Ourlads Insider Saints Depth Chart Saints Roster

Kool-Aid McKinstry | 14

CB | Alabama | New Orleans Saints
Ht: 5114 / 5' 11" | Wt: 199 | Upd: 12/16/2024

Vitals

Birth Date: 09/30/2002
Age: 22
Original Team: NO
NFL Entry: 24 02 041
NFL Exp: R
Depth Chart Key: 24/2
Team History: NO

Player History

05/24 NO D/C signed

Ourlads' Profile:

2024 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about KOOL-AID MCKINSTRY:

Alabama | HT: 5114 | WT: 199 | 40 time: 4.47 | Arm: 3200 | Hand: 0812 | Wing: 7578

Junior entry, three year starter. First-team All-SEC in 2022 and 2023 and first-team consensus All-America in 2023. Ideal size and athletic skill for a corner. Has experience in multiple coverage, including off and press man along with outside zone concepts. Excels as a press corner with patience to ignore the first move away from his leverage and stick a double move. Can be physical at the line with an off-hand jam disrupting the release. In off coverage, has a quick pedal to keep a cushion and flashes timing with turn and run versus a vertical route. Has the speed to stay in phase on vertical routes Outstanding recovery speed compensates for times a receiver might separate from him on a break. Fluid easy movement allows him to mirror route breaks and quickly plant and close with the ball in the air. He’s a secure tackler with gather and drive into a ball carrier. Has virtually flawless eye discipline to keep his focus on a receiver through the route. As a zone defender, has a feel for spacing and balancing routes in overlapping zones. Excels as a hard corner getting under deep throws and breaking on balls in the flat. Gets to a lot of balls with a knack for undercutting a route and getting a hand to the catch point. Has been productive breaking up passes. That said, his total focus on the receiver can be a detriment as he has trouble locating the ball in phase. Can let a receiver get up on his toes in off coverage at times and shows occasional hesitation on turn and run creating separation. In 2022 he was one of the best punt returners in the country, and while the stats weren’t as good in 2023 his return skill is a plus.

2023 Stats: 32 T, 2 TFL, 7 PBU. Draft projection: 1st/2nd round