New Orleans moved up from No. 45 to No. 41 for Kool-Aid…
New Orleans moved up from No. 45 to No. 41 for Kool-Aid McKinstry, sending Green Bay additional picks at Nos. 168 and 190. McKinstry developed into a high-level starter with 17 pass breakups and three interceptions in 2025, while the Packers landed Edgerrin Cooper at No. 45 plus two extra assets. Both teams found substantial value, but Green Bay's larger return earns the narrow win.
Green Bay Packers Received
- pick 2024 2nd round pick (45th overall, Edgerrin Cooper ), 2024 5th round pick (168th overall subsequently traded, Javon Solomon ) and 2024 6th round pick (190th overall subsequently traded, Dylan McMahon )
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 2024 2nd round pick (41st overall, Kool-Aid McKinstry )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
New Orleans traded picks No. 45, 168 and 190 to Green Bay on April 26, 2024, to move up four spots and select cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry at No. 41. The Packers stayed in the second round and used No. 45 on linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, while also adding two later selections. The structure gave Green Bay extra volume without moving far from its original draft position.
How the Value Developed
This became a strong outcome for both teams. McKinstry started nine games as a rookie and then broke out in 2025 with 76 tackles, 17 pass breakups and three interceptions across 17 starts. Cooper earned all-rookie recognition in 2024 and followed with 118 tackles in 2025, establishing himself as a core Green Bay linebacker. Because both primary selections hit, the deciding factor shifts toward the extra assets the Packers gained while moving down only four spots.
Why Green Bay Gets the Edge
The Saints should no longer carry anything close to a poor grade. They identified a corner they wanted and that player has developed into a productive starter, which is exactly what an aggressive move-up is supposed to accomplish. Green Bay simply did more with the transaction. The Packers landed a similarly important young defender at No. 45 and retained the additional fifth- and sixth-round opportunities. That combination creates more total portfolio value without diminishing New Orleans' success.
Final Verdict
Green Bay earns an A and the win, while New Orleans rises to B+. This is not a case where the moving team lost because its target failed. McKinstry has been excellent. The Packers win because Cooper also became a major contributor and the club acquired two extra selections for moving back only four spots.