Part 10 in a series analyzing the New York Giants
Can one player transform an entire position group?
Sure, if that player is a superior performer on the field and also enhances the performance of those around him.
This is what the Giants are hoping Xavier McKinney brings to the table and to the back end of their defense.
This might be too much to ask from a rookie taken high in the second round of the NFL draft, but not all first-year players are created equal. Those assigned by the Giants to player evaluation this year viewed as their best-case scenario getting the best offensive tackle in the draft with the No. 4 overall pick — unless that same player could come a bit later via a trade-down — and then get the best safety in this draft at No. 36. The Giants knew they should be in position to take Andrew Thomas in the first round. They anticipated McKinney would be off the board before No. 36 came around.
McKinney was there and it was a slam-dunk choice. Whenever the Giants can get on the field, watching how McKinney at free safety and Jabrill Peppers at strong safety work in concern with each other will be the most compelling new ingredient to the rebuilt defense.
“With his versatility and what he’s shown of what he’s been able to do, play in the deep part of the field, play in the box, be used in coverage on slot receivers, be used in blitz packages,’’ coach Joe Judge said of what he saw from McKinney at Alabama. “He’s shown a range in what he’s able to do. That’s going to allow us to use all of our players in different ways. Because of his versatility, that will complement everybody else on the roster as his strengths shake out.’’
McKinney’s arrival will allow Peppers to be used in different ways and that should be a boon to the defensive backfield. The Giants picked up the fifth-year option on Peppers even though his first season with the team was not a smash hit. He was the one piece of the Odell Beckham Jr. trade with the Browns that general manager Dave Gettleman insisted on getting in return. Peppers’ intensity is evident and welcome in a locker-room vibe that in the past was too laid back, especially within the defense. He missed the final five games with fractured transverse process in his back and he plays so hard that his body takes a pounding. The Giants hope this season, allowed to play closer to the line of scrimmage because McKinney is so excellent in coverage, Peppers can give out much more punishment than he gets.
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There is no doubt the Giants expect McKinney to work his way into the starting lineup by Game 1, whenever that takes place. Where does this leave Julian Love? In a pretty good spot, actually. Love told The Post prior to the draft his goal is to start alongside Peppers. Beating out McKinney will be difficult but if the versatility Love showed as a rookie — he was mostly a cornerback at Notre Dame — blossoms more so in his second year, the Giants will find a place for him. The Patriots were not reluctant to use three safeties on the field at one time and the new Giants defensive coordinator, Patrick Graham, is a product of the New England football factory.
“Julian has a great skill set,’’ Judge said. “He can play corner, he can play in the slot and he can play back deep as a safety. We are going to use him as we need by each game plan. He may be an every-down safety, he may be an every-down corner’’
Having Peppers, McKinney and Love on the back end is an intriguing scenario set to play out this summer.
Nate Ebner is listed as a safety but he played one snap on defense the past three seasons for the Patriots — he is a special teams contributor. Rashaan Gaulden was signed to the practice squad last December, as the Giants kicked the tires on a 2018 third-round draft pick out of Tennessee who did not last two seasons with the Panthers.