Rams Land Top CB Kool-Aid McKinstry in Way-Too-Early 2024 NFL Mock Draft

The Los Angeles Rams land a top cornerback prospect in PFF's way-too-early 2024 NFL Mock Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft may have just ended, but it's never too early to start looking ahead to the next draft. 

Almost immediately after the Los Angeles Rams drafted 2023's Mr. Irrelevant, Toledo defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson, outlets such as Pro Football Focus began releasing their way-too-early 2024 mock drafts. In PFF's mock draft, the Rams land a big piece for the future of their defense. 

PFF's mock draft, written by Max Chadwick, determined the order by using current Super Bowl odds, so the Rams have the seventh overall pick in this mock. With that pick, Chadwick has them taking Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.

Outside of earning a spot on the all-name team, McKinstry has been on NFL radars since his high school days. The Birmingham native was 247Sports' highest-rated cornerback in the 2021 recruiting class, with director of scouting Andrew Ivins predicting him to be a future first-round pick even before he stepped foot on Alabama's campus.

"Will need to add strength and keep developing man coverage skills, but movement patterns, athletic profile and nose for the ball make him one of the nation’s top cornerback prospects," Ivins said in 2020. "Likely to become an all-conference type of player and eventually have his name called early on in the NFL Draft."

In his first two seasons at Alabama, McKinstry has lived up to the hype. He recorded 25 tackles, two passes defended and one interception as a freshman in 2021, earning a spot on the SEC all-freshman team. 

Then in 2022, McKinstry emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the country. He notched 35 tackles, 16 passes defended and one interception, earning All-American honors from some outlets. McKinstry was also one of the best punt returners in college football, ranking second in the country with 15.8 yards per attempt.

After this offseason, L.A. is definitely looking for a new top corner. The Rams traded All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins this offseason, leaving them very thin at the position. They also only drafted one corner, TCU's Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, this year.

Cornerback will most likely still be a need for the Rams next offseason, and if so, expect McKinstry to be on their radar.

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