The Green Bay Packers have traditionally built their roster by acquiring and developing talent via the NFL Draft and have rarely offered significant contracts to outside free agents. Green Bay’s lack of ownership comes with unique disadvantages, and players rarely imagine a small city with cold winters as an ideal free agency destination.

But this past offseason, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst deviated from the team’s approach to roster construction and took an aggressive approach in free agency. In addition to signing running back Josh Jacobs to a monster contract, the Packers also signed former New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney to a four-year, $68 million contract, making him the fourth-highest paid safety in the league.

Green Bay’s aggressive offseason acquisitions proved worth the risk. McKinney has proven useful in Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme, which places a lot of responsibility on the defensive safety. The fifth-year safety has shown the versatility to play in the slot, box and deep zone. McKinney started all 17 games and was named a first-team All-Pro selection after recording 88 tackles, eight interceptions, 11 passes defended, one sack and two tackles for a loss.

After being named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press, McKinney celebrated the award by blasting his former teammates on social media.

“To think he ever thought he was better than me and that they’re trying to push that…lol,” McKinney wrote on his Instagram Story. “Oh, and someone tell their buddy to get off the Melo podcast and clap and get back to his craft. Yes, it’s always smoke… remember that! Write it down and take a photo. IDGAF!”

Although McKinney didn’t mention any of his former Giants teammates by name, it’s likely he’s referring to Kayvon Thibodeaux. The New York edge rusher appeared on Carmelo Anthony’s “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast last year and discussed how his role at linebacker compares to other defensive positions.

“I have the hardest and easiest position in the NFL,” Thibodeaux said. “It’s the hardest because I’m going up against…the offensive lineman is the most dangerous (player), other than a safety who’s going up at full speed. … I weigh 250 (pounds), the average offensive lineman weighs 320 (pounds), so you’re talking about exactly the mindset I need to have.”

Thibodeaux’s comments do not appear to disparage McKinney in any way, but more likely happened behind the scenes during the security detail’s four years in New York. More than anything, McKinney’s comments are a reminder that the Giants appear to be falling apart under general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.

The Giants received a lot of criticism for not prioritizing star running back Saquon Barkley’s contract in the 2023 offseason and instead signing QB Daniel Jones to a four-year contract extension worth $160 million. Even Thibodeaux voiced his disapproval. While New York has received a lot of criticism for letting Barkley leave in free agency, allowing McKinney has proven to be another mistake. McKinney and Barkley were both named first-team All-Pro selections in their first seasons outside of New York. Meanwhile, Jones led the Giants to a 2-8 record before being benched and fired that season. New York no longer has any of these three players on its roster and finished the 2024 season with an abysmal record of 3-14.

McKinney was selected No. 36 by the Giants in the 2020 NFL Draft, but was hampered by injuries and missed 18 games in his first three seasons in the NFL. He played a full season in 2023, but New York decided not to sign him after his rookie contract.

In Hafley’s scheme, McKinney thrived as a game-winning safety with sideline-to-sideline reach. After recording just nine interceptions in 46 games with the Giants, McKinney finished his first season in Green Bay with eight interceptions, the most of any Packers player since Charles Woodson had nine interceptions in 2009.