NFL CAREER – New Orleans' second round draft selection in 2024 (41st overall) out of the University of Alabama, McKinstry enjoyed a breakout season with the Black and Gold in 2025. The Pinson, Ala. native set new career-highs in games played and games started (17), total tackles (76), solo tackles (59), interceptions (three), pass breakups (17) and tackles for loss (three). His 17 pass breakups were tied for sixth in the NFL and third in the NFC. McKinstry received the NFC Defensive Player of the Week honor in Week Five for his two interception, three pass breakup performance. In two seasons with the Saints, McKinstry has played in 32 games with 26 starts and recorded 117 tackles (90 solo), three interceptions, 23 pass breakups and five tackles for loss. McKinstry looks to keep building on his first two seasons to be a mainstay in the secondary for New Orleans.Â
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed to a four-year contract, 5/31/24; Selected in the second round (41st overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft.
HONORS – 2025: NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week Five).
2025 – Started and played in all 17 games for the first time in his career, finishing with 76 tackles (59 solo), three interceptions, 17 pass breakups and three tackles for loss. His 17 pass breakups were tied for sixth in the NFL and third in the NFC. One-of-five-players to record 15-plus passes defensed and three-plus interceptions…Vs. Arizona, Sept. 7, tied a season and career-high with seven tackles (five solo) while also having a tackle for loss and a pass breakup…Set a season and career-high totaling seven solo tackles at Buffalo, Sept. 28...Won NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week Five vs. N.Y. Giants, Oct. 5, after he recorded four tackles (three solo), a career-high two interceptions and three pass breakups…At Chicago, Oct. 19, finished with five tackles, all solo, with a stop for loss and a pass breakup…Recorded four tackles (three solo) and two pass breakups, vs Tampa Bay, Oct. 26…At Tampa Bay, Dec. 7, recorded seven tackles (six solo) and a pass breakup…Totaled six tackles (four solo) and two pass breakups at Tennessee, Dec. 28…Set a new career-best in pass breakups in one game (4) while also recording three tackles, all solo, at Atlanta, 1/4/26. 2024 – Played in 15 games with nine starts, finishing with 41 tackles (31 solo), six pass breakups, and one coverage stop…Vs. Carolina, Sept. 8, made his NFL debut rotating in at CB in place of the injured Marshon Lattimore and played on special teams, finishing with two tackles (one solo)…At Dallas, Sept. 15, made first career start in place of Lattimore, finishing with five tackles (four solo), including a stop for loss, and a pass breakup...Vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 13, rotated in at CB and played on special teams, finished with three solo tackles and one pass breakup…Vs. Denver, Oct. 17, rotated in at CB and played on special teams, recorded three tackles (two solo)…At L.A. Chargers, Oct. 27, started at LCB and played on special teams, finished with four tackles (three solo), a pass breakup and first career coverage stop…Missed Week Nine-Ten contests (hamstring)…Vs. Cleveland, Nov. 17, started at RCB and finished with three tackles (two solo)…Vs. L.A. Rams, Dec. 1, started at RCB and recorded two solo stops…Vs. Washington, Dec. 15, started at RCB and recorded a season-high six tackles (four solo) with a stop for loss…At Tampa Bay, 1/5/25, started at RCB and finished with three tackles (two solo) and a pass breakup
COLLEGE – In three seasons at Alabama, recorded 92 tackles, five stops for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and 25 pass breakups. In two seasons (2022-23) as Tide's primary punt returner, returned 35 punts for 418 yards (11.9 avg.)…Consensus first-team All-American in 2023. Garnered second-team All-America accolades by the AFCA, The Athletic and Walter Camp Foundation. Earned first team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press and conference coaches. Selected as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy. Started all 14 games and broke up seven passes to go with 32 tackles, including two for loss. Returned 14 punts for 86 yards (long of 33)...Opened all 13 games in 2022, also handling punt return duties. Earned first-team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus at cornerback. Named a second-team All-American at corner by the AFCA, CBS Sports and The Sporting News. Also an AP third-team honoree on defense. Picked up second-team honors as a punt returner by the FWAA and was tabbed third-team at punt returner by PFF. Selected to All-SEC first-team as a defensive back by the AP and conference coaches. Also picked up second-team All-SEC honors from the conference coaches as a return specialist...Second among Division I punt returners with 332 yards on 21 returns with a long of 45…Averaged 15.8 yards per return, second in nation and first in conference...Totaled 35 tackles, including two stops for loss and a sack. Also contributed team-high 16 pass breakups and a 26-yard interception return...Bednarik Award semifinalist…At Texas, recorded career-high seven tackles, including one stop for 12-yard loss, to go with a pass breakup…Vs. Louisiana-Monroe, contributed to the Tide's 262 combined punt return yards to break previous school record of 204, set back in 1947. Accumulated 136 yards, third-most in UA single-game history on five returns (27.2 avg.)…Vs. Vanderbilt, contributed three tackles, three pass breakups and racked up 91 yards on four punt returns (22.8 avg.)…At Arkansas, earned defensive and special teams player of the week accolades from coaching staff, when he recorded six tackles, including one for four-yard loss, and two pass breakups. Returned three punts for 77 yards (25.6 avg.) with a season-long of 45…At Tennessee, targeted once and did not allow a completion…Vs. Mississippi State, broke up a career-high four passes to go with four tackles…In Sugar Bowl 45-20 win over Kansas State, broke up a game-high three passes to go with one tackle…In 2021, earned contributing role in Crimson Tide's deep secondary and selected Freshman All-Conference (coaches). In 15 games with six starts, recorded 25 tackles (eight solo), including one sack, one interception and two pass breakups…Vs. Mercer, in first career start, totaled six tackles, picked off first career pass and added two pass breakups…At Auburn, got starting nod in Iron Bowl. Recorded two tackles, including a huge sack for 13-yard loss late in game. Also broke up the Tigers' two-point try in the fourth overtime to give UA the ball back in position to win.
PERSONAL – Widely considered the top CB in the 2021 signing class, playing for Coach Sam Shade at Pinson (Al.) Valley HS...A five-star on the 247Composite, ranked as the nation's No. 23 overall player, the No. 1 CB and the top player in Alabama...No. 18 player nationally in the Top247 by 247Sports, the site's top-ranked CB...Rivals.com ranked him 46th nationally, the No. 2 CB and the No. 1 recruit in Alabama...Four-star recruit and No. 38 in the ESPN300 (ESPN.com) and the No. 4 athlete, the No. 2 player in Alabama and No. 17 player in the Southeast by ESPN...No. 13 on the PrepStar Top 150 Dream Team and the publication's No. 1 CB and top player in his state...Selected to Under Armour All-America Game...Earned Alabama All-State honors from Max Preps...A playmaker on both sides of the football, leading the Indians to the Alabama 6A State Championship in 2020 and three titles in four years…Born on Sept. 30, 2002 in Birmingham, Al.
