Saints' Kool-Aid McKinstry: Becomes starter as rookie

McKinstry recorded 42 tackles (32 solo) and six pass breakups across 15 games during the 2024 season.

Both Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) and Paulson Adebo (upper leg) missed large chunks of the season due to injury -- and the former was also traded to the Commanders at the deadline -- so McKinstry was forced to step up as a starter for a good portion of 2024, including all of New Orleans' last seven games. He wasn't picked on too often despite his inexperience, but he did surrender some explosive plays. With Lattimore now in Washington and Adebo set to become an unrestricted free agent during the offseason, McKinstry should have a clear path to a starting role right from 2025.