Kool-Aid McKinstry among CBs in Week 2:
⚜️ 77.1 coverage grade (10th) pic.twitter.com/oTg38v28mt
— PFF NO Saints (@PFF_Saints) September 20, 2024
Marshon Lattimore is returning in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles after missing last week’s game with the Dallas Cowboys. His absence pushed Kool-Aid McKinstry into the starting lineup.
Dennis Allen struck again with another defensive back. In his debut, McKinstry showed why the New Orleans Saints traded up to draft him in the second round. McKinstry was drafted with Paulson Adebo entering a contract year and Lattimore’s future uncertain. Lattimore returned to the team amid trade speculation, but that didn’t change circumstances for the rookie much.
The consensus has been for the cornerback to step into the starting lineup next year and provide a good insurance policy as a backup in case of injury this season. Whether that means Adebo leaves in free agency or Lattimore is traded in 2025, odds are McKinstry will have a more prominent role in Year 2 than Year 1.
In one start, McKinstry looked primed to fit in both roles. Pro Football Focus gave him a 77.1 coverage grade. That was good for 10th-best among all corners in Week 2, and he did it against a very talented Dallas receiving corps.
Even without PFF’s grading, it was evident that McKinstry belongs. His biggest play was a break up against CeeDee Lamb in the end zone. You saw an all around solid performance beyond that play. He looked poised in the moment, and it’s clear what the Saints saw in him in April.
