Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney is undoubtedly a fantastic player, one of the best at his position in the NFL. He’s been a revelation on the back end for Green Bay after signing there last offseason.
With eight interceptions, good for second in the NFL, McKinney is a difference-maker for the Packers who anchors the defense. So the question is, what happens if, like other star defensive backs in Green Bay’s recent history, X misses a large chunk of the season?
It’s hard to imagine where the Packers would have been last season without McKinney. Green Bay’s safety room behind him is very thin. If not for Evan Williams’ phenomenal rookie season, the Packers could be searching for answers besides McKinney.
However, the fault in Williams’ game is that he’s not a true deep single-high safety like McKinney. Williams thrives playing down in the box and making plays like this:
Kitan Oladapo is behind McKinney and Williams on the depth chart. He’s a second-year player who played sparingly last season, mostly on special teams. Behind him is Zayne Anderson, who was solid in his limited minutes last season. However, relying on Anderson as a starter would hurt the defense.
The other body in the safety room is second-year player Javon Bullard, who was primarily a slot corner and nickelback last season. Bullard had an up-and-down rookie season, and the Packers are hoping for a lot more out of him this season. However, signing Nate Hobbs from the Las Vegas Raiders takes some minutes away from Bullard.
Hobbs should start on the outside with Keisean Nixon. Still, if Jaire Alexander remains with the Packers, Hobbs would probably slide into the slot position, taking more snaps away from Bullard.
Bullard occasionally played deep safety in college. If McKinny were to be sidelined for a bit, Bullard would be the most natural answer to filling X’s spot. Bullard has the skill set to play deep safety, but it would be a pretty massive step down from McKinney’s play.
Oladapo and Anderson are solid in coverage, but other offensive coordinators would target them as a matchup to exploit. McKinney can erase other teams’ players, which the other Packers safeties simply cannot do.
So, what do the Packers do if McKinney is injured or cannot play in any given week?
The easiest answer would be that the Packers would hope for a big game from Bullard and Williams. Green Bay took both players in last year’s draft, and they have shown flashes of greatness. Still, Bullard hasn’t consistently shown enough to give anyone confidence that he or Williams could replicate what McKinney does.
So, should the Packers look outside the organization for safety depth?
Well, no.
There are more names available than actual playmakers on the field. Justin Simmons was once a big name, but he’s 31 and is declining in play. He doesn’t give me any assurance. Julian Blackmon is another option, but he’s also struggled to stay healthy, although he still makes plays when he’s on the field. I bet the Packers would also pass on him.
Who’s to say that Oladapo or Bullard can’t break out this season and develop into the key depth piece the Packers need behind McKinney?
At this point, the gamble on McKinney’s health is worth the experience and development of Green Bay’s young safeties. The potential alternatives would slow the development of the Packers’ young defenders without being difference-makers on the field. Plus, McKinney has had a relatively clean bill of health in his first five NFL seasons and looks poised for a repeat in 2026.
Not only is Green Bay’s safety room is led by one of the best in the game, there are reasons for optimism behind him, even if it looks thin on paper. Everyone in Green Bay is hoping for another stellar season from McKinney, but the Packers will find a way even if he misses games due to injury.
All stats and data via ESPN unless otherwise noted.