Saints Have Found a Replacement for $97 Million Star
As training camp drew near, the New Orleans Saints faced increasing speculation about which free agents they should sign, with much of the talk centered on the cornerback position. The focus was largely on the departures rather than the players they still had. The Saints traded Marshon Lattimore during the 2024 season and lost Paulson Adebo to free agency. This means, as the 2025 season approaches, the Saints will be without two key cornerbacks from their starting lineup. 
The departure of Lattimore, who had signed a five-year, $97 million contract with New Orleans, left a significant void. Given his talent and value, the team’s decision to part ways with him raised many questions about how they would replace such an important piece of their defense.
However, the Saints may have found a promising solution in second-year cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. McKinstry has emerged as one of the standout players of training camp, earning widespread praise from head coach Kellen Moore. Moore has described McKinstry as “phenomenal” and consistently commended his performance.
“This has been a big-time camp for Kool-Aid. He has played phenomenal,” Moore said. “His confidence every single day has been remarkable. He’s making a ton of plays, and his ability to transition in coverage is really, really impressive.”
If McKinstry can carry his impressive camp performance into the regular season, the perception of the Saints’ secondary—and possibly their defense as a whole—could shift dramatically. While New Orleans’ defense hasn’t been considered one of the league’s best, a lockdown corner like McKinstry could significantly change that outlook.
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