It was inevitable that the New York Giants would lose Xavier McKinney after the incredible 2023 he just played. However, his departure doesn’t get any less painful.

The talented safety joins the Green Bay Packers for a lucrative four-year, $68 million offer. While the Giants did everything they could to keep him, they cannot throw money as big as what the Packers were offering the 24-year-old safety from Alabama.

However, he’s not leaving the team on bitter terms. He has a message to Giants fans who lovingly welcomed him in his four years with the organization.

Xavier McKinney thanks New York Giants fans as he prepares for life at Green Bay
Giants Wire’s John Fennelly wrote about McKinney’s message to the fans after his deal with the Packers was confirmed.

HIs message on Twitter was short, sweet, and direct to the point:

“GIANTS nation! Thank you for an incredible 4 years,” McKinney wrote. “Always got a place in my heart for sure.”

While this message wasn’t as emotionally charged as Saquon Barkley’s farewell, it shows just how much he loved playing at MetLife Stadium in front of all the Giants fans. He wouldn’t have had the kind of year he enjoyed in 2023 if he didn’t like playing in front of them, after all.

Can the Giants find a perfect McKinney replacement?
While McKinney’s final message as a Giant is nice and peaceful, there’s still turmoil within the front office. They’re having a little crisis in finding a capable replacement to McKinney’s production last season.

It will be tough for GM Joe Schoen to find a one-for-one player in the free-agent market who can replicate his production. Last season was his greatest statistical year as he finished with 116 tackles (78 solo), 0.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries for seven yards, and three interceptions for 22 yards.

The Giants only have three safeties in their roster so far, and free agency is just about wrapped up. They will need to pull off some sort of miracle if they are going to get a player who can at least produce the kind of numbers McKinney made last year.