For a front office that talks a lot about positional value, the New York Giants sure let a lot of actual value walk out the door.
In back-to-back offseasons, Joe Schoen allowed both Xavier McKinney and Julian Love to hit the open market. Each situation had its own nuances, and each departure had its own logic. But now that the dust has settled and training camp’s right around the corner, a new ESPN ranking released by Jeremy Fowler serves as an inconvenient reminder of how badly those decisions might age.
NFL execs, coaches, and scouts just named both McKinney and Love top-10 safeties heading into 2025. It’s the kind of league-wide respect that makes the decision to let them walk look worse by the day.
Turns out letting good safeties leave has real consequences
McKinney landed at No. 3 on ESPN’s list, behind only Kyle Hamilton (Ravens) and Brian Branch (Lions). He appeared on every ballot submitted and finished second among all safeties in interceptions last year. He’s 25 years old, in his prime, and coming off a first-team All-Pro campaign in his first season with the Green Bay Packers.
“Multidimensional traits, high football IQ, range over the top with the ability to play man coverage over slot receivers,” one NFL evaluator told ESPN. “Has the playmaking element to his game.”
Love came in at No. 10. His last full season in New York didn’t seem to move the needle for Schoen, but it turned out to be the launching pad for a career year in Seattle. Love has racked up seven picks, 22 pass deflections, and 230-plus tackles over the past two seasons. He was extended for three years and $33 million last summer.
“Range, dart, combo of physicality and ball production. Has developed into a high-end player,” said an NFC exec. “Remarkable for a guy that was primarily a corner in college.”
From Schoen’s side, the logic was always rooted in the team’s philosophy—lean into premium positions, don’t pay top dollar at spots like safety or running back, and keep the long-term picture in mind. The problem is that the picture keeps getting fuzzier.
McKinney reportedly felt like the G-Men didn’t want him back. Love said all the right things but ultimately walked away for less money than he’d originally asked for. Both were homegrown talents. Both were still getting better. And both were seemingly let go for reasons tied more to cap math than talent.
New York drafted Tyler Nubin last year and added Jevón Holland this year, which could eventually settle the back end... although not everyone's convinced. But it’s hard to look at the current depth chart and say it’s definitively better than having McKinney and Love.
The list did include Holland as an honorable mention, so at least there's that.
It’s one thing to trust your process. It’s another to watch two former safeties crack the top 10 while you nickel-and-dime your way to a 3-14 record.
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