New Orleans Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry joined fellow former Alabama Crimson Tide corners, Patrick Surtain ii and Terrion Arnold, on their podcast. One of the more interesting talking points that came from the episode is McKinstry revealing his favorite team to go against is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
McKinstry's first game against the Buccaneers this year stands out as one of his stronger performance. The most memorable moment was Baker Mayfield trying McKinstry in the end zone twice. McKinstry defended those passes so well that Surtain called one of them teach tape.
All 3 players picked a divisional opponent, with Surtain choosing the Chargers and Arnold going with the Vikings. Arnold relayed a conversation with McKinstry after that Buccaneers game where McKinstry told Arnold the Tampa is going to have to change their playbook because he knows it so well.
You would think Kool-Aid McKinstry's favorite team to play would be the Giants
Clearly McKinstry and Arnold talk, because Arnold quickly affirmed McKinstry's answer. That being said, it is far from an easy question to guess off the top of the head. After doing some digging, it's a little surprising to see McKinstry point out the Buccaneers when he's seen his most success against the New York Giants.
The one thing the Buccaneers have on the Giants is McKinstry has played the Bucs more than he's played Giants since the Saints and Tampa Bay share a division. That being said, McKinstry has had the most production of his career against the Giants.
While Saints do play Tampa Bay twice a year, McKinstry has played against the Giants in both of his first two seasons. From a purely statistical standpoint, there could be an argument each game was the best of that respective season. McKinstry intercepted Jaxson Dart twice this season. It was part of a 5 turnover performance by the Saints defense en route to the team's first victory.
It is McKinstry's only game with multiple interceptions in his career. He also did it impressively, coming across the field for one of those picks. The year prior, McKinstry had two pass breakups against the Giants. Similar to this year, that was the only game in his rookie season that McKinstry had multiple pass breakups.
The Buccaneers may be McKinstry's favorite team to play, but you'd have to imagine the Giants are a close second. The Saints will play New York again in 2026. With the success McKinstry has had against them in the past, that's certainly a game to circle.