“Another guy that has great football intuition": Nick Saban shares unique insights on Kool-Aid McKinstry's skillset following Day 2 pick to Saints

After missing out on the first round, Kool-Aid McKinstry has been drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The cornerback was selected as the 41st overall pick by the New Orleans Saints, marking a brilliant addition to the team's secondary ahead of the 2024 season.

Nick Saban gave a review of McKinstry live on the draft show. The former Alabama head coach who worked with the cornerback for three years in Tuscaloosa was full of praise. He described McKinstry as a smart player with fantastic football, believing he would turn out well in the NFL.

“This is another guy that has great football intuition, great instincts. He understands offenses, he understands feather matches. He is really a fast reactor in the secondary.” said Saban on ABC'S draft coverage.

“He ran a good enough time I thought he would move above the chart the way he played. He's a good punt returner as well. I just love this guy, he's really smart and instinctive and I think he's going to be a really really good player and probably more ready to play than anybody else.”

Why was Kool-Aid McKinstry not selected in the first round

Syndication: Tuscaloosa News

Kool-Aid McKinstry was projected to be a first-round pick in many mock drafts following his brilliant career at Alabama. However, the cornerback was called in Detroit on Thursday night.

The delayed selection of defensive players in this year's draft likely contributed to McKinstry not being chosen in the first round. Defensive players weren't selected until the 15th pick on Thursday when the Indianapolis Colts drafted former UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu.

Just nine defensive players were drafted out of the 32 selections made in Detroit on Thursday night. Among them were three cornerbacks selected: Quinyon Mitchell by the Philadelphia Eagles, Terrion Arnold by the Detroit Lions and Nate Wiggins by the Baltimore Ravens.

What does Kool-Aid McKinstry offer the Saints?

Without a doubt, the Saints have a great player in Kool-Aid McKinstry. The comeback was one of the most prominent figures on Nick Saban's Alabama defense ever since he earned a starting role midway through his freshman season and maintained the momentum till the end.

The 2023 All-American selection is an accelerator, showcasing effortless explosiveness on the gridiron. As an active pre-snap and zone communicator, he adequately serves as a glue piece in the secondary. He also possesses a quick reaction to in-game situations.

As Saban said, McKinstry is a player that is ready to play. He is poised to make his presence felt on the Saints’ secondary when his rookie year commences in the 2024 NFL season.