Giants Rumors: NYG Considering Giving Xavier McKinney $13.9M Transition Tag

It's possible that the New York Giants use the transition tag on safety Xavier McKinney, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post:

"They will negotiate with McKinney's representatives and if a deal cannot get done — there is no reason to believe an agreement will be reached — they have until March 5 to apply the lesser-used transition tag on him. That is a possibility, the Post has learned.

"It would cost the Giants $13.9 million, a nice savings from the franchise tag. The transition tag allows the player to negotiate with any other team and come up with a deal, with the Giants having the ability to match that offer sheet and retain the player.

"In effect, if the Giants put the transition tag on McKinney — their 2020 second-round pick — another team will determine what the market is willing to pay him and the Giants can then decide if that contract fits with their valuation of the player. If the Giants do not match the offer, McKinney is gone and the Giants do not receive any compensation in return."

McKinney has played all four of his NFL seasons with the New York Giants after being selected with a second-round pick out of Alabama in the 2020 draft. He started all 17 games last season, amassing 116 tackles (78 solo), three interceptions, 11 pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

McKinney is set for free agency after his four-year rookie contract expired. He saved his best season for 2023, notably allowing only a 69.8 passer rating in his coverage, per Pro Football Reference. His 7.0 yards allowed per target was a career-best amount as well.

Understandably, McKinney would like to be handsomely compensated for his efforts, and he put a note out there about his work in the NFL thus far.

Pro Football Focus likes his work, ranking him 43rd overall among all free agents (fourth at his position) in his class.

"McKinney's coverage grades as a free safety (81.4) and in the box (79.4) are top-10 marks among safeties in 2023, and there is a big enough sample size of box play despite his general deployment as a deep player. Over the past three seasons, McKinney's 7.0 yards allowed per target in coverage ranks top-25 among safeties, and his 17 combined interceptions and forced incompletions put him in the top 20."

Ultimately, the Giants have many important decisions to make after a bitterly disappointing 6-11 season, but McKinney could be seen as part of the solution for improvement here. With the transition tag reported as a potential option, it's clear the Giants value the Alabama product.