NFL CAREER – When the Saints drafted Kool-Aid McKinstry with their second round pick (41st overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft, the team added one of college football's top corners and elite punt returners. In his rookie campaign, the Birmingham, Ala. native played in 15 games with nine starts, finishing with 41 tackles (31 solo), six pass breakups and one coverage stop. McKinstry will look to take advantage of his first full offseason with the team and compete to lock down a starting role at corner.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed to a four-year contract, 5/31/24; Selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft.
2024 – Played in 15 games with nine starts, finishing with 41 tackles (31 solo), six pass breakups, and one coverage stop…Vs. Carolina, Sept. 8, made his NFL debut rotating in at CB in place of the injured Marshon Lattimore and played on special teams, finishing with two tackles (one solo)…At Dallas, Sept. 15, made first career start at RCB in place of the injured Lattimore, finishing with five tackles (four solo), including a stop for loss, and one pass breakup...Vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 13, rotated in at CB and played on special teams, finished with three solo tackles and one pass breakup…Vs. Denver, Oct. 17, rotated in at CB and played on special teams, recorded three tackles (two solo)…At L.A. Chargers, Oct. 27, started at LCB and played on special teams, finished with four tackles (three solo), a pass breakup and a coverage stop, the first of his career…Missed Week Nine-Ten contests with a hamstring injury…Vs. Cleveland, Nov. 17, started at RCB and finished with three tackles (two solo)…Vs. L.A. Rams, Dec. 1, started at RCB and recorded two solo stops…Vs. Washington, Dec. 15, started at RCB and recorded a season-high six tackles (four solo) with a stop for loss…At Tampa Bay, 1/5/25, started at RCB and finished with three tackles (two solo) and a pass breakup.
COLLEGE – In three seasons at Alabama, recorded 92 tackles, five stops for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and 25 pass breakups. In two seasons (2022-23) as Tide's primary punt returner, returned 35 punts for 418 yards (11.9 avg.)…Consensus first-team All-American in 2023. Garnered second-team All-America accolades by the AFCA, The Athletic and Walter Camp Foundation. Earned first team All-SEC honors from the AP and conference coaches. Selected as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy...Started all 14 games and broke up seven passes to go with 32 tackles, including two for loss. Returned 14 punts for 86 yards with a long of 33...Opened all 13 games in 2022, also handling punt return duties. Earned first-team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus at cornerback. Named a second-team All-American at corner by the AFCA, CBS Sports and The Sporting News. Also an Associated Press third-team honoree on defense. Picked up second-team honors as a punt returner by the FWAA and was tabbed third-team at punt returner by PFF. Selected to the All-SEC first-team as a defensive back by the AP and conference coaches. Also picked up second-team All-SEC honors from the conference coaches as a return specialist...Second among Division I punt returners with 332 yards on 21 returns with a long of 45…Averaged 15.8 yards per return, also ranked second in the nation and first in the conference...Totaled 35 tackles, including two stops for loss and a sack. Also contributed a team-high 16 pass breakups and a 26-yard interception return...A Bednarik Award semifinalist, presented annually to the nation's top defensive player…At Texas, recorded a career-high seven tackles, including one stop for 12-yard loss, to go with a pass breakup…Vs. ULM, contributed to the Tide's 262 combined punt return yards to break previous school record of 204 that was set back in 1947. Accumulated 136 yards, third-most in UA single-game history on five returns (27.2 avg.)…Vs. Vanderbilt, contributed three tackles, three pass breakups and racked up 91 yards on four punt returns (22.8 avg.)…At Arkansas, earned defensive and special teams player of the week accolades from coaching staff for his standout play, when he recorded six tackles, including one for a four-yard loss, and two pass breakups. Returned three punts for 77 yards (25.6 avg.) with a season-long of 45…At Tennessee, targeted once and did not allow a completion…Vs. Mississippi State, broke up a career-high four passes to go with four tackles…At LSU, recorded two tackles and one pass breakup…In Allstate Sugar Bowl 45-20 win over Kansas State, broke up a game-high three passes to go with a tackle…As freshman in 2021, earned a contributing role in the Crimson Tide's deep secondary. Selected Freshman All-SEC by conference coaches…In 15 games with six starts, recorded 25 tackles (eight solo), including one sack, one interception and two pass breakups…Vs. Mercer, in season's first start, totaled six tackles, picked off first career pass and added two pass breakups…At Auburn, got the starting nod in the Iron Bowl. Recorded two tackles, including a huge sack for a 13-yard loss late in game. Also broke up the Tigers' two-point try in the fourth overtime to give UA the ball back in position to win.
PERSONAL – Widely considered the top CB in the 2021 signing class, playing for Coach Sam Shade at Pinson (Al.) Valley HS...A five-star on the 247Composite, ranked as the nation's No. 23 overall player, the No. 1 CB and the top player in Alabama...No. 18 player nationally in the Top247 by 247Sports, the site's top-ranked CB...Rivals.com ranked him 46th nationally, the No. 2 CB and the No. 1 recruit in Alabama...Four-star recruit and No. 38 in the ESPN300 (ESPN.com) and the No. 4 athlete, the No. 2 player in Alabama and No. 17 player in the Southeast by ESPN...No. 13 on the PrepStar Top 150 Dream Team and the publication's No. 1 CB and top player in his state...Selected to Under Armour All-America Game...Earned Alabama All-State honors from Max Preps...A playmaker on both sides of the football, leading the Indians to the Alabama 6A State Championship in 2020 and three titles in four years.
