The Green Bay Packers’ big free-agent addition, Xavier McKinney, was selected the best safety in voting for the All-NFC North Team.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers had arguably the worst safeties in the NFL last year. Now, with the addition of Xavier McKinney, they at least have the best safety in the NFC North.
McKinney received three of the four first-place votes and was the only player on all four ballots. The Detroit Lions’ Kerby Joseph received the other first-place vote, but the Minnesota Vikings’ venerable Harrison Smith wound up second in the voting. In all, seven safeties received at least a fourth-place vote.Last year, the Packers went into the playoffs with the duo of former first-round pick Darnell Savage and veteran Jonathan Owens as the starting safeties.
When Jeff Hafley was hired as defensive coordinator, he was asked about what he looked for in a safety. He mentioned sideline-to-sideline range. The versatility to play deep and in the box. The skill to play man coverage. The desire to tackle. The ability to be the quarterback of the secondary. Without playing a single snap in Green Bay, he might be the team’s best safety since Nick Collins helped the team win the Super Bowl in 2010.It’s amazing that Smith is still known as one of the best safeties in the league even though he’s played 12 years and was mulling retirement before deciding to return for his 13th season at 34 years old.
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