Cardinals Could Draft Kool-Aid McKinstry Next Year

The 2023 season is still far from starting, though mock drafts across the board have the Arizona Cardinals landing quarterback Caleb Williams. 

Though cleats have yet to touch grass on the new year, the Cardinals' combination of theirs and owning the first-round pick of the Houston Texans gives the organization a great shot of landing the No. 1 pick, and at worst a good shot at trading up for the pick with significant draft capital in 2024.

Yet if Kyler Murray is able to successfully recover from his torn ACL and show why he's capable of being the guy in a new regime, perhaps Arizona could go another direction in the early stages of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

With help needed all over the board, Bleacher Report suggests Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry could be a great pick:

"Seeing as the Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans are tied for the longest odds to win the Super Bowl heading into the season and the Cardinals have the Texans' first-round pick, nearly every early 2024 mock draft has Arizona taking USC quarterback Caleb Williams," wrote Matt Holder.

"While Williams is hands-down the top prospect in this draft class so far, the Cardinals do have Kyler Murray under contract through 2028 as he signed an extension last year. Meanwhile, their cornerback room leaves a lot to be desired.

"Kool-Aid McKinstry could easily be their top corner the moment he walks in the door. McKinstry is excellent in press coverage and had eye-popping ball production last year with 15 pass breakups. That would give Arizona's secondary four guys who can swat away passes as Marco Wilson led the team with 10 PBUs last year, Jalen Thompson tied for second with eight and Budda Baker had seven.

"Also, McKinstry's presence would allow rookie Kei'Trel Clark to stay in his more natural position as a slot or nickel corner and give rookie Garrett Williams more time to recover from his torn ACL. Essentially, adding the Alabama product would prevent the Cards from having to force one of their first-year players into action out wide before they're ready."

McKinstry (6-1, 195 pounds) was a first-team All SEC corner for the Alabama Crimson Tide last season. 

Our own Richie Bradshaw highlighted McKinstry as somebody to watch next season, too. 

You can never have enough corner talent in the league, especially with how pass-heavy teams are. A good, solid rotation of corners is needed in order to compete, and to this point, nobody in Arizona has proved to be a legitimate CB1 despite a handful of names that have some potential. 

Marco Wilson, a healthy Garrett Williams and McKinstry operating as a trio in 2024 could be very fun to watch.