The New Orleans Saints started this season with arguably the deepest cornerback room in the NFL. Leading the room was four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore, and emerging corner Paulson Adebo. Now, neither of those guys are on the field for the Saints.
Lattimore was traded to the Washington Commanders, and Adebo is out for the year with an injury. Considering this is the final season of Adebo’s contract, his time with the Saints could be over just like Lattimore’s is. Either way, New Orleans is entering a new era at the cornerback position, and fans are currently getting a look at that new era.
Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry are now the two starting outside corners, and it’s the rookie McKinstry that got everyone’s attention in the Week 11 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Kool-Aid McKinstry has Saints fans talking after his performance against Browns
With really good corners, you can forget they’re on the field during games, because they aren’t involved in much action. Saints fans saw that happen with Lattimore during his time in New Orleans; as his name was rarely mentioned during games.
That was also the case for Kool-Aid McKinstry on Sunday against the Browns. In his first game back from a hamstring injury, the rookie kept a low profile, which is great for a corner. He was targeted just six times, only allowing three receptions for 33 yards.
Alontae Taylor, on the other hand, was targeted 10 times, giving up five receptions for 153 yards and two touchdowns. This isn’t highlighted to down Taylor, but the natural assumption would be that the rookie corner is the one getting picked on. That wasn’t the case on Sunday.
For anyone that has paid attention to McKinstry throughout his rookie season, or in college, this isn’t surprising. During his time with the Saints, he’s been able to deliver whenever his number was called. In college, he was a three-year starter at Alabama, and came up big in a lot of meaningful games.
That’s why there was a lot of excitement for McKinstry when New Orleans selected him in the second round. The Saints believed he could be their next star corner, and he’s on his way to becoming that.