Xavier McKinney and the Changing Perception of Safeties

A Rivalry Beyond Social Media

At first glance, it might seem like Xavier McKinney and Kerby Joseph don’t see eye to eye. Their NFC North rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions, along with some social media interactions, could suggest tension. However, McKinney’s perspective on Joseph goes beyond simple competition—it’s about reshaping the value of their position in the NFL.

The Undervalued Safety Position

For years, the safety position has been overlooked in contract negotiations and team-building strategies. McKinney saw firsthand how teams devalued safeties when the New York Giants let him walk in free agency rather than paying for what they deemed a non-premium position. The Packers, on the other hand, recognized his worth and signed him to a $16.75 million-per-season deal.

“It ain’t no beef,” McKinney said in an interview with Ari Meirov on the “NFL Spotlight” podcast. “It’s actually funny looking at the year and seeing what the safety position has done. Before the season, they were trying to devalue us—cutting the best safeties, making them free agents. Just like running backs, they made it seem like safeties aren’t valuable to this game.”

Advocating for Recognition

McKinney has become a vocal advocate for safeties, highlighting their critical role in defensive schemes. Despite his outstanding performance in 2024, the Defensive Player of the Year Award candidates were dominated by edge defenders, a cornerback, and an off-ball linebacker—none of whom were safeties.

“We did a helluva job this year showing the league and the world how important this position is,” McKinney added. “If you have a great safety, you’ll see the impact. This year, we helped the game and paved the way for safeties coming up to secure their own big contracts.”

The Pay Gap in the NFL

Even with their growing influence, safeties remain underpaid compared to other positions. The highest-paid safety in the league, Antoine Winfield Jr., earns $21.025 million per year—ranking just 69th among all NFL players. Meanwhile, McKinney, one of the Packers’ top performers in 2024, is only the 133rd highest-paid player in the league and the fifth-highest-paid safety.

As the perception of safeties continues to evolve, McKinney’s voice and on-field performance are making a strong case for change. The question remains—will NFL teams finally recognize the value of elite safeties, or will the position continue to be overlooked when it comes to major contracts?