With the 29th overall pick in the 2024 Bleeding Green Nation community mock draft, Detroit Lions GM MrOilman selects …
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Kool-Aid was a three-year starter at Alabama. Starting as a true freshman at that program doesn’t happen a lot. McKinstry has the physical tools, and is also smart and plays with discipline.
He gave up 19 receptions on 39 targets this past season for just 205 yards and one touchdown. He’s very smooth in coverage and is equally as good in zone coverage as he is in man. He’s not a super aggressive tackler in the run game, but that’s something he’ll learn quickly he needs to add to his game at the NFL level.
Some draft analysts questioned his long speed and he answered those questions by running in the mid-4.4s in the 40 at Alabama’s pro day. He ran that time despite having a Jones fracture in his foot that was surgically repaired after Alabama’s pro day. He’s expected to make a full recovery and be ready for training camp. He also showed some punt return ability in college, averaging 11.9 yards per return on 35 attempts the last two seasons.
Kool-Aid was selected as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented each year to the nation’s top defensive back, and was also named a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which honors college football’s best in character and performance.
“After starting for Nick Saban as a freshman and leading the SEC in passes defended as a sophomore, McKinstry’s production fell by half in 2023 – but so did his targets (from 80 in 2022 to 39). Although he lacks sudden twitch in his movements, he plays with a confident and controlled demeanor.
“Malik Nabers supposedly has been telling NFL scouts that Kool-Aid was the best cornerback he faced in college. McKinstry raises the degree of difficulty for completions with his length and ability to play through the hands of receivers. His game is reminiscent of James Bradberry’s.” – Dane Brugler, The Athletic
Uh oh, I hope he meant pre-2023 James Bradberry!
I also took a visit to SB Nations’ Lions site (“Pride of Detroit”) to get a sense of what their fans are looking for in the 1st round and the overwhelming majority love Kool-Aid too. Who doesn’t love Kool-Aid?
2024 BGN Mock Draft Order
1) Bears (Draftjunky): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
2) Commanders (surefooted): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
3) Patriots (niels.rosenquist): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
4) Cardinals (eaglenomics): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
5) Chargers (SeanEFootball): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
6) Giants (89Tremaine) Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
7) Titans (Philly21): Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
8) Falcons (Eagles_Blitz80): Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
9) Bears (pheebthegoose): Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
10) Jets (GreenGrampa): Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
11) Vikings (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
12) Broncos (PBARB1978): Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
13) Raiders (iam4theBirdz): Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
14) Saints (Fly Like An Eagle): Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
15) Colts (J. Wil): Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
16) Seahawks (Phreezy E): Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
17) Jaguars (dredscottroberts): WR Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
18) Bengals (grantspectations): Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
19) Rams (Nolo0oo): Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
20) Steelers (Dr.MidnightGreen): Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
21) Dolphins (Neil Dutton): JC Latham, OT, Alabama
22) Eagles (ablesser88): Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon
23) Vikings (RabidPanda13): Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
24) Cowboys (Elliptical Man): Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
25) Packers (LeFire): Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
26) Buccaneers (FlJoe): Graham Barton, OL, Duke
27) Cardinals (green1us): Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
28) Bills (Leo Bedio): Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
29) Lions (MrOilman): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
30) Ravens (LancGuy)
31) 49ers (SakPrescott)
32) Chiefs (Hoosinole)
Now it’s time for you to vote for who YOU think should be selected in the 2024 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft.
1) Bears: QB Caleb Williams
2) Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels
3) Patriots: QB Drake Maye
4) Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
5) Chargers: WR Malik Nabers
6) Giants: WR Rome Odunze
7) Titans: OT Joe Alt
8) Falcons: EDGE Dallas Turner
9) Bears: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu
10) Jets: TE Brock Bowers
11) Vikings: QB J.J. McCarthy
12) Broncos: QB Bo Nix
13) Raiders: OT Taliese Fuaga
14) Saints: OT Troy Fautanu
15) Colts: CB Quinyon Mitchell
16) Seahawks: DT Byron Murphy
17) Jaguars: CB Terrion Arnold
18) Bengals: OT JC Latham
19) Rams: EDGE Jared Verse
20) Steelers: OL Jackson Powers-Johnson
21) Dolphins: OT Amarius Mims
22) Eagles: CB Cooper DeJean
23) Vikings: EDGE Laiatu Latu
24) Cowboys: OT Tyler Guyton
25) Packers: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
26) Buccaneers: OG Graham Barton
27) Cardinals: EDGE Chop Robinson
28) Bills: WR Brian Thomas Jr.
29) Lions:
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