{"id":107811,"date":"2025-06-06T05:37:18","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T05:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/107811\/"},"modified":"2025-06-06T05:37:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T05:37:18","slug":"derek-carrs-retirement-sets-off-chain-reaction-on-new-orleans-saints-roster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/107811\/","title":{"rendered":"Derek Carr\u2019s retirement sets off chain-reaction on New Orleans Saints\u2019 roster"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr\u2019s retirement was posted on the NFL transaction report for Tuesday, and Carr\u2019s removal wasn\u2019t the only change made to the team\u2019s roster<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With Carr\u2019s retirement, the No. 4 became available and is now listed as the jersey number for cornerback Ga\u2019Quincy \u201cKool-Aid\u201d McKinstry<\/a>. The former Pinson Valley High School standout and Alabama<\/a> All-American wore No. 14 as a second-round rookie during the 2024 season.<\/p>\n

Carr\u2019s retirement set off a chain reaction on the New Orleans roster.<\/p>\n

The No. 14 that McKinstry shed was picked up by wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, who had been wearing No. 24. Now in the No. 24 is safety Terrell Burgess, who had been listed as No. 42.<\/p>\n

RELATED: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS EXCITED ABOUT KOOL-AID MCKINSTRY\u2019S SECOND NFL SEASON<\/a><\/p>\n

Before he earned All-American recognition from The Associated Press and The Sporting News in 2023 at Alabama, McKinstry was the Alabama Sports Writers Association\u2019s Mr. Football and Class 6A Back of the Year while playing for Pinson Valley High School in 2020, when the Indians won their third AHSAA Class 6A championship in four seasons.<\/p>\n

After joining New Orleans as the 41st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, McKinstry made two starts in the Saints\u2019 first eight games. The second came in Game 8, a week after cornerback Paulo Adebo suffered a broken leg in a 33-10 loss to the Denver Broncos on Oct. 17.<\/p>\n

McKinstry missed the next two games because of a hamstring injury, and during that time, New Orleans traded cornerback Marshon Lattimore to the Washington Commanders. When McKinstry returned, he started New Orleans\u2019 remaining seven games and played 479 of his season total of 680 defensive snaps.<\/p>\n

McKinstry was among the nine rookie cornerbacks <\/a>who played at least that many snaps in 2024. He and the Baltimore Ravens\u2019 Nate Wiggins were the only rookie cornerbacks last season<\/a> to face at least 60 passes and hold opposing quarterbacks to a completion rate of less than 55 percent and two or fewer touchdown passes.<\/p>\n

For 2025, the Saints have McKinstry and Alontae Taylor penciled in at the top of their cornerback depth chart. Taylor started 15 games last season.<\/p>\n

FOR MORE OF AL.COM\u2019S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE<\/a><\/p>\n

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1<\/a>.<\/p>\n