While it can certainly still be argued that the Houston Texans should have used the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on cornerback Sauce Gardner, they do appear to have drafted a Pro Bowl-caliber player in Derek Stingley Jr. with the selection.
Could general manager Nick Caserio again make a major investment in the cornerback position this offseason, hoping to build an elite cornerback duo with Stingley?
That's exactly what is projected in a new mock from The Draft Network, which has the Texans using the No. 23 overall pick -- which they own from the Cleveland Browns, via the Deshaun Watson trade -- on Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.
"Houston has been one of the best stories of the season and their turnaround from being one of the league's worst teams to winning a playoff game is nothing short of sensational.
There is still work to be done and adding to their secondary is key," The Draft Network wrote. "Kool-Aid McKinstry is a well-built corner with very good overall athleticism. He would be a nice player to pair alongside Derek Stingley Jr."
McKinstry -- whose legal first name is GaQuincy -- was a two-time First-Team All-SEC selection (2022, 2023) during three seasons playing for coach Nick Saban at Alabama. He was a First-Team All-American selection in 2023, when he recorded 32 total tackles, seven passes defended and two tackles for a loss with the Crimson Tide.
The Draft Network has the 6-foot-1, 180-pound McKinstry ranked as their No. 3 overall cornerback in this year's class, although some other outlets have him even higher. Their projection on McKinstry is that he will be a "Pro-Bowl caliber" player in the NFL.
McKinstry would pair well with Stingley -- who had five interceptions and an 81.8 PFF grade in his second NFL season -- particularly if the latter is able to remain healthier moving forward than he has in his first two campaigns.
Veteran cornerback Steven Nelson is playing as well as he ever has, but will turn 31 this week and is set to become a free agent this offseason. Perhaps letting him walk in free agency and drafting a player like McKinstry would make sense.
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