Saints trade up in 2nd round to take Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry

Anyone who follows the New Orleans Saints could see it coming. There would not be an NFL Draft without the team trading up, or so it seems.

It happened again Friday on Day Two of the 2024 Draft.

The Saints traded up four spots from Pick 45 to Pick 41 to select Alabama star cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, giving up one of their four fifth-round draft picks and one of their two sixth-round picks. New Orleans gave up the 168th and 190th overall picks to Green Bay in the trade.

Having played for Nick Saban, one of the best, nost notable defensive backs coaches in recent history, McKinstry is well versed in the complexities of playing cornerback. He is suited to play outside but can also play inside and gives the Saints outstanding depth after the departure of Isaac Yiadom. The uncertainty of Marson Lattimore’s future still lingers, based on the renegotiated contract he received earlier this year, opening up the possibility of a trade.

New Orleans has Alontae Taylor returning for his third season while Paulson Adebo enters his fourth season in a contract year.

McKinstry has excellent punt return skills as well, providing depth in that spot.

Playing opposite Terrion Arnold with the Crimson Tide, who was drafted No. 24 by Detroit in the first round, McKinstry had 32 tackles and broke up seven passes this past season as Alabama reached the national semifinals. He was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented to the top defensive back in the country and earned first team All-American honors from the Associated Press.

McKinstry (5’11 ½, 199) has good size at the position. He is experienced, having played three years under Saban. McKinstry’s strength is his cover ability, which allows him to play man-to-man coverage very effectively. McKinstry is athletic and he is smart, not prone to making the big mistake that gets a player and team burned. He runs well enough (4.47 in the 40-yard dash) to handle vertical routes.

Once again, much like Taliese Fuaga, the Saints appear to have gotten value with the pick of McKinstry, who was rated as a late first-round pick by many draft profiles and projections. You can never have enough good cornerbacks, particularly with the lack of availability of Lattimore and his uncertain future.

New Orleans did not have a 3rd round selection. Entering rounds four through seven Saturday, the Saints have three 5th round picks, one 6th round choice and another in the 7th round.

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Saints go get the guy they wanted in Kool-Aid McKinstry