Bama in the NFL: The Young New York Giants

A breakdown of New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney, offensive tackle Evan Neal and wide receiver Robert Foster

Since 2017, the New York Giants haven't had a winning record. 

No, that doesn't mean by the end of a season... it means at any point in a season. They haven't even had a 1-0, 2-1 or 3-2 start in five years.

They've been in rebuild mode since their 11-5 season in 2016, but haven't made much progress. Yet they finally might be getting back on the right track.

Throughout the rebuild, the Giants offense has been one of the worst in the league, while the defense has always been pretty average. They've had a good group across all defensive positions, but the last few drafts have really made a difference. 

One young player on the defense who's already made an impact is safety Xavier McKinney.

Selected with the 36th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Alabama product broke out in his second season (2021). McKinney had 93 tackles (third-most on the team), and five interceptions (fourth-most in the NFL).

On Feb. 8, the Giants hired Don "Wink" Martindale as their next defensive coordinator. The 59-year-old spent time coaching three other teams, but his most notable being the Ravens from 2012-21.

During one of the practices at training camp, new head coach and former Alabama offensive coordinator Brian Daboll appointed two players as play callers during one of the final plays: quarterback Daniel Jones for the offense and McKinney for the defense.

Nine times out of ten, the middle linebacker relays or calls the plays for the defense, but Martindale had safeties Eric Weddle and Chuck Clark to so in Baltimore. It's one of the reasons why they opted for McKinney, and to see what he would do.  

Even though he only got to call out a few plays, Daboll and Martindale liked McKinney's choices. 

This wasn't the first time McKinney had a radio in his helmet as he occasionally called plays while on the Crimson Tide's defense. However, the 22-year-old defensive back said it wasn't quite the same at the NFL level.

"It's different when you've got grown men in the huddle and you're trying to get the call to everybody," McKinney said, per ESPN. "Obviously being on the back end of it, you might have to run 30 yards and run back to get the play to everybody."

McKinney's developing leadership role will hopefully be reflected on the field. A couple more interceptions and pass breakups this fall could earn him some Pro Bowl votes.

Another recent Giants draft pick is another name Alabama fans will recognize: offensive tackle Evan Neal. Selected with the seventh-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Crimson Tide product was closely scrutinized by scouts throughout the entire 2021-22 season.

The 2021 All-American and First-Team All-SEC member has already gotten off to a solid start in New York during training camp and the preseason.

Evan Neal: people mover 😤 https://t.co/EcF6NfDN6I

— WeAreBigGuys (@WeAreBigGuys) August 9, 2022

Evan Neal can move very quickly for a guy that’s 6-7, 350lbs pic.twitter.com/lYj0TVQ7bn

— Giants Daily (@NYGDaily) August 12, 2022

Neal has made some highlight plays, but hasn't always performed to his standard during certain practices. Of course, it takes time for even the best rookies to adjust and thrive.

The last Alabama player on the Giants roster is wide receiver Robert Foster. The 28-year-old had a solid rookie season after being signed by Buffalo as an undrafted free agent: 27 receptions, 541 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games (three starts). However, he hasn't had similar success since. 

Foster played one more season in Buffalo, followed by a season in Washington in 2020. He's got two more weeks to try and earn a roster spot in New York.

This is the twenty-third story in a team-by-team series highlighting Alabama players in the NFL.

Bama in the NFL 2022 Team Previews

1. Arizona Cardinals
2. Atlanta Falcons
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Buffalo Bills
5. Carolina Panthers
6. Chicago Bears
7. Cincinnati Bengals
8. Cleveland Browns
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11. Detroit Lions
12. Green Bay Packers
13. Houston Texans
14. Indianapolis Colts
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16. Las Vegas Raiders
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20. Minnesota Vikings
21. New England Patriots
22. New Orleans Saints

Bama in the NFL Database

Alabama Crimson Tide Players in the NFL
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Alabama Crimson Tide Players in the NFL: Breakdown by Team
Active Alabama Crimson Tide Players in the NFL by Position
All-Time Alabama Crimson Tide Players in the NFL
All-Time Alabama Crimson Tide Players in the NFL By Team
Former Alabama Crimson Tide Players Selected in the NFL Draft
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NFL Draft: All-Time Alabama Crimson Tide Selections by NFL Teams
Alabama Crimson Tide Players Selected in the NFL Draft by Position

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