The 2024 NFL Draft saw Florida State University produce 10 drafted players and three additional signings as undrafted free agents, significantly replenishing the presence of ‘Noles in the NFL roster this offseason.
The Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Giants each feature three former Florida State Seminoles on their current rosters. Additionally, several other teams, such as the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Francisco 49ers, have two former ‘Noles each. Furthermore, there are some former Seminoles who are currently free agents, having been in the league last season.
The New York Giants lost four-straight games, and second-year safety Xavier McKinney admits missing the Pro Bowl this season perturbed him a bit. The former Alabama star collected 75 tackles and five interceptions in 14 starts with a team-best nine passes defended.
“It played out how it played out. It is what it is,” McKinney said via the Giants’ team site after acknowledging he felt he was snubbed. “Obviously, things haven’t worked out for our team and individually for myself this year, but it is what it is. Like you said, it’s not the only year that I can make the Pro Bowl. I’ve just got to keep working, get back in the lab and find a way to ensure that next year and years to come that I don’t miss it. It is what it is. Just got to go back to work.”
The former All-SEC defensive back won a national championship in 2017 with the Crimson Tide and is doing everything he can to help New York reverse its fortunes at the bottom of the NFC.
He’s not used to this level of losing.
“It’s very difficult,” McKinney said, referencing his success with the Crimson Tide compared to the start of his NFL career. “I think the best thing about this is everything in life is pretty much an experience. I always try to look at the positives within the situation that’s going on now. Obviously, I think this is going to build a lot of character for us as a team, as individuals and especially for me — just seeing all the little things that went wrong, seeing a lot of things I could’ve done better to help the team out in whatever way I could have. I think it’s a big experience for me. I think it was something that was much needed.
