Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Another potential target for Bucs secondary reinforcements.

If the Bucs plan to aim for a high-level talent to inject into their newly opened outside corner competition, this is a good draft to invest in afirst-rounder at the position.

If Tampa wants someone polished and as ready as possible to contribute, they won’t find too many other options in their first-round range better than Kool-Aid McKinstry.

KOOL-AID MCKINSTRY’S COLLEGIATE CAREER

Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry earned 5-star honors as a recruit thanks to his prolific high school career, which saw it culminate in him being named Alabama’s Mr. Football and USA Today’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2020.

He ranked 18th overall nationally and sixth amongst defensive players, and he even attempted to be a dual-sport athlete thanks to his similarly impressive accolades in basketball (1,000-point career scorer).

He committed full-time to football though and flourished almost immediately. He started 6 games as a true freshman, collecting 25 tackles, 2 passes defensed, and an interception en route to earning Freshman All-SEC.

He jumped up a notch his sophomore year, starting all 13 games and leading the SEC in passes defensed with 16. His efforts garned second-team All-American honors and first-team All-SEC.

In 2023, he bumped further upward with first-team All-American to match his second-consecutive first-team All-SEC nod (32 tackles, 7 passes defensed).

PRO DAY AND SCOUTING COMBINE

McKinstry produced some very solid testing numbers between the NFL Combine and Alabama Pro Day despite recovering from a right foot injury.

He got favorable measurables at the combine, measuring 5-foot-11, 199 pounds with 32” arms. He recovered enough from a Jones Fracture to participate more in the Alabama Pro Day on March 20, as he ran a strong 4.47 40-yard dash (2.72 20-yard split, 1.44 10-yard). He also jumped 34 1/2” in the vertical and 10’1” in the broad jump. He was not feeling good enough to do agility drills though (no 3-cone or short shuttle), though that’s understandable since he got surgery immediately after the Pro Day.

Despite only a slightly above-average Relative Athletic Score, McKinstry should be applauded for testing despite a serious foot injury. He’d likely test better with a cleaner bill of health.

McKinstry did meet with the Bucs on a top 30 visit earlier in April, per Jordan Schultz.

WHAT MCKINSTRY CAN DO FOR THE Bucs IN 2024

McKinstry is arguably the most polished cornerback in the draft this year from a pure technique and football IQ perspective. He’s patient, analytical, and well-refined in his backpedal and overall body control.

It’s honestly not really a competition between him and someone like Zyon McCollum — McKinstry is already a more polished cover man who should get first-dibs on outside starting opportunities opposite Jamel Dean.

He’s already intelligent in the use of his long arms to disrupt throwing lanes without getting too handsy (he didn’t commit a single penalty in 14 starts last year), and he doesn’t bite on many double moves either.

He’s not the most sudden athlete, nor does he possess the most fiery on-field demeanor, but reports describe him as a true alpha personality who takes practice and film study seriously to continue improving.

THREE-YEAR OUTLOOK

McKinstry will be drafted with the expectation of being a startersooner rather than later in Year 1. He’s a true outside corner who can line up opposite Dean from the get-go.

From there, you’d hope the expectations align with someone who ascends into a Pro Bowl-caliber player in subsequent years. He’s not a project, so you’d hope the NFL success comes early and often.

If overall tackling consistency and down-to-down focus continues to improve (they’re not even serious issues as it stands now), the Bucs could be looking at a bonafide No. 1 corner for the long-term.

STOCK REPORT

McKinstry’s pedigree makes him a near-slam dunk first rounder; it would be a small shock if he’s not selected within the first 32 picks.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranks McKinstry as his CB5 (30th overall), comparing his smooth athleticism, sheer intelligence, and play style to that of James Bradberry, who has enjoyed a very successful NFL career over 8 seasons.

Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein ranks McKinstry as a 6.39 on his grading scale — eventually will be a plus starter — a compared him favorably to Atlanta Falcons star A.J. Terrell. He had this to say:

“McKinstry is patient and well-groomed in matching the outside release and riding the inside release from press. He’s confident to handle business on an island and is able to stay in phase as the route travels vertically. He’s not overly fast but does play with plus acceleration to close out crossing routes or make aggressive plays on the catch point.”

Bleacher Report’s Cory Giddings threw out high praise, grading McKinstry as his CB3 (No. 15 overall on the BR Big Board). He compared him to yet another NFC South nemesis (as if former Panther Bradberry and Terrell weren’t enough), that being Saints all-pro Marshon Lattimore.

“McKinstry is a top cornerback in this year’s class based on his skill set. As most incoming cornerbacks do, he will need to continue improving his technique, especially when it comes to using his hands downfield. His skills are undeniable and gives defensive coordinators the versatility to play multiple schemes. Look for him to be a starter early in his career.”

ON THE CLOCK…

Would you like to see Kool-Aid break down some walls in Tampa, Bucs Nation? Comment and vote in the poll below…