Saints – Syndication Server

Dennis Allen shoots down report about Saints’ Michael Penix Jr. trade talks

Dennis Allen shot down a report about Saints’ Michael Penix Jr. trade talks: ‘It was never discussed that we would move up for a quarterback’

The Atlanta Falcons put themselves in the middle of controversy to kick off the 2024 NFL draft by picking Michael Penix Jr. just one month after they signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a landmark free agent contract — and New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen wants it known that’s a landmine his team wasn’t about to step on.

Dueling reports have said the Saints were among teams looking to trade up into the top 10 picks, targeting Penix, while local outlets have said those conversations never happened. When asked whether they had explored that trade, as had been reported, Allen responded with a flat “No.”

“It was never discussed that we would move up for a quarterback,” Allen continued. “I think any time there’s a quarterback that you think has a chance to be your future quarterback, it’s always something that you’re going to consider. I had heard that report, it was brought to my attention (Thursday) night, but there was zero effort on our part to move up for a quarterback. There’s always discussions about trading up or trading back, but none of those were in an attempt to get a quarterback.”

Allen acknowledged that the quarterback is the most important position on the field, though he noted that the team is happy with the quarterbacks that they have. They didn’t feel a compulsion to chase another quarterback early in this draft, and they didn’t discuss any of this year’s prospects with the 14th pick. It’ll be Derek Carr starting with Jake Haener fighting off Nathan Peterman and Kellen Mond behind him this summer.

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Kool-Aid McKinstry shares the story of his ‘sweet’ nickname

New Orleans Saints rookie draft pick Kool-Aid McKinstry shared the story of his ‘sweet’ nickname:

He was born Ga’Quincy McKinstry, but the New Orleans Saints’ second round draft pick has always gone by “Kool-Aid.” He put it down as his name on Alabama’s football roster, and that’s what Taysom Hill read out from the podium at the 2024 NFL draft.

So how did McKinstry pick it up? He shared the story on ESPN’s broadcast of the draft: “Yes, I definitely embrace my name Kool-Aid. I got the name Kool-Aid from my grandma the day I was born. She said I came out smiling and she said I had a ‘Kool-Aid smile.’”

McKistry’s grandmother Brenda Allen explained it herself to the Tuscaloosa News’ Nick Kelly in 2023, recalling how he was the happiest baby she’d ever seen. No tears, no crying, no wailing or complaining. Just smiles, sweet like a glass of Kool-Aid.

“I told his mom,” Allen recalled. “Look at this boy with this big Kool-Aid smile on his face.”

The name stuck. He went on to make a name for himself with his efforts on the football field, winning recognition as the USA Today High School Sports Male Athlete of the Year in 2021. He earned a scholarship to Alabama and later cashed in with a lucrative Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal with Kool-Aid. Now he’s been drafted by the Saints. We’re guessing there are more Kool-Aid smiles in his future.

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What are the rookie year expectations for Saints RT Taliese Fuaga?

What are the rookie year expectations for New Orleans Saints first-round right tackle Taliese Fuaga? Here’s where we set the bar:

The New Orleans Saints drafted their right tackle of the future in Taliese Fuaga in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night, but what does it mean for them immediately? Where do you set the bar for a successful rookie season for Fuaga?

Well, he will be the team’s starting right tackle this season, if Ryan Ramczyk retires as expected. The expectation for him is to come in as a pro-ready mauling run blocker while he progresses as a pass blocker. Obviously, needing some improvement, doesn’t mean he will be a turnstile in pass protection next season. It just means that is where he is further away with in his development.

It’s harder to set realistic expectations for an offensive tackle, as there aren’t as many stats on paper as there would be elsewhere. All that the Saints can really ask for is that he is a better immediate option than Trevor Penning has been early on in his career, which honestly shouldn’t be that hard.

The bottom line is, he will be expected to perform right away in the run game. He was the highest-graded run blocker in college football according to Pro Football Focus. However, he should definitely be given some room to improve in the passing game. If he can quickly work his way into the starting lineup he’ll have every opportunity to develop into a quality pro.

