A banner year for Alabama defensive backs continued on Friday, when Kool-Aid McKinstry was picked in the second round of the NFL Draft. McKinstry was taken No. 41 overall by the New Orleans.

McKinstry’s selection came after fellow Crimson Tide cornerback Terrion Arnold was chosen No. 24 overall by the Detroit Lions on Thursday in the first round. The two made up one of the SEC’s top corner duos in 2023.

The Birmingham native played his high school football at Pinson Valley. He declared for the NFL Draft after three seasons with Alabama.

McKinstry was named a first-team all-American last season by The Sporting News and by Associated Press media vote. He also earned praise from former Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban for increased leadership in 2023.

“He’s done a good job,” Saban said of McKinstry in October. “He has a lot of confidence in what he’s supposed to do and I think he’s starting to see the importance of how influencing other people can actually create value for himself. But that’s a little harder to do at corner than it is when you’re playing safety or star, because you’re in the middle of things and you’re making calls. But he’s done a good job of that.”

Opposing teams largely avoided targeting McKinstry throughout the 2023 season. He finished the year with seven pass breakups, along with 32 total tackles, two of them for loss.

McKinstry was thought to be a potential first-rounder entering the draft. However, he slipped into the second round due to a run on offensive skill position talent early in the draft.