The Green Bay Packers are certainly shedding a great deal of salary cap space as NFL free agency inches closer and closer. Yesterday, news broke that they had released 2021 All-Pro linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, clearing over $10 million of space over the next two seasons. Today, David Bakhtiari announced on social media that his 11-year tenure in Green Bay has come to an end.
These moves, which free up close to $25 million in salary cap space this offseason, will undoubtedly be used by Brian Gutekunst to pursue some high-level free agents, something Green Bay is not known to do very often. This is certainly the year to do it, with one of their biggest needs, safety, being one of the deepest positions in free agency.
The Green Bay Packers Emerge as a Contender for New York Giants Safety Xavier McKinney in Free Agency
One of the biggest names on the free agent market is New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Packers are one of three teams that have emerged as serious contenders for him in free agency, along with the Giants and Philadelphia Eagles:
Safety Xavier McKinney is a top target for the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Giants would like to keep him.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 11, 2024
Last season, McKinney played in all 17 games, grabbing three interceptions while allowing a completion rate of just 63.1%. Opposing quarterbacks had a 69.8 passer rating when targeting him.
Xavier McKinney Has Ties to the Green Bay Packers
In the early days of the offseason, the Packers parted ways with defensive coordinator Joe Barry, who has since landed as the linebackers coach with the Miami Dolphins. In his place, they hired former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley. With his hiring, many of the coaches on the defensive side of the ball were also let go.
One of the newcomers to the Packers coaching staff is passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley, who was the defensive coordinator of the Los Angels Chargers last season. Ansley was also the defensive backs coach, or McKinney’s position coach, when the star safety was in college at Alabama.
In the video clip posted above of the Up and Adams interview with McKinney, the safety mentions the Packers as a team that he is intrigued by, but admitted he has not spoken to his former coach about a reunion just yet.
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