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Draft Grades: Saints trade up to select Kool-Aid McKinstry with the No. 41 pick

Grading the New Orleans Saints trade up to select Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry with the No. 41 pick:

The New Orleans Saints decided to trade up in the second round and grab cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry with the No. 41 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft.

Starting with the player, McKinstry is a physical corner that should fit well within the New Orleans system. He joins a crowded room of defensive backs and will have to fight to earn early playing time. He isn’t a ball-hawk, with just two interceptions in his college career, but did have 23 passes broken up. It says a lot about his ability that Nick Saban trusted him to start as a true freshman, something that did not happen often in his Alabama career.

For the trade, the Saints gave up picks No. 168 and 190 to move up from 45 to 41 with the Green Bay Packers. I think it was a win-win, given that the Saints clearly their new defensive back. The picks they gave up were less valuable, but could pan out for Green Bay. It’s a fine move.

Overall, he’s a great player and No. 41 overall is a great value for him. However, the fact that there were bigger immediate needs and the cost in trading up make it a tad head scratching.

Grade: B

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Nick Saban reacts to Saints trading up to pick Kool-Aid McKinstry

Nick Saban shared a lengthy endorsement for Kool-Aid McKinstry, who he believes is one of the most pro-ready players in the 2024 draft:

The New Orleans Saints threw a curve ball in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, trading up with the Green Bay Packers to select Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. And as luck would have it, McKinstry’s former coach Nick Saban was on the ESPN broadcast to share his thoughts on the pick.

On the ESPN College Gameday pregame show, Saban said he thought McKinstry had been a better cornerback for Alabama than his teammate Terrion Arnold, who was picked in the first round by the Detroit Lions. And Saban was full of praise once the Saints’ pick came in on Friday night.

“This is another guy who has great football intuition, great instincts, I mean he understands offense, he understands pattern match,” Saban gushed, pausing for breath. He continued, “He’s a really fast reactor in the secondary. He ran a good enough time, I thought it’d move him up charts the way he played. He’s a great punt returner as well. I just love hits guy, he’s just really smart and instinctive. It’s why I think he’s going to be a really, really good player. And probably more ready to play before anybody else. I just love this guy.”

So how’s that for an endorsement? McKinstry may have to wait to get on the field with the Saints, given all the talent stacked up in front of him, but he’s overcome big challenges before. He logged nearly 2,200 snaps on defense at Alabama. As Saban alluded to, he also played often on special teams, not just returning punts but running with the kickoff coverage team and the field goal blocking squad. Expect a highly competitive atmosphere in the secondary at Saints training camp.

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Trade details on Saints’ deal with Packers to pick CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

The New Orleans Saints made a big move in the 2024 NFL draft, cutting a deal with the Green Bay Packers so they could trade up in Round 2 and pick Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. But what did it cost them?

Green Bay sent the No. 41 pick to New Orleans that they originally got from the New York Jets in a trade for Aaron Rodgers last year. In exchange for that, the Saints sent their second rounder at No. 45 as well as two Day 3 picks: a fifth-round selection at No. 168 and a sixth rounder at No. 190.

Let’s lay it out a little more cleanly:

Saints get: No. 41 (Round 2)
Packers get: No. 45 (Round 2), No. 168 (Round 5), and No. 190 (Round 6)

That seems like a lot, but the Saints still own five picks in the last three rounds: three in Round 5 and one each in Rounds 6 and 7. So we can’t rule out more moves as the draft continues. We’re guessing the Saints won’t sit still between picks 41 and 150.

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Saints trade up in Round 2, pick Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

The New Orleans Saints traded up in Round 2 of the 2024 NFL draft, picking Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry:

Whew: the New Orleans Saints made a bold move in Round 2 of the 2024 NFL draft, trading up with the Green Bay Packers so they could select Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry at No. 41 overall.

