

[CWIMM]

I like the idea of bringing back Jonathan Owens. I thought he was playing pretty good 'ball for us down the stretch. It just seemed like it was starting to click for him, and he may be on the cusp of taking that next step. He was poor as one of the two-high safeties but when we played him in the box, as we did when we needed to change things up to stop the run, he was actually quite good.

I like having him for his ST value, as a box safety, and as an emergency option as a LB.

In any case, we should add one more guy at S, even if it is "just" a bargain bin purchase.

Owens agreed to a deal with the Bears.

[paco]

[APB]

A more readable format for the McKinney contract:

[YoHoChecko]

If he lives up to his potential, this is a contract you can mostly play out. Love it.

[APB]

If he lives up to his potential, this is a contract you can mostly play out. Love it.

Yep, he’s in GB a minimum of 2 years based on cap/dead cap differential but the entire contract is palatable from a cap perspective if he maintains his elite level play.

[YoHoChecko]

If he lives up to his potential, this is a contract you can mostly play out. Love it.

Yep, he’s in GB a minimum of 2 years based on cap/dead cap differential but the entire contract is palatable from a cap perspective if he maintains his elite level play.

Yeah. Those $8.5 M roster bonuses are almost sure to be converted as we go and likely with void years added, which will mildly annoy me, but isn’t a huge deal; but the cap is definitely palatable throughout given the growth trajectory.

[Yoop]

I read that PFF graded him best coverage safety last year, whatever thats worth, seems the type player ya hope plays past his contract for the right price.

He's not fast, which means he reads and react without hesitation, I was surprised to read he runs 4.6, from watching a few vids he looks faster then that to me, as long as you react decisively the trade off of less speed is negligible, some of the best ever weren't speedsters either.

I know 17 seems a lot of money, it is, but what's the going rate for a guy likely to make game changing plays? I hope he asks for a raise in 2 years

[YoHoChecko]

I read that PFF graded him best coverage safety last year, whatever thats worth, seems the type player ya hope plays past his contract for the right price.

He's not fast, which means he reads and react without hesitation, I was surprised to read he runs 4.6, from watching a few vids he looks faster then that to me, as long as you react decisively the trade off of less speed is negligible, some of the best ever weren't speedsters either.

I know 17 seems a lot of money, it is, but what's the going rate for a guy likely to make game changing plays? I hope he asks for a raise in 2 years

Not just last year--over the course of the past 4 years!

[Scott4Pack]

His 4.6 on the track is converting to a 4.2 on the field. Or we could hope.

;-)

[Labrev]

Ed Reed ran a 4.6

[APB]

A 4.6 40 is plenty fast enough for a free safety so long as he’s instinctive and quick to react. McKinney is said to be both. Those traits combined will have him closing a lot of ground on balls thrown downfield.

[BF004]

If you didn’t already love her enough.

[Pugger]

There is a clip on the Packers' website and it sounds like McKinney is excited to be here.