Latest news with #KoolAidMcKinstry
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Orleans Saints training camp: Highlights from Day 10's scrimmage
The New Orleans Saints took the field again on Sunday for Day 10 of training camp and their ninth practice. It was a busy day for the players as practice ran for over two hours, their longest yet, and was filled to the brim with scrimmage action. The Saints ran 126 plays, getting pretty much everyone some time on the field. Tyler Shough looked the best of the quarterbacks, but that wasn't saying much. The offense scored just one touchdown and had two turnovers, though there should have likely been more. There were some positive plays on both sides of the ball, though. Linebacker Nephi Sewell and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry were the defenders who came away with interceptions. Forcing more turnovers was one of the biggest keys to success for this defense and they have done a good job of that so far. Here are some highlights from Day 10 of practice: This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: New Orleans Saints training camp: Highlights from Day 10's scrimmage
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Orleans Saints secondary barely avoids bottom 10 NFL unit ranking
The New Orleans Saints have had some major shakeups in the secondary compared to this point a year ago. Can this new unit find quick success together? Pro Football Focus' John Kosko recently put together a ranking of all 32 secondaries across the NFL. The Saints managed to escape the bottom 10, which is a rarity among these types of rankings. New Orleans' secondary was the No. 20 group in the league. They were the second-highest unit in the NFC South, finishing above the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers. Advertisement It is impressive that this group can remain as high as they are after losing both Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo over the past year. They have used a mix of free agency and the draft to keep their defense afloat, though. The cornerback room is almost certainly going to be worse to start the year, but it's still an intriguing and young group with plenty of room to grow. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alontae Taylor, Quincy Riley and Isaac Yiadom figure to be the main names at cornerback. McKinstry was a second-round selection in 2024, and Riley went in the fourth round of this past draft. Both should look completely different from Week 1 to the end of the season. McKinstry had some nice flashes as a rookie, giving him a nice set to build off of. Riley was a ball hawk in college, which could give him an edge in the passing game that New Orleans desperately needs. Taylor has been around for a couple of years longer, but there is a chance for him to bring his game up a notch in the Brandon Staley defense. He does a little bit of everything and could get moved around like a chess piece if they find a combination on the outside that works without him. Advertisement While their cornerback room should undergo some growing pains, it's hard to imagine a world where their safety room takes a step back. Tyrann Mathieu is still playing at a solid level, and they even brought in Justin Reid in free agency to pair with Mathieu. Just last year, Reid had 87 tackles with two interceptions, nine passes broken up and five tackles for a loss. Rookie safety Jonas Sanker is another player who can get moved around a lot in the secondary, as he played a bit of everything in college. It makes sense to be wary about this group, and No. 20 seems like a fair spot, but it could also be a surprisingly competent unit by the time the season ends. This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: New Orleans Saints secondary barely avoids bottom 10 NFL unit ranking
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Trade Idea Lands Dolphins' Jalen Ramsey With Saints
Trade Idea Lands Dolphins' Jalen Ramsey With Saints originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Miami Dolphins and star cornerback Jalen Ramsey mutually agreed to find a trade partner early in the offseason. However, there's now less than a month until training camp begins, and Ramsey remains in Miami. Advertisement The latest trade idea for the Dolphins' star is sending him to the New Orleans Saints for a fourth-round pick. The Saints don't have the largest need at the position, but have the cap space for Ramsey and could use a bona fide No. 1 option at cornerback in the midst of their rebuild. New Orleans' projected starting corners in 2025 are Kool-Aid McKinstry, Isaac Yiadom, and Alontae Taylor. The Saints drafted McKinstry in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he had a productive rookie campaign with 42 tackles, two TFLs, and six passes defended. Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half during an NFL International Series game at Deutsche Bank Lee-Imagn Images After spending 2024 with the 49ers, Yiadom signed a three-year, $9 million deal with the Saints this offseason. The former 49er had similar numbers to McKinstry in 2024, collecting 46 tackles, six passes defended, and forcing two fumbles. Yiadom returns to the Saints in 2025 after spending 2022 and 2023 in New Orleans. Advertisement The Saints drafted Taylor in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and have had stable production from him all three years. Taylor posted a career-high 89 tackles, seven TFLs, 16 passes defended, and four sacks in 2024. New Orleans has three reliable starters at cornerback and will be looking for another year of development in their young draft picks alongside the veteran Yiadom. However, the addition of Ramsey would bolster the secondary that already features Tyrann Mathieu and Justin Reid at safety. The Saints have just over $29 million in cap space available in 2025 and would be able to pick up Ramsey's contract. When the Dolphins inevitably move on from Ramsey, they'll be relying on Storm Duck and Kader Kohou to lead the cornerback group and look for the emergence of Cam Smith, Artie Burns, Jason Marshall Jr., or Ethan Bonner to fill the final spot. Related: Dolphins New Timeline Revealed for Jalen Ramsey Trade This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saints Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry to Switch Jersey Number to No. 4
Saints Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry to Switch Jersey Number to No. 4 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. A new look for the New Orleans Saints second-year cornerback. Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry is switching from jersey No. 14 to No. 4, per the team's website. Dec 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (14) reacts after breaking up a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Brad Penner-Imagn Images McKinstry first wore No. 34 during the offseason of his rookie year before switching to No. 14. It wasn't until veteran quarterback Derek Carr's retirement would officially go through that the second-year cornerback could make the switch to No. 4. McKinstry wore No. 1 throughout his high school and college career. Advertisement The move was highly anticipated by fans as many viewed the No. 4 as a better fit for the second-year defensive back. The reactions to the switch have been overwhelmingly positive with one fan saying "You best believe that's Kool-Aid #4 getting bought and FRAMED" The No. 4 is most often worn by kickers, punters, and quarterbacks but a recent rule change on jersey numbers in 2021 allowed skill position players to wear single-digit numbers. This rule change has seen a significant number of players opting to wear lower-digit numbers. Similarly to McKinstry, Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor made a switch from No. 27 to No. 1 during his sophomore season. There's plenty of pressure on McKinstry to take a significant jump as he enters his second season. New Orleans is hoping the former Alabama cornerback can cement himself as the team's starting outside corner. McKinstry had a positive showing during his rookie campaign, but plenty of growing pains appeared on tape. With the number switch, McKinstry's sophomore campaign could be seen as a clean slate with a new look. Advertisement Related: New Orleans Saints Lead NFL in Cap Space Gained After June 1st Roster Moves Related: New Orleans Saints 2025 Preseason Schedule: Dates, Times, and Matchups Revealed This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
