The Atlanta Falcons put themselves in the middle of controversy to kick off the 2024 NFL draft by picking Michael Penix Jr. just one month after they signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a landmark free agent contract — and New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen wants it known that’s a landmine his team wasn’t about to step on. Dueling reports have said the Saints were among teams looking to trade up into the top 10 picks, targeting Penix, while local outlets have said those conversations never happened. When asked whether they had explored that trade, as had been reported, Allen responded w ..read more

This was big: The New Orleans Saints traded up and selected cornerback Kool-Aid Mckinstry in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft. The team traded pick Nos. 168 and 190 to move up from No. 45 to pick No. 41. With the uncertainty of Marshon Lattimore’s future and Paulson Adebo being in a contract year, this pick made sense. Isaac Yiadom played nearly half the snaps for New Orleans last year before leaving in free agency, so they needed more depth. And everyone had an opinion. Not just fans but media as well as current and former players. Let’s see what Twitter had to say about the pick ..read more

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went defense in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft as they select defensive end Chris Braswell at No. 57 overall. Braswell has a chance to contribute immediately in the pass rush. He was hidden behind a lot of talent at Alabama for the past few years, but finally started opposite Dallas Turner in 2023. He had eight sacks and 10.5 total tackles for a loss last season with the Crimson Tide. It fills a need as they lost Shaq Barrett to free agency and it was a solid value. He isn’t the flashiest player but gets the job done. Tampa Bay has now addressed both sides of t ..read more

The New Orleans Saints traded a couple of draft picks to move up in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, targeting Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. That cost them two picks on the third day of the draft, at Nos. 168 and 190 in the fifth and sixth respectively. Depending on which draft pick value chart you like, that’s either breaking even or slightly overpaying. It’s worth it to get a highly-graded player at a position of need when other teams are bidding against you. So which selections do they still own in 2024? And what draft picks have the Saints stockpiled for the 2025 draft? Do ..read more

He was born Ga’Quincy McKinstry, but the New Orleans Saints’ second round draft pick has always gone by “Kool-Aid.” He put it down as his name on Alabama’s football roster, and that’s what Taysom Hill read out from the  podium at the 2024 NFL draft. So how did McKinstry pick it up? He shared the story on ESPN’s broadcast of the draft: “Yes, I definitely embrace my name Kool-Aid. I got the name Kool-Aid from my grandma the day I was born. She said I came out smiling and she said I had a ‘Kool-Aid smile.’” McKistry’s grandmother Brenda Allen explained it herself to the Tuscaloosa News’ Nick ..read more

The New Orleans Saints drafted their right tackle of the future in Taliese Fuaga in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night, but what does it mean for them immediately? Where do you set the bar for a successful rookie season for Fuaga? Well, he will be the team’s starting right tackle this season, if Ryan Ramczyk retires as expected. The expectation for him is to come in as a pro-ready mauling run blocker while he progresses as a pass blocker. Obviously, needing some improvement, doesn’t mean he will be a turnstile in pass protection next season. It just means that is where he ..read more

The Carolina Panthers have done a lot of trading so far in the 2024 NFL draft, most recently moving up to No. 46 overall to select the draft’s first running back in Jonathon Brooks out of Texas. Brooks was widely considered the best running back in the class, and that was a huge need for Carolina. He joins a group with Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders, Brooks could be the top dog in that room by the end of his rookie season. He is coming off of an ACL tear, though, which could potentially complicate things but his is expected to be back before training camp begins. He has some pass-catching abi ..read more

The New Orleans Saints decided to trade up in the second round and grab cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry with the No. 41 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft. Starting with the player, McKinstry is a physical corner that should fit well within the New Orleans system. He joins a crowded room of defensive backs and will have to fight to earn early playing time. He isn’t a ball-hawk, with just two interceptions in his college career, but did have 23 passes broken up. It says a lot about his ability that Nick Saban trusted him to start as a true freshman, something that did not happen often in his ..read more

The New Orleans Saints threw a curve ball in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, trading up with the Green Bay Packers to select Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. And as luck would have it, McKinstry’s former coach Nick Saban was on the ESPN broadcast to share his thoughts on the pick. On the ESPN College Gameday pregame show, Saban said he thought McKinstry had been a better cornerback for Alabama than his teammate Terrion Arnold, who was picked in the first round by the Detroit Lions. And Saban was full of praise once the Saints’ pick came in on Friday night. “This is another guy wh ..read more

The New Orleans Saints made a big move in the 2024 NFL draft, cutting a deal with the Green Bay Packers so they could trade up in Round 2 and pick Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. But what did it cost them? Green Bay sent the No. 41 pick to New Orleans that they originally got from the New York Jets in a trade for Aaron Rodgers last year. In exchange for that, the Saints sent their second rounder at No. 45 as well as two Day 3 picks: a fifth-round selection at No. 168 and a sixth rounder at No. 190. Let’s lay it out a little more cleanly: Saints get: No. 41 (Round 2) Packers get:&n ..read more