The New Orleans Saints got aggressive to trade up for Kool-Aid McKinstry in the most recent draft, but they're yet to get to see him in action on the field.
The former Alabama standout has been in the building working and going through walkthroughs. It's possible he gets on the field for the first time next week at mandatory minicamp.
“I don’t think we’ll see him in any team work next week," Allen said, "but I think there’s the potential that he could be out here and you know, maybe working in some walkthrough and individual type stuff.”
McKinstry is working back from a Jones fracture in his foot discovered by doctors at the NFL combine. It's not an injury that is expected to linger and there's been no setbacks in his recovery.
The lack of field time hasn't stopped his coaches from raving about his mental abilities as a young player.
"I would say he is well above the bar for a defensive back coming into the NFL as far as football intelligence perspective," said secondary coach Marcus Robertson. "I mean, he knows what all five guys are doing in the secondary, which is fantastic, because sometimes all we do sometimes in the defense is we just kind of move the Xs and he's one of those Xs that we feel like we'll be able to move."
McKinstry, who officially signed his rookie contract last week, was asked this week about his priorities right now in terms of work. He kept it simple.
“Getting back on the field, that’s definitely my main focus," he said, "just doing everything I can in the right way just to get back on the field with the guys and build that chemistry.”
McKinstry is one of several Saints players working back from injury with an eye on being an impact player in 2024. One of those players is rookie LB Jaylan Ford, a 5th round pick out of Texas. He was back on the field for the first time this week, getting in limited position work but mostly getting in drills off to the side with trainers.
But the highest-profile player yet to see the field is defensive end Chase Young, signed this offseason with the team knowing he'd have to undergo neck surgery.
Allen said he's been in the building every day and has attended every meeting, with his potential return date still a bit of a question mark. The team expects to know more in a few weeks.
“He’s doing everything that we’re asking him to do," Allen said. "He’s highly motivated, he wants to be a part of this organization, wants to be a part of this team and I’m excited about getting him out here when he’s healthy enough to be out here.”
