With free agency approaching, Giants’ Xavier McKinney picks the best moment for interceptions.
Xavier McKinney added two highlight-reel interceptions to his résumé, as well as possibly a few million dollars to his forthcoming free-agent salary.
McKinney intercepted two different quarterbacks on back-to-back defensive snaps in what could have been his final game for the Giants — a moment overshadowed by the same realities for longer-tenured teammates Saquon Barkley and Sterling Shepard — in a 27-10 victory over the Eagles on Sunday.
“Pay that man his money,” Barkley, a pending free agent, said.
McKinney’s athleticism was also on display as he ran from center field to the sideline to high-point Jalen Hurts’ pass and tap both of his feet as he tumbled out of bounds.
When he lined up in slot coverage, read a block to set up a screen, and broke on the ball without taking a step backwards, he ripped Marcus Mariota’s pass away from Quez Watkins.
“I like the first one,” McKinney, who has nine interceptions in his career, said. “I’m not going to lie — the first one was insane.” I had no idea I had caught it until I checked [on replay].”
What is McKinney’s next step?
Adoree’ Jackson, a cornerback, joined Barkley in saying “pay that man” in the winning locker room.
“I definitely agree,” McKinney said with a laugh, “but we’ll see what happens.”
McKinney, a second-round choice who made $8.4 million over four years, previously told The Post that “money doesn’t mean much to me,” especially when compared to his career objective of being inducted into the Hall of Fame and “being remembered as one of the best to ever do it.”
“I don’t think I’ve scratched the surface of who I am as a player,” he remarked. “I believe I could have done a lot better this year in a variety of ways.” For me, the best is yet to come.”
McKinney has the 11th-best grade among NFL safety entering Week 18 according to Pro Football Focus, and that figure is only going up.
This season, he and teammate Bobby Okereke were the only players in the NFL to play every defensive snap for their team.
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