Kool-Aid McKinstry 2024 NFL Draft Overview
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 220
2024 NFL Draft: Kool-Aid McKinstry Scouting Report
Ga’Quincy McKinstry better known as Kool-Aid was a 5-star cornerback out of Pinson High School in Alabama. Mckinstry has been an Alabama football legend since high school winning the Alabama Mr. Football award in high school. So it was no shock when he decided to stay home and play at the University of Alabama.
In his first season, he showed a lot of promise ending the season only giving up a quarterback rating of 79.7 when targeted doing so on 497 snaps. This was in addition to his 10 tackles 13 assists and one interception. With a season like that as a freshman, Nick Saban knew it would be truly special to watch his development.
During his sophomore season, the star of Alabama football exceeded expectations as he made significant progress. McKinstry played in 12 games, accumulating 29 tackles, six assists, and an additional interception. Quarterbacks who targeted McKinstry during his sophomore season had a rating of 59.0. McKinstry continued to improve and started to draw attention from NFL teams.
During McKinstry’s senior season, he was considered a top 10 pick. As a result, Alabama Crimson Tide fans were eagerly waiting to see if he would make any progress during the offseason. Although he did not perform as well as he did in the previous season, he continued to show improvements in the areas he lacked. He played 14 games, had 32 total tackles, and 3 tackles for losses. Even though his numbers were down, he still displayed his talent in every game and made it tough for opposing quarterbacks.
Strengths:
- Excels in a zone defense possessing elite awareness
- Possesses great length and recognition knowing how to maximize his physical traits
- Physical at the peak of the route being able to make the receiver uncomfortable and force incompletions
- Brings something special to the run game barely ever missing tackles
- Bump and run skills are some of the best in college football fluid hips and mirroring to lock down targets
- Never loses confidence or panics when the play breaks down
- Show incredible tenacity and speed if asked to blitz
- Adds value as an explosive punt returner totaling 418 return yards 332 in his sophomore season alone
Weaknesses
- Needs to improve his value when it comes to stopping players from stacking him and beating him vertically
- When going against a physical route runner he can often get bullied and pushed around
- Fell back down to earth after his amazing sophomore season not even being the best cornerback on his team
- He frequently face-guards or goes over the backs of receivers, which may result in frequent penalties in the NFL
- Plays too high sometimes showing impatience causing him to lose his guy in soft man coverage
Projected Draft Position: Mid/Late first round
Player Comparison: Patrick Surtain II
Best Team Fits: Lions, Rams, Colts, Saints
Kool-Aid McKinstry Profile Review
McKinstry has been a prominent figure in football in Alabama since his high school days, and he has consistently proved his worth throughout his college years. With his young age of only 21, remarkable length, and instincts, he has the potential to be an elite player and a first-round pick. Although Kool-Aid McKinstry had a subpar performance by his standards in 2023, he still flashed his exceptional talent at various points throughout the season, leaving no doubt about his potential.
McKinstry is an outstanding player when it comes to the physical aspects of his game. He has a high football IQ and is aware of what’s happening on the field at every level. He managed to break up 16 passes in a highly competitive SEC, which is not a feat that just anyone can accomplish. Watching him play on tape shows how great he can be when allowed to sit in the zone and break on passes. He possesses the burst and smooth pedals that will translate well at the NFL level, needing only a little refinement. When he’s trailing the receiver, he uses his fluid hips to sit and be patient on any passes thrown his way. His body control is exceptional, and it seldom allows receivers to feel like they have too much space or separation.
One issue that was evident in certain games throughout the season is that he struggles when opponents stack him up. Instead of trailing his man, he tends to chase after his opponent, leaving too much space and opening up opportunities for deep passes. Additionally, he often tries to make up for his lack of physical strength by playing through the body of the receiver and face-guarding. This style of play could lead to penalties in the NFL’s more restrictive rules and could end up hurting his team.
It’s hard to deny that McKinstry is a game-changer because of his incredible versatility. He is an outstanding athlete who can lead and manage an entire defense. He is always quick to direct his teammates to get into position. In addition to his leadership qualities, he is also a talented run defender, able to disrupt plays and make critical tackles in the open field. What sets him apart is his ability to be explosive in the return game. Most scouts consider him the top-rated cornerback in the draft for a reason. McKinstry is NFL-bound, and there’s little reason to doubt that he will refine his skills further and be a top corner in the game soon.
More Draft: Ladd McConkey Film Study
Main Photo Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
