Kool-Aid McKinstry Has Top 30 Pre-Draft Visit with Lions

Lions hosted one of the top college defensive back prospects.

Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry / Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions are continuing their due diligence evaluating the defensive back prospects that could be available when it is time to hand in their draft card at pick No. 29.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry visited with the Lions Thursday for a top 30 NFL pre-draft visit.

The talented defensive back also conducted visits with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this week.

While many believe the unfortunate news that resulted in veteran Cam Sutton being quickly released could impact Detroit's draft plans, general manager Brad Holmes has expressed publicly the team was satisfied with the free agent moves, especially at the cornerback spot.

"We really like the competition that we currently have," Holmes said at the annual league meeting. "We don't feel like the Cam Sutton situation really altered the landscape of how we approach the draft."

While Detroit could still target many other positions early in the draft, McKinstry expressed at the scouting combine he was working on being more consistent and treating reps as if they were actually taking place during critical moments of big games.

"The biggest improvement I’d say I’m looking at is just being more consistent. Being consistent in every thing I do, whether that’s a practice, a game, or a walk-through rep," McKinstry expressed. "It’s about being consistent and treating every rep, every walk-through, every practice like it’s the last play of the Super Bowl."

Updated list of top 30 visits

• DT Christian Boyd, Northern Iowa
• CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
• CB Qwan’tez Sitggers, CFL
• CB Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn
• S Sione Vaki, Utah

Additional reading

1.) Detroit Lions Meet with Cornerback at Syracuse Pro Day

2.) Why 2025 Super Bowl Must Feature Detroit Lions against Houston Texans

3.) Pros and Cons of Lions Signing Free Agent WR Tyler Boyd