Kool-Aid McKinstry — NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

McKinstry offers good instincts and ball skills. He fits what the 49ers look for in their cornerbacks.

The next several months are going to require a lot of dialogue between Sean Payton and George Paton about the current makeup of the roster. For starters, they have 17 players scheduled to hit free agency with names like Josey Jewell and Lloyd Cushenberry highlighting the bunch. Choosing who to keep and what outside players to target will be part of that conversation.

However, another discussion will be "which players who are currently under contract do we move on from". The season had its ups and downs and when things weren't going well, it did not seem like everyone had bought in. All of this will help shape their draft needs. As it currently stands, I'm targeting defensive line help, a corner that can start opposite Patrick Surtain, and interior line help. At 14, the best option may come at cornerback, with McKinstry, Terrion Arnold and Nate Wiggins all being options to be the first off the board. This defense really came alive when the Broncos went on a five-game win streak. Keeping that unit as a strength on this team would be a wise decision.

Joey Porter Jr. was one of the better rookie cornerbacks in the NFL this season. Pittsburgh pairs him with Kool-Aid McKinstry to give it the highest ceiling it has had at cornerback in years.

The Eagles absolutely need to address their secondary early in the draft, and McKinstry has long looked like a future first-round pick on the field.

The Eagles haven't drafted a defensive back in the first round since 2002. But following the struggles of the Eagles' secondary, they land a top cornerback in Kool-Aid McKinstry

McKinstry has mostly second-round grades from scouts, but his tape and resume show a prospect with NFL-starting skills. According to one NFL scout, Nabers named McKinstry as the toughest cornerback he faced in college.

Joey Porter Jr. and Kool-Aid McKinstry? Sign me up. I enjoyed the way McKinstry played off of Arnold this fall in Tuscaloosa and he and Porter Jr. would immediately present one of the league's most dynamic, young corner tandems.

Locking down receivers on the outside, Kool-Aid McKinstry will bring an old-school nature about him to the Los Angeles Chargers. He'll clamp on receivers in man coverage while understanding zone principles better than any other cornerback in the class.

McKinstry can play on an island with a fluidity that matches the best in the sport. Given his moxie and attitude, those needed for a lockdown corner, McKinstry is another in line to earn significant recognition as early as his rookie season.

This is another spot where a new coaching staff likely means a new QB, but the top-3 prospects are off the board. McKinstry was first-team All-SEC as a true sophomore. He features prototypical size (6-1, 194) with speed and brings physicality in coverage and against the run. He's also proven to be a dynamic punt-returner.

Cornerback was a major weakness for the Indianapolis Colts all season, and it's a spot they have to address this offseason. Kool-Aid McKinstry is arguably the best cover corner in the draft, and getting him at No. 15 would be a steal.

With a big reputation coming out of summer, McKinstry wasn't challenged in the same capacity his teammate Terrion Arnold was this year. He does a really good job against short and intermediate routes where he can use his instincts and arm length to disrupt wide receivers. The Steelers desperately need another outside corner to pair with Joey Porter Jr.

Are the Packers about to let Jaire Alexander leave instead of paying him more than $24 million? That would be a shocking twist in the career of a 26-year-old former All-Pro, but Alexander was injured throughout 2023 and recorded a career-worst 120.7 passer rating in coverage in the seven games he did play.

That could lead Green Bay to $16 million in savings by designating him a post-June 1 release and drafting his replacement. McKinstry may not be the Pack's Plan A, but he may be too enticing to pass up. He turned his side of the field into a no-fly zone with 22 passes broken up over his final two seasons (27 games), showing up as a deterrent in both man and zone coverage. And he's a useful punt returner, too.

The Raiders could attempt to trade up for a signal-caller, and I wouldn't be surprised if that happens. A lot hinges on whether interim coach Antonio Pierce and interim general manager Champ Kelly stick around in Las Vegas in full-time roles. But with four QBs off the board, I projected a defensive prospect here instead, especially because the Raiders need help on the perimeter. Amik Robertson is a free agent, and only three teams have fewer interceptions over the past two seasons than Las Vegas (19).

McKinstry is a technician on the outside, allowing a 32.1% completion rate on throws into his area (tied for 14th best in the FBS). He has the physicality and ball skills to be a starter right away.

The secondary has been decimated by injuries, age, and departures, and we know the history of the Ravens drafting Alabama players.