The Saints came smashing into the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Friday, selecting CB Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry after trading up with Green Bay for the 41st overall pick. In exchange, Green Bay picked up a 5th and 6th-round pick from the Saints.
McKinstry is arguably the top choice among cornerbacks this year, even after missing the combine, and the Saints definitely addressed a deficiency with this pick. They had some heartbreaking losses last year due to big plays and late drives, and adding Kool-Aid to the mix will hopefully bring more depth and enthusiasm to this mostly young squad.
Early Success Shows Promise for Saints
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McKinstry was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and attended Pinson Valley High School in nearby Pinson. His grandmother first called him “Kool-Aid”, saying that he was born with a smile that looked like the Kool-Aid Man. He excelled in both football and basketball, winning multiple state championships as a basketball player and winning the state championship in football his senior year.
He played on both sides of the football and performed at an elite level, no matter where he was on the field. On defense, he broke up 12 passes and had two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns. On offense, he caught 45 passes for 706 yards and 11 touchdowns.
For his stellar efforts during his senior year, McKinstry was named Alabama’s Mr. Football, USA Today’s Player of the Year, and MaxPreps Alabama High School Football Player of the Year. He was rated a five-star recruit and committed to play for the University of Alabama in 2020 after also receiving offers from Auburn and LSU.
Elite Play Continues at Alabama
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In his freshman year at Alabama, Kool-Aid recorded 25 tackles, one sack, an interception, and a pass breakup over 15 games. His biggest game was the Iron Bowl against Auburn, his first start, where he had two tackles along with a critical sack for a loss of 13 yards late in the game. He also broke up Auburn’s two-point attempt, giving Alabama the green light for the win.
He was selected to the Freshman All-SEC Team. And if that wasn’t enough, he also signed an NIL deal with Kool-Aid.
In his sophomore year, McKinstry added more accolades to the list, both as a cornerback and punt returner. These included multiple All-America team selections by the Associated Press, CBS Sports, and Sporting News. He recorded 35 tackles including two for a combined loss of 16 yards, and one sack for a loss of 12.
He also had a team-high 15 pass breakups, an interception with a 26-yard return, and two fumble recoveries. As a punt returner, Kool-Aid was ranked second among Division One punt returners with 21 returns for 336 yards, averaging 15.6 Yards per return with a long of 45.
In his junior and final year at Alabama, McKinstry had 32 tackles (including two for a loss) and returned 14 punts for 86 yards, with a long of 33. He was named first-team All-American by the AP, Sporting News, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, and USA Today. He was also selected as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the best defensive back of the year.
Draft Outlook for 2024
McKinstry is a great overall DB, not the fastest guy on the field but capable of explosive acceleration. He excels at making plays in space and has great instincts for reading and misleading the quarterback. He has the skills and mindset to be a solid, reliable corner for the Saints as well as a closer who could break through with big plays at critical moments.
With a second-team spot still up for grabs, McKinstry could be the right choice to back up Paulson Adebo and whoever replaces Isaac Yiadom, who was lost to free agency. He will have a lot of competition from second and third year guys, so he will need to hone his skills for the NFL game and the Saints scheme.
The Saints will have some time to work with McKinstry and tone down some of the tendencies he showed in college. He’ll have to be less physical downfield while in coverage, and the Saints will need to hone his open field tackling skills to deal with the powerful and slippery receivers he’ll be facing in the NFL. Time will tell, but the future for this college superstar looks bright.
