2024 NFL Draft Player Preview: Kool-Aid McKinstry

2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Choose Player 2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia Javon Bullard, CB, Georgia Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State Marvin Harrison, WR, Ohio State TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami Kalen King, CB, Penn State J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama Malachi Moore, S, Alabama Malik Nabers, WR, LSU Zion Nelson, OT, Miami Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois Rome Odunze, WR, Washington Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas Bralen Trice, DE, Washington Dallas Turner, LB, Alabama Jared Verse, DE, Florida State Caleb Williams, QB, USC Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Kool-Aid McKinstry, 6-1/188 Cornerback Alabama

Kool-Aid McKinstry 2024 Preview
By Charlie Campbell

Career Recap: Most freshmen don’t play immediately for Nick Saban, but McKinstry was an anomaly, notching 26 tackles, an interception, a pass broken up and a sack in 2021. In 2022, McKinstry took on a larger role and was an every-down starter. The sophomore recorded 35 tackles, a sack, an interception and 15 passes broken up on the year. He also contributed on special teams, averaging 15.8 yards per punt return – fielding 21 attempts for a total of 332 yards.



2023 Season Outlook: McKinstry will see some challenging wide receivers during the 2023 season. In Week 2, he will face some quality Texas Longhorns wideouts in Jerel Worthy and Jordan Whittington. Worthy might be the most dynamic speed receiver McKinstry will see in 2023. There will also be good receivers in games against Ole Miss, Texas A&M and LSU.

Skill-Set Summary: There is no doubt that McKinstry has the talent to play at the NFL level. He is a long cornerback who has good height, arm length, and physicality. McKinstry displays zero hesitation about getting physical and will not allow wide receivers to push him around.

In coverage, McKinstry is a fit for press-man corner. He has the size and strength to jam wideouts at the line to disrupt their routes and the timing of the play. McKinstry can re-route well and uses his size to disrupt passing lanes. With solid hands, McKinstry does a nice job of breaking up passes and playing the ball well. He could stand to improve his targeting of the ball for interceptions rather than just slapping the pass away. McKinstry is composed and does not panic when the ball is coming toward him. He gets his head turned around in coverage, allowing him to do a nice job of locating the ball while staying close to the receiver.



McKinstry is a willing tackler against the run, and he will come downhill and cut the legs out from underneath a ball-carrier. McKinstry will wrap up on his run tackles and shows the strength to get backs to the ground. McKinstry’s size offerss him the potential to be a good contributor as a run defender in the pros.

For the NFL, McKinstry faces some limitations because he does not look fluid, twitchy, or explosive enough to serve as an off-man or zone corner. He looks limited to playing only press-man coverage.



2024 NFL Draft Expectations: Entering the 2023 season, McKinstry looks like an early-round prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft.

2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Choose Player 2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia Javon Bullard, CB, Georgia Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State Marvin Harrison, WR, Ohio State TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami Kalen King, CB, Penn State J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama Malachi Moore, S, Alabama Malik Nabers, WR, LSU Zion Nelson, OT, Miami Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois Rome Odunze, WR, Washington Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas Bralen Trice, DE, Washington Dallas Turner, LB, Alabama Jared Verse, DE, Florida State Caleb Williams, QB, USC Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

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