New York Giants don’t tag safety Xavier McKinney

The New York Giants chose not to use the franchise and transition tags on their two eligible free agents — star running back Saquon Barkley and safety Xavier McKinney — as the deadline passed on Tuesday afternoon.

No transition tag for #Giants S Xavier McKinney, sources tell me and @RapSheet. He’ll hit the open market. pic.twitter.com/r3qQxNwYyM

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 5, 2024

McKinney would have earned a guaranteed $13.815 million under the transition tag this season. He will now enter free agency when the league new year begins on March 13. He can begin negotiating with teams come March 11 — the ‘legal tampering’ window.

Reports have surfaced suggesting the Giants and McKinney could still strike a deal before free agency begins.

Giants have not given up hope of re-signing Xavier McKinney.

They will continue to work toward an agreement. That will be difficult but perhaps not impossible. Might depend on what he learns he can get elsewhere.

— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) March 5, 2024

McKinney, 24, was a second-round pick (36th overall) of the Giants back in 2020 out of Alabama. He played every defensive snap for the Giants in 2023, registering career highs in tackles, tackles for a loss, and fumble recoveries.