Kool-Aid McKinstry's breakout 2025 season is getting harder to ignore
· Yahoo Sports
Kool-Aid McKinstry didn't crack ESPN's top 10 cornerback rankings. Despite that, the young New Orleans Saints defensive back has found himself firmly in the conversation among the league's best at his position. The list, published by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, was voted on by league executives, coaches, and scouts — and it included McKinstry towards the bottom as a player who "received votes" to be in the top 10.
For McKinstry, the former second-round pick, it means he's beginning to earn respect outside of New Orleans after taking a real step forward in his second NFL season. That matters for a Saints team looking for young building blocks on both sides of the ball.
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McKinstry started all 17 games for the Saints in 2025 and finished with 76 tackles, three interceptions and 17 pass breakups. He earned a 71.4 PFF coverage grade, which ranked 27th among 114 eligible cornerbacks and placed him in the upper-fourth quartile of players at his position. Those numbers gave the Saints confidence in a steady presence at cornerback and could have played a role in the Saints' decision not to retain Alontae Taylor in free agency.
The best example of McKinstry's big step forward came in the Saints' Week 5 win over the New York Giants. He recorded two interceptions and three pass breakups in that game, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. That game showed the upside early in the season when New Orleans wasn't particularly firing on all cylinders.
"I’m the type of guy; I’m a humble guy," McKinstry said after winning the award in Week 5. "I keep my head down, I work, and I stay coachable. That’s what I do. No award changes me. I am who I am."
If he takes the same approach to the top-10 recognition, another step forward in 2026 could be plausible, especially with Taylor's departure to Tennessee. With a Pro Bowl or All-Pro-caliber season, McKinstry could see his agent, AJ Vaynerchuk, and the Saints' front office convene early next offseason to lock him in on a lucrative, long-term contract extension.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Kool-Aid McKinstry's breakout 2025 season is getting harder to ignore