KM #1

Kool-Aid McKinstry

Cornerback · Alabama

An Alabama All-American cornerback who broke out with a three-interception, NFC Defensive Player of the Week performance in his second NFL season.

Ga'Quincy "Kool-Aid" McKinstry arrived in New Orleans as a first-team All-American out of Alabama, and after a solid rookie year, he took a major step forward in 2025, becoming one of the Saints' most productive cover corners. His weekly award-winning outing against the Giants signaled his arrival as a difference-maker on defense.

★ First-team All-American at Alabama (2023)

★ Led the SEC in passes defended (15) in 2022

★ Second-round pick (41st overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft

★ NFC Defensive Player of the Week, Week 5, 2025

Path to the league

McKinstry started for three seasons at Alabama, earning SEC All-Freshman honors in 2021, leading the SEC in passes defended with 15 in 2022, and capping his career with first-team All-American recognition in 2023. New Orleans traded up in the 2024 NFL Draft, sending picks 45, 168, and 190 to Green Bay to move up and select McKinstry with the 41st overall pick in the second round.

Career highlights

McKinstry has quickly become a fixture in the Saints' secondary, starting nine games as a rookie in 2024 before starting all 17 games in 2025. His 2025 breakout included 76 combined tackles, 17 passes defended, and three interceptions, giving him 118 career tackles and 23 passes defended through two NFL seasons.

2025 season recap

McKinstry took a significant leap in his second season, starting all 17 games and earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 5 after a four-tackle, three-pass-breakup, two-interception performance against the Giants. He finished the year with three interceptions and 17 passes defended, both career highs.