The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have done a tremendous job so far into the 2024 NFL offseason. They have retained key pieces of their 2023 squad along with added talent from a few guys from other teams.
One area that the Buccaneers are paying a bit more attention to is their cornerback spot. Early in free agency, the Bucs decided to trade former CB Carlton Davis III to the Detroit Lions for an extra third-round draft pick — sliding CB3 Zyon McCollum into the starting role opposite of Jamel Dean.
Following that move, the Bucs signed former New York Jets CB Bryce Hall to a one-year deal to help out at the position, but Tampa Bay could look to improving the CB room more in the upcoming NFL Draft, as predicted by CBS Sports in their most recent first-round mock draft. The mock has the Bucs taking Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry with the No. 26 pick in the NFL Draft.
"The Buccaneers shipped Carlton Davis to the Lions, which made sense based on Davis' price tag and Tampa's previous moves (re-signing Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans). Kool-Aid McKinstry isn't as highly touted as former Alabama teammate Terrion Arnold, but he has all the tools to develop into a consistent outside corner."
The 6'1", 195-pound cornerback out of the University of Alabama was once thought of as the best cornerback to come out of the college ranks, however, McKinstry's teammate Terrion Arnold took over that mantle this past season as McKinstry's stock started to slide a bit.
McKinstry is still a top-notch DB and would be very beneficial to a Buccaneers CB room that could be hit or miss come the 2024 season. If they want to bring in healthy competition while also looking to find a good rotation/fit then going with McKinstry late in the first round could be the move.
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