The Saints are sending a fifth-round pick at No. 168 and a sixth rounder at No. 190 to Green Bay to facilitate this move. It’s a fascinating move. McKinstry was seen as a first-round lock for much of the pre-draft process but a Jones fracture in his foot hurt him in athletic testing. He still performed well enough for the Saints to not just pick him, but trade up to get him.

And this was a trade the Saints could afford. New Orleans still owns three picks in Round 5 and one other selection in Round 6, plus a seventh rounder. Stay tuned for more movement.

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Breaking: Falcons trade up to select DT Ruke Orhorhoro at No. 35 overall

Breaking: Falcons trade up to select DT Ruke Orhorhoro at No. 35 overall in the 2024 NFL draft

The Atlanta Falcons have traded up to the No. 35 overall selection in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft and selected Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhororo.

Starting with the player, he’s certainly an exciting projects. His ceiling is high but it will rely on him developing as a pass rusher. He offers some positional versatility between being able to moved around to the edge, especially if he develops correctly. He’ll have a good mentor in David Onyemata.

Now, to get the player, the Falcons gave up a lot of value. The Falcons traded away picks No. 43 and 79, the Arizona Cardinals gave up 35 and 189. Moving down 110 spots in the draft with your next selection is a good bit for a project player with another great option in Johnny Newton still on the board.

Another head scratching move for Terry Fontenot in Atlanta.

Grade: D+

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Report: Saints did not try to trade up for Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr.

Contrary to a prior report, it’s now been said that the New Orleans Saints did not try to trade up for Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

NFL draft season is Lyin’ Season, and it can be tough to parse fact from fiction — especially when a team like the Atlanta Falcons makes a widely-criticized pick and tries to cover themselves by spreading trade rumors to the media. Maybe that happened here, or maybe it didn’t. Maybe someone was just misinformed.

Either way, contrary to a prior report, it’s now been said that the New Orleans Saints did not try to trade up ahead of the Falcons to pick Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Saints News Network’s John Hendrix shot down that report, quoting a source as saying “It never happened.”

That makes sense. Penix is one of the older prospects in this draft class and wouldn’t see the field for at least two years while the Saints ride out the rest of Derek Carr’s contract. Trading more assets to move up for him would be neglectful at best. It doesn’t help that the Saints have a lot of arms on the roster already between Carr, Jake Haener, Nathan Peterman, Kellen Mond, and flex-player Taysom Hill. There wouldn’t be enough reps in practice to go around.

Could the Saints add another quarterback later on? Maybe. They probably should. Peterman and Mond have both flamed out in other stops already. They’re here to help Carr and Haener pick up the playbook more than anything else. If the Saints have an opportunity to add a rookie quarterback who could seriously challenge Haener for the backup job (and maybe develop into something more), they should consider it. That just can’t come at the expense of more pressing team needs.

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Taliese Fuaga can keep wearing his college jersey number with the Saints

Taliese Fuaga hasn’t chosen his New Orleans Saints jersey number, but his college number is open. It just might not make Andrus Peat too happy:

Taliese Fuaga hasn’t chosen which number he’ll wear with the New Orleans Saints just yet, but his college number is open if he wants to keep wearing it. There’s just one little thing: Fuaga claiming the No. 75 jersey might not make Andrus Peat too happy.

That’s the number Peat wore for nine years with the Saints. His contract voided in March, making him a free agent and making No. 75 available. The team hasn’t expressed much interest in bringing him back. Both Mickey Loomis and Dennis Allen shared lukewarm responses when asked about his availability.

So Peat may not be interested in re-signing with the Saints anyway. Having his jersey hanging in someone else’s locker (assuming the Saints don’t give it to Fuaga anyway) wouldn’t make it very appealing. Teams will be looking to sign veteran linemen after the draft, once they know what their depth charts look like, and Peat could have better opportunities waiting than what he’d find in New Orleans. We’ll have to wait and see where he ends up, and which number Fuaga ultimately chooses to wear.

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