Xavier McKinney added two highlight-reel interceptions to his résumé and maybe a few million dollars to his upcoming free-agent paycheck.
In what might have been his final game for the Giants — a moment overshadowed by the same realities for longer-tenured teammates Saquon Barkley and Sterling Shepard — the free-agent-to-be McKinney intercepted two different quarterbacks on back-to-back defensive snaps Sunday in a 27-10 victory against the Eagles.
“Pay that man his money,” said Barkley, another pending free agent.
McKinney’s athleticism was on display either when he covered a ton of ground from center field to the sideline to high-point Jalen Hurts’ pass and tap both his feet as he fell out of bounds.
His instincts and versatility were on display 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 to rip Marcus Mariota’s pass away from Quez Watkins.
“I like the first one,” said McKinney, who has nine career interceptions. “I ain’t going to lie — that first one was crazy. I didn’t even know that I caught it until I looked [on replay].”
What’s next for McKinney?
Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson joined Barkley in saying “pay that man” in the winning locker room.
“I definitely agree,” McKinney laughed, “but we’ll see what happens.”
McKinney, who made $8.4 million over four years as a second-round pick, previously told The Post that “money doesn’t mean much to me,” especially when compared to his career goal of reaching 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,” McKinney said. “I think I could’ve been a lot better this year in a lot of different areas. The best is yet to come for me.”
McKinney entered Week 18 with the 11th-best grade among NFL safeties by Pro Football Focus — and that number only is on the rise.
He and teammate Bobby Okereke were the only players in the NFL to play every defensive snap for their team this season.
Does he want to continue playing for the Giants?
“I can tell you that,” McKinney said, “but I can’t control anything. It’s a business.”
The top 10 safeties in the NFL all average at least $13 million annually on multiyear deals.
The only obstacle to McKinney testing his market value would be if the Giants decide to place the franchise tag — a one-year deal worth an estimated $17.2 million by overthecap.com — on him before free agency, as they did with Barkley last offseason.
“No comment,” McKinney said when asked his reaction to that undesirable possibility.
McKinney praised the Giants for sticking with him through hard times, including a nine-game absence last season due to an ATV accident.
“I was just trying to be here for my team,” McKinney said. “I owe a lot to this organization. I’ve been through a lot of different s–t with them, and they’ve stuck with me. The least I can do is go out there and play hard for them every snap. I just want to win at the end of the day — that’s something I want everybody to know about who I am.”